Vitamins and phytochemical contents in four leafy vegetables subjected to different processing methods

Vitamin and phytochemical contents of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina, Gnetum africanum, Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum subjected to different processing methods were investigated. Processing treatments employed include fresh milling, sun drying, oven drying, steaming and a combination of these. The vitamins evaluated include vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and E while the phytochemicals were alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, hydrocyanic acid and phytic acid. The results indicated high levels of vitamins and phytochemicals in the leaves. The different processing methods produced diverse effects on the vitamin and phytochemical contents of the leaves. In all the vegetables tested, fresh milling followed by sun drying were the most effective methods of retaining vitamins and phytochemicals, while steaming in combination with oven drying reduced most of the vitamins and phytochemicals. Other treatments caused varying degrees of significant losses of vitamins and phytochemicals at P = 0.05 in all the vegetables tested. To ensure safety and wholesomeness in the use of these leaves, processing methods leading to the retention of maximum nutrients and loss of maximum anti-nutrients should be encouraged to achieve the desired objective.Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, Gnetum africanum, Gongronema latifolium, Ocimun gratissimum, processing, vitamins, phytochemicalsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(26), pp. 4168-417

Evaluation of the Effects of Okigwe Cattle Market Wastes on the Surrounding Agricultural Soil Parameters

Soil enzyme activities and bioloads of various organisms as influenced by Cattle Market activities were evaluated in Okigwe, Imo State. All the bacterial groups estimated have their highest values in the soil in which the slaughter house wastes were disposed while the control was the least. Lipolytic bacterial counts ranged from 1.7 x 103 – 2.1 x 104 cfu/g; proteolytic bacteria 2.1 x 103 – 1.7 x 105 cfu/g and total coliforms were 2.3 x 104 – 2.7 x 105 cfu/g. The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 3.7 x 106 to 3.7 x 108 and nitrifying bacteria 2.1 – 104 – 3.7 x 105cfu/g. The soil pH changed towards slight alkalinity (6,4-7.6) while the change in temperature was not significant (28.2 – 30.4oC). The total organic carbon, nitrate and phosphate were in the order of control slaughter house waste soil > Control while lipase and urease had slaughter house waste soil > Cattle Market soil > Control. Cellulase activity was also higher in cattle market soil than slaughter house waste and control. The activities caused increase in both bacterial loads and enzyme activities. Keywords: Physiochemical parameters, Soil enzymes, Cattle waste, BacteriaBio-Research Vol. 6 (2) 2008: pp. 367-37

Seasonal impact on phyto-accumulation potentials of selected edible vegetables grown in Ishiagu quarry mining effluent discharge soils

Seasonal impact on soil trace metals and phytoaccumulation potentials of Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis sativus and Taliferia occidentalis grown in Ishiagu quarry mining effluent discharge soils were investigated. Soil samples were collected 200 m (sample C), 100 m (sample B) away from discharge point (sample A) in wet and dry seasons. Trace metals were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results reveal a significant decrease in levels of trace metals distance away from discharge points in the order A>B>C. Findings from the study show significant increase in level of soil trace metals in dry season compared to wet season. Phyto-accumulation potentials of the vegetables showed significant increase in level of trace metals in roots and shoots in dry season compared to wet season. Level of these metals were significantly higher compared to control. This is indicative of the potential risk associated with consumption of vegetables grown in these sites especially in dry seasons. The rural dwellers should be discouraged from planting edible vegetables around Ishiagu quarry mining effluent discharge soils in order to reduce excessive build-up of these metals in the human food chain.Keywords: Phyto-accumulation, trace metals, quarry mining, discharge soils, seasonal impac

Nutritional and chemical value of Amaranthus hybridus L. leaves from Afikpo, Nigeria

The nutritional and chemical value of Amaranthus hybridus were investigated using standard analytical methods in order to assess the numerous potential of the plant leaves. The Proximate analysis showedthe percentage moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrate of the leaves as 84.48, 13.80, 17.92, 4.62, 8.61 and 52.18%, respectively while its calorific value is 268.92 Kcal/100 g. Elemental analysis in mg/100 g (DW) indicated that the leaves contained sodium (7.43), potassium (54.20), calcium (44.15), Magnesium (231.22), Iron (13.58), Zinc (3.80) and phosphorus (34.91). The vitamin composition of the leaves in mg/100 g (DW) was -carotene (3.29), thiamine (2.75), riboflavin (4.24), niacin (1.54), pyridoxine (2.33), ascorbic acids (25.40) and -tocopherol (0.50). Seventeen amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalmine, tyrosine, threonine, valine, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline and serine)were detected. The chemical composition in mg/100 g (DW) for alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannins, phenols, hydrocyanic acid and phytic acid were 3.54, 0.83, 1.68, 0.49, 0.35, 16.99 and 1.32, respectively.Comparing the nutrient and chemical constituents with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, aminoacids and phytochemicals and low levels of toxicants

Physicochemical Properties and Enzymes Activity Studies in a Refined Oil Contaminated Soil in Isiukwuato, Abia State, Nigeria

Soil Physicochemical properties and enzyme concentration were evaluated in soil from a refined-oil contaminated community in Isiukwuato, Abia State three years after the spill. The soil enzymes examined were urease, lipase, oxidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases. Results show a significant (P< 0.05) decrease in the activities of these enzymes in the contaminatedsoil relative to the control. Soil temperature, Organic Carbon(OC), Organic Matter (OM), Exchangeable Acidity (EA), Saturation Base (SB) and Effective Cation Exchangeable Capacity (ECEC) were significantly higher (

Relationship between Antibody Susceptibility and Lipopolysaccharide O-Antigen Characteristics of Invasive and Gastrointestinal Nontyphoidal Salmonellae Isolates from Kenya

Background: Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (NTS) cause a large burden of invasive and gastrointestinal disease among young children in sub-Saharan Africa. No vaccine is currently available. Previous reports indicate the importance of the O-antigen of Salmonella lipopolysaccharide for virulence and resistance to antibody-mediated killing. We hypothesised that isolates with more O-antigen have increased resistance to antibody-mediated killing and are more likely to be invasive than gastrointestinal. Methodology/Principal findings: We studied 192 NTS isolates (114 Typhimurium, 78 Enteritidis) from blood and stools, mostly from paediatric admissions in Kenya 2000-2011. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibody-mediated killing, using whole adult serum. O-antigen structural characteristics, including O-acetylation and glucosylation, were investigated. Overall, isolates were susceptible to antibody-mediated killing, but S. Enteritidis were less susceptible and expressed more O-antigen than Typhimurium (p\u3c0.0001 for both comparisons). For S. Typhimurium, but not Enteritidis, O-antigen expression correlated with reduced sensitivity to killing (r = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.10-0.45, p = 0.002). Both serovars expressed O-antigen populations ranging 21-33 kDa average molecular weight. O-antigen from most Typhimurium were O-acetylated on rhamnose and abequose residues, while Enteritidis O-antigen had low or no O-acetylation. Both Typhimurium and Enteritidis O-antigen were approximately 20%-50% glucosylated. Amount of S. Typhimurium O-antigen and O-antigen glucosylation level were inversely related. There was no clear association between clinical presentation and antibody susceptibility, O-antigen level or other O-antigen features. Conclusion/Significance: Kenyan S. Typhimurium and Enteritidis clinical isolates are susceptible to antibody-mediated killing, with degree of susceptibility varying with level of O-antigen for S. Typhimurium. This supports the development of an antibody-inducing vaccine against NTS for Africa. No clear differences were found in the phenotype of isolates from blood and stool, suggesting that the same isolates can cause invasive disease and gastroenteritis. Genome studies are required to understand whether invasive and gastrointestinal isolates differ at the genotypic level

Effect of effluents from cassava processing plants on soil cyanide levels: A case study of okigwe in Imo State and Ovim; Ahaba Imenyi in Abia State Nigeria

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Effect of effluents from cassava processing plants on soil cyanide levels: A case study of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Ebonyi State and Umunneochi Local Government Area, Abia State Nigeria

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Influence of lokpa cattle market wastes on agricultural soil quality

This paper examined the influence of Lokpa cattle market waste on soil properties. Soil samples were collected from the Central, 3 and 6 m Northwards, Southwards, Eastwards and Westwards of Lokpa cattle market, Umuneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria at a depth of 0 to 25 cm (Sample A) and 26 to 50 cm (Sample B) from each spot while the control samples were collected from an unimpacted area devoid of cattle rearing activities. Results of the physicochemical activities show that cattle waste soil had low acid pH range of 4.02 to 5.83 while soil moisture ranged from 14.90 to 21.58, Organic carbon ranged from 1.92 to 2.83. The enzymatic activities of cattle waste soil were found to be higher (P&lt;0.05) than the control. This however could be due to input from the cattle waste leading to increased enzymatic activities. The pH of the cattle waste soils were found to be lower than the control, hence proper care should be taken in the quantity of these waste applied to farms as they can increase soil acidity. The presence of cattle dung could be responsible for the general changes observed.Key words: Cattle, waste, market, soil, quality