Physicochemical characteristic of Exudate of Dacryodes edulis

The Present work deals with the study of exudate of Dacryodes edulis with regards to various seasonal  physicochemical properties of the purified solids exudate, acid hydrolysis product and saponification product like charring temperature (oC) (195.73 ± 4.75, 190 ± 7.9, 190 ± 3.4, ); flash point (oC) (105 ± 5.0, 100 ± 7.9, 100 ± 3.4); moisture content % (1.32 – 1.35, 1.05 – 1.08, 1.00 - 1.10); ash content (%) (1.77 – 1.85, 1.21 – 1.31, 1.26 -1.37); lignin content (%) (7.77 – 7.85, 6.21 – 6.31, 5.26 – 5.37); electrical conductivity (μS/cm) (28.40 -29.20, 32.10 – 33.00, 30.30 – 30.90); density (g/cm3) (0.76 -0.77, 0.94 – 0.98, 0.88 – 0.98); melting point (oC) (61.08 – 73.35, 58.69 – 73.35, 55.35 – 65.67). The  physicochemical characteristic of Dacryodes edulis is found to be fluctuated with seasonal variations during the present investigation. The correlation coefficient showed positive relationship among the properties. The study reveals that exudate of Daryodes edulis can be tapped in large quantity in the dry season and is rich in lignin content but the seasons does not affect the properties. © JASEMKEY WORDS: Dacryodes edulis, Seasonal, Physicochemical properties, purified exudat

Effect of activation methods on the surface properties of carbonized biomass derived from fluted pumpkin stem (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F) waste

The effect of chemical activation methods on some surface properties of carbonized biomass produced from fluted pumpkin waste was investigated using three activating reagents: H3PO4, ZnCl2 and H2O2. The surface properties studied were moisture content, sodium sorption capacity and iodine number. The surface properties of activated carbon were compared with that of the pure carbonized sample. The results obtained shows that the sample activated with H3PO4 (AM) with a sodium sorption capacity of 1.52 mmol/g was the most effective for the adsorption of sodium and other cations from solution, while the sample activated with ZnCl2 (BM) with sodium sorption capacity of 1.07 mmol/g has the least affinity for sodium. The iodine number determination also shows that the sample activated with H2O2 (NM) has the highest porosity with an iodine number of 60.3 mg/g I2. This implies that chemically activated carbon produced from fluted pumpkin waste could be utilized as low-cost, economic and environment friendly biosorbents for the removal and recovery of metals and other cations in solution.Keywords: Activated carbon, activation methods, surface property, fluted pumpkin

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided

Anti Diabetic Effect of Fruit Juice of Morinda Citrifolia (Tahitian Noni Juice®) on Experimentally Induced Diabetic Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic use of Tahitian Noni Juice® (TNJ) or noni juice in controlling hyperglycaemia as claimed in folk medicine. Twenty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats with body weights ranging from 145 to 230g were used for the experiment. They were randomly allocated into 4 groups of five, rats each. The first group, (Group A) served as control and received standard rat chow and water, thoughout the duration of the study. The second group (Group B) received pretreatment with noni juice for 4 weeks, prior to introduction of diabetes. This group continued treatment with noni juice for further 4 weeks after induction of diabetes. Group C received noni juice treatment, after induction of diabetes, for 4 weeks. Group D was given distilled water at dose of 1ml/150mg body weight for 4 weeks before induction of diabetes with alloxan and distilled water at dose of 1ml/150ng body weight for 4 weeks after induction of diabetes with alloxan and distilled water at dose of 1ml/150ng body weight for 4 weeks after induction of diabetes with alloxan Levels of glycaemia of animals in all 4 groups were monitored and compared. Rats which had noni juice prophylaxis, (group B), prior to induction of diabetes by allotan had the best glycaemic control and best treatment outcome, However, stoppage of treatment with noni juice resulted in a return of hyperglycaemia. Our findings suggest that noni juice has blood glucose lowering activity following experimentally induced diabetes in Sprague–Dawley rats. Keywords: Diabetes, Morinda citrifolia, Rats Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 34-3

Specificity and Mode of Action of the Antifungal Fatty Acid cis-9-Heptadecenoic Acid Produced by Pseudozyma flocculosa

cis-9-Heptadecenoic acid (CHDA), an antifungal fatty acid produced by the biocontrol agent Pseudozyma flocculosa, was studied for its effects on growth and/or spore germination in fungi. Inhibition of growth and/or germination varied considerably and revealed CHDA sensitivity groups within tested fungi. Analysis of lipid composition in these fungi demonstrated that sensitivity was related primarily to a low intrinsic sterol content and that a high level of unsaturation of phospholipid fatty acids was not as involved as hypothesized previously. Our data indicate that CHDA does not act directly with membrane sterols, nor is it utilized or otherwise modified in fungi. A structural mechanism of CHDA, consistent with the other related antifungal fatty acids produced by P. flocculosa, is proposed in light of its activity and specificity. The probable molecular events implicated in the sensitivity of fungi to CHDA are (i) partitioning of CHDA into fungal membranes; (ii) a variable elevation in fluidity dependent on the buffering capability (sterol content) in fungi; and (iii) higher membrane disorder causing conformational changes in membrane proteins, increased membrane permeability and, eventually, cytoplasmic disintegration