Effect of domestic food processing methods on anti nutrients, some mineral content and functional properties of Mungbean (Vigna radiata) flours

Background: Grain legumes are known to contribute to improving the nutritional status of poor segment of populations and especially when combined with cereals. Processing techniques have been reported to affect the quality of grain foods. Objective: This study investigated the effect of five domestic food processing methods on some minerals, antinutrients and functional properties of mungbean flour. Methodology: Two thousand four hundred grammes (2400g) of mungbeans were weighed out and divided into six equal portions and processed differently: dehulled and shade dried (DSH); dehulled and sun dried (DSU); fermented for 24hours (F24), fermented for 48hours (F48); sprouted for seven days (SP7) respectively. The control (UDSH) was washed, undehulled and shade dried. The portions were milled, sifted and later analysed for minerals, anti-nutrients and functional properties. The analyses were done on dry weight basis. The data were analyzed using means and standard deviation. Significance level was accepted at (P<0.05). Results: The F24 and F48 flours had higher calcium values (84.39.± 0.46 and 81.99 ± 0.14mg/100g) relative to the other samples. The UDSH had lower sodium 7.51± 0.71mg/100g while F24 had the highest value (9.16 ±0.43) that were relatively different (p<0.05) from the other samples. The F24 and control (UDSH) flours had lower comparable (p<0.05) phytate values (5.89±0.12g/100g and (5.55 ±0.12±0.11g/100g)relative to the other flours. Values for tannins ranged from 4.02± 0.12g/100g in (SP7) to 6.87±0.07g/100g in (F48). Oxalate values of 2.00±0.04g/100g in (SP7) and 2.16±0.11g/100g in the control (UDSH) sample were comparable (p<0.05) to the other groups. The solubility (Psol)values ranged was from 4.70±.20mg in the control sample to 5.28±0.13mg in the SP7 sample. Conclusion: The study showed that fermentation had an edge over other methods of food processing. Fermented mungbean flour could therefore be used in formulation and development of nutritious products

Lipid Profile, Haematological Assay and Tissue Histology of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats Administered Extracts of Vernomia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) and Gnetum africanum (okazi leaf)

Diabetes mellitus is predominant in numerous nations of the world with millions of deaths directly linked to it. The utilization of plants in providing answers to this pandemic has expanded over the years. This study investigated changes in some haematological parameters and tissue histology of alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats administered combined leaf extracts (CLE) of vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf (BI)) and gnetum africanum (okazi leaf (OK)). Aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and okazi leaf were prepared using the conventional method. Forty Wistar rats were grouped into eight of five rats each. Groups A and B were normal and diabetic control respectively, groups C to G (diabetic groups) were treated with varied mixtures of extracts of vernomia amygdalina and gnetum africanum at (10:90BI/OK), (30:70BI/OK), (50:50BI/OK), (70:30 BI/OK) and (90:10% BI/OK) ratios respectively. Group H, the diabetic control was administered the standard drug (Metformin). The animals were sacrificed on the 28th day, blood samples and liver tissue were collected for biochemical analysis and histological examination. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the lipid profile of the diabetic groups (C-G) especially in triglycerides with the highest reduction in (50:50 BI/OK) combination (0.70±0.07) while the least reduction was seen in (30:70 BI/OK) combination (1.37±0.08). There were time and ratio-dependent variations in the haematological indices. Hepatic histology showed evidence of varying levels of restoration of cellular structural integrity by the combined extracts. These results suggest that the combined extracts of vernomia amygdalina and gnetum africanum could be used to manage diabetes mellitus

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMPERIALISM AND FOOD INSECURITY IN AFRICA WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON NIGERIA

Many African states have recently, hurriedly put together a number of measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the global food crisis. Most of these programs have been implemented in different forms since the era of independence and have had no significant impact on food and agricultural development. In this paper we used the historical materialism approach to critically evaluate Africa’s food crisis genesis. Our thesis, using the Nigerian, experiences is that Africa’s contact with metropolitan capital set the continent on the path to dependent economic and political development. The state structures in Africa emphasize economic programs which respond to Europe’s economic needs to the detriment of internal agricultural capacity building. To redress the situation, we have recommended an end to imperialism and capacity building among African peasants.Capital, Development, Poverty and Political

Climate Change and Nutrition Security in Nigeria

Climate change is a global reality and a major concern of many countries of the world. Its average impacts are the same globally but with some regional peculiarities. This paper reviewed the global events of climate change and its reality in Nigeria. It observed that the world’s climatic elements have been undergoing changing pattern for a long period. Its reality in Nigeria was seen in changing rain pattern, relative humidity, atmospheric temperature, rising sea level, coastal flooding, erosion, desertification and drought among other indicators of climate change. These events were viewed vis-à-vis their impacts on nutrition security. The paper related these events to such drivers of food insecurity as food shortages; increase in crop and animal diseases; shortage of portable water; poor sanitation; loss of rural livelihood and different forms of pollution-related diseases. Measures were suggested for integration into government programmes and policy that will help in mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change on nutrition security Keywords: Climate change, nutrition security, mitigating, adapting, Nigeri

Consequence of smoke from crude oil contaminated firewood on female reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of Wistar rats

The study evaluated the effect of smoke from crude oil contaminated firewood on selected female reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of wistar rats. The smoke exposure lasted for 28 days. Carbon monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Oxides of Sulphur (SOx), Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), Methane (CH4), Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), Ammonia (NH3) and Particulate Matter (PM) (1, 2.5, 10) were determined in the smoke generated from the burning of firewood harvested from crude oil polluted site. Oxidative stress biomarker (Catalase (CAT), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and female reproductive hormone (FSH, LH and estrogen) were evaluated in the wistar rats exposed to smoke generated from this firewood. The air profile values of the polluted firewood smoke was CO (112.3ppm), SO2 (0.61ppm), VOC (3.5ppm), NH3 (2.63ppm), PM1 (0.11ppm), PM2.5 (0.16ppm), PM10 (0.27ppm). The estrogen level in all the groups were significantly reduced when compared to the control except for group 2 which has no significant change (p≥ 0.05). The oxidative stress markers SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p≤ 0.05) in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7. MDA were significantly increase (p≤ 0.05) in groups 6 and 7. These results reveal that smoke of firewood from an oil impacted environment have the potential to elicit toxic effects on selected reproductive hormones and oxidative stress in wistar rats.Keywords: Air pollution, Smoke, Reproductive hormone, Oxidative stres

Variation in Body Weight, Organ Weight and Haematological Parameters of Rats Fed with Diets Based on Treated African kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides, roxb. Benth) Seeds

Food insecurity is a major problem of the developing nations. There is therefore a need to assess the nutritional potentials of some lesser-known foods particularly grains with the view of adding them to the food base. In this paper, processed kudzu seeds (cooked and autoclaved for different periods(20,40,60 minutes))and raw kudzu seeds were made into flour and compounded into diets. The diets along with the negative and positive control diets were fed to eight groups of wistar rats for 28 days. The rats fed raw kudzu and negative control diet showed negative mean weight changes(- 6.50g and -10.0g )while those fed with positive control and treated kudzu diet showed positive mean weight changes with Diets 2(cooked kudzu) and Diet 8(positive control) having the highest values(55.10g and 90.0g).These changes were significantly different (P<0.05).The absolute and relative organ (liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, spleen and lungs) weight changes of the experimental animals did not follow any particular trend. Haematological parameters measured in the animals included, haemoglobin packed cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophil, monocytes, lymphocytes and basophils. Except for the values of haemoglobin and packed cell volume that were higher in positive reference diet (12.56g/100ml and 37.2%) which were not significantly different (P<0.05) from the cooked diet (12.0g/100ml and 36.33%) but significantly different from others, the remaining haematological parameters did not follow any particular trend in all the groups. The result showed that the treated flour supported growth but had no definite effect on other parameters measured. The flour can therefore support growth in higher animals. ight, organ, haematological.Key Words: Kudzu, cooked, autolaved, weight, organ, haematological

Total Aflatoxin Contamination of Wheat, Groundnut and Their Products Sold in Three Markets within Port-Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Aflatoxins are a group of toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites of fungal origin produced by strains of Aspergillus genera. This study presents an assessment of total aflatoxin contamination of wheat, groundnut and their products marketed within Port Harcourt metropolis. Total aflatoxin concentration was determined in all the samples using AgraQuant aflatoxin ELISA test kit and quantified using the Stat fax ELISA reader. The mean total aflatoxin concentration ranged from 1.73±0.09 μg/kg to 37.23±3.66 μg/kg amongst all samples. Amongst the wheat and wheat products, bread samples from mile one market had the highest value of 1.73±0.09 μg/kg while raw wheatmeal (branded) samples from oil mill market had the lowest value of 0.70±0.06 μg/kg; amongst the groundnut and groundnut product group, defatted groundnut cake (Kuli-kuli) samples from mile one market had the highest value of 37.23±3.66 μg/kg while boiled groundnut samples had the lowest value of 0.80±0.12 μg/kg. With the exception of defatted groundnut cake (kuli-kuli) and groundnut paste, all the other samples analyzed were found to be within the acceptable limits as set by NAFDAC of 10 μg/kg for raw food (yet to be cooked) and 4μg/kg for cooked/ready-to-eat food. Keywords: aflatoxin; ELISA; carcinogenic; Aspergillus flavus

Evaluating the Dermal Properties of Toilet Soaps Incorporated with Different Herbal Extracts

Toilet soaps were produced with the incorporation of three herbal extracts from basil, aloevera and guava leaves singly and in combination. Volunteers were drawn from Community Secondary School Ehandiagu, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, to use the soaps and provide feedback on their qualities and various properties. The research was experimental, however the major instrument used in collecting information (data) needed was questionnaires. The population from which the data was drawn involved 400 students under which 150 students were used as the population sample size. The data collected was statistically analyzed by the use of percentage and mean values of user’s response. The findings in the experiment involved discovery of the effectiveness of various herbal soap on skin infection, smoothness of skin, the highest cleaning tendency and the best combination of local herbal extracts for quality toilet soap most suitable to various skin. The required information was gotten from the answers supplied by the voluntary users of these soaps. From the result of this research, the most effective herbal extract incorporated soap on skin infection was that containing guava leaves with percentage and mean values of positive respondents as 16.8% and 4.2 + 0.92, the best herbal extract incorporated soap responsible for skin smoothness was combined herbal extract soap (Guava, Aloevera & Basil leaves extract) with 16.79% positive response or mean + standard deviation value of 3.0 + 0.08. Moreover, in the cleansing aspect, it was observed that soaps incorporated with aloevera had the highest percentage positive response as the best cleansing soap with percentage and mean value of 14.11% and 3.5 + 0.74. Lastly, the soap produced by combination of the three local herbal extracts (guava, basil leaf and aloevera) was most suitable to various skin types with positive respondent values of 15.2% or 3.8 + 0.69 (mean + standard deviation). The toilet soaps containing herbal extracts generally gave better result than that without incorporation of the herb(s) (control) from the response of the users. Keyword: herbal soap, incorporated, extract, skin, aloevera, basil leaves, guava leaves

Sustainable Development Through Green-Themed Environmental Impact Assessment: Lessons for Developing Countries

In this study, we used Geographic Information System and remote sensing to explore the stimulation of sustainable development through “Green-Conscious” Environmental Impact Assessment of industrial projects. Despite the global clamour for sustainable development as panacea for recent climatic concerns; sustainable development initiatives like Nano and green technologies are not highlighted in key Sections of the Nigerian EIA Act. The study adopted time series of 16-day composite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 250m resolution NDVI data (MOD13Q1) covering South West, Nigeria between 2002–2017. We conclude that Nigeria cannot attain sustainable development if relevant laws are not amended to include sustainability initiatives. Keywords: Sustainable Development; Going-Green; Environmental Impact Assessment; EIA; Industrial Projects, Nanotechnology DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-5-06 Publication date:May 31st 202

Climate Change and Nutrition Security in Nigeria

Climate change is a global reality and a major concern of many countries of the world. Its average impacts are the same globally but with some regional peculiarities. This paper reviewed the global events of climate change and its reality in Nigeria. It observed that the world\u2019s climatic elements have been undergoing changing pattern for a long period. Its reality in Nigeria was seen in changing rain pattern, relative humidity, atmospheric temperature, rising sea level, coastal flooding, erosion, desertification and drought among other indicators of climate change. These events were viewed vis-\ue0-vis their impacts on nutrition security. The paper related these events to such drivers of food insecurity as food shortages; increase in crop and animal diseases; shortage of portable water; poor sanitation; loss of rural livelihood and different forms of pollution-related diseases. Measures were suggested for integration into government programmes and policy that will help in mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change on nutrition security