Bioethanol production from cassava peels using different microbial inoculants

The potential of bioethanol production using different microbial inoculants for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of cassava peels from three cassava cultivars was investigated. Peels obtained from three cassava cultivars namely TME 0505, TME 419 and TME 4779, were washed, dried in a laboratory air oven dryer at 120°C for 3 h, ground into a fine texture and sieved with 1.5 μ nylon sieve. The sieved material was cultured using the following inoculant combinations: A = Rhizopus nigricans + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; B = Aspergillus niger + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; C = Rhizopus nigricans + Aspergillus niger + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D = Rhizopus nigricans + Spirogyra africana + Saccharomyces cerevisae; E = Aspergillus niger + Spirogyra africana + Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These combinations have not been tested before on cassava peels. The control was inoculated with S. cerevisiae only. The cultures were distilled on the 21st day and the quantity of ethanol produced in each treatment group recorded. Results obtained showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the amount of ethanol produced and in its concentration among the five inoculants. Significant differences (P<0.05) were also obtained in ethanol yield from the three cassava varieties. Cassava peels from TME 4779 gave the highest ethanol yield of 14.46 ± 2.08 g/cm3 using R. nigricans + S. africana+ S. cerevisiae. Similarly, cassava peels from TME 0505 gave the second highest ethanol yield of 13.33 ± 0.67 g/cm3 using the same combination, namely R. nigricans + S. africana + S. cerevisiae. Low ethanol yields of 4.82 ± 1.00, 6.43 ± 0.58 and 7.77 ± 0.88 g/cm3 were obtained from the cassava peels of TME 419, TME 0505 and TME 4779, respectively using S. cerevisiae alone. The yield reported in this study competes favorably with those reported from cassava peels, potato peels and millet husks using other inoculant treatments by other workers. Inoculants used in this study thus showed great potential for bioethanol production from cassava peels.Keywords: Bioethanol, cassava peels, microbial inoculant

Quality Mapping of Tigernut Oil and the Extraction Efficiency Between n-Hexane and Petroleum Ether Solvents

Edible Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) oil samples were separately extracted using n-hexane and petroleum ether solvents. This study aimed at comparing the extraction efficiencies of both solvents and the quality and colour of oil produced with a view for large scale industrial application.  The quality parameters tested included moisture content, saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), peroxy value (PV), free fatty acid content (FFA), unsaponifiable matter, total fatty matter (TFM), titre (oC), impurity, and colour.. Results showed that n-hexane extraction efficiency was 86% and significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of petroleum ether which gave 75%. n-Hexane produced 17.10g or 19.01±0.11cm³ of oil yield from 20g of powdered tigernut seed, while petroleum ether produced 15.05g or 16.72±0.12 cm³ of oil from 20g of powdered tigernut seed. The mean SG of oil samples was 0.8917±0.011 at 40oC. The appearance of oil extracted with n-hexane was brighter and golden yellow, when compared to that of pet ether which gave a brownish-yellow tint. The colour on Lovibond Scale (R*Y*B*N) using 51/4” cell, showed n-hexane extracted oil to be 0.9R, 10Y, 0B, 0N, while the pet ether extracted oil gave 1.2R 12Y, 0.5B, 0N. There was no significant difference in moisture content of both oil samples. The mean values of chemical quality parameters for both oil samples gave saponification value 209.33±0.58, iodine value 91.33± 0.58 , peroxide value 1.06±0.01, ester value 208.33±1.16, moisture content 0.23± 0.021%, free fatty acid content 0.24±0.0058%, impurity content 0.013±0.0058%, unsaponifiable matter 0.11±0.01% and total fatty matter 95.03±0.027%. GC-MS analysis gave seven major fatty acids of the oil samples after conversion to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Five of these fatty acids were saturated (SFA) and include  lauric acid (1.32±0.08%); myristic acid (31±1.0%); palmitic acid (14.6±0.1%); stearic acid (3.37±0.15%); crotonic acid (0.53±0.068%), giving a total SFA content of 44.77 ±0.29%. The other two were unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), and included oleic acid (45.9±1.83%) and linoleic acid (9.37±0.15%), giving a total of (55.17±0.76%) UFA content. Therefore, the ratio of UFA:SFA gave 1.18±0.0058, suggesting that the oil may be categorized as an ω-6 edible oil. The quality parameters tested, established the quality mapping for quality control, standardization and regulatory activities of future tigernut oil industry in Nigeria. Keywords: Tigernut,  Oil quality, extraction efficiency, fatty acid, ω-6 edible oil

chemical constituents anti nociceptive and anti inflammatory activities of essential oil of phyllanthus muellerianus

The aim of the present study was to characterize the chemical composition and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of the essential oil from the leaves of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell. The essential oil was hydrodistilled and characterized by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analyses. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema while the anti-nociceptive test was based on hot plate analysis. The hydrodistillation afforded 0.09% (dry weight basis) of pale yellow oil. Thirty-eight compounds representing 94.8% were identified in the oil. The major components of the oil were hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (11.6%), isocaryophyllene (9.8%), and limonene (9.4%). The oils of P. muellerianus displayed anti-nociceptive effect at a rate independent of reaction time and dose (P < 0.001). The rate of inhibition increased exponentially as the dose increases with optimum activity at..

Isolation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid from the antiplasmodial bioactive fraction of Nauclea latifolia (Sm) roots

Purpose: To research the antiplasmodial property of aqueous extract, fractions, and residue of Nauclea latifolia roots and to isolate the components responsible for the antiplasmodial activity.Methods: Roots of N. latifolia were macerated with distilled water; the extract was obtained, successively partitioned with ethyl acetate and butanol. The extract, fractions, and the residue obtained were evaluated for their in vivo antiplasmodial activity and compared with amodiaquine and artesunate. The residue (which exhibited the best therapeutic index) was subjected to column and thin layer chromatography to isolate its components. Purification led to the isolation of betulinic acid, which was characterized with the aid of spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C NMR, and EI-MS).Results: The residue significantly inhibited parasite growth from 42.8 % (D2) to 77.6 % (D5). Therefore, residue exhibited the highest therapeutic index against Plasmodium berghei in the three in vivo antiplasmodial (prophylactic, suppressive, and curative) models and it compared favourably with amodiaquine (80.5 %) and artesunate (85.9 %). The major component of the residue was betulinic acid.Conclusion: The results validate the antiplasmodial claims of the roots of N. latifolia in folkloric medicine, and demonstrated that the isolate has a high therapeutic index in this regard. Further investigations, however, are required to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of the compound/isolate

Optimization Of Microbial Activity In Irvingia Gabonensis Seeds Fermentation During ‗Itugha&apos; Production

ABSTRACT : Optimization of this process is meant to develop the design and unit processes of fermenting irvingia gabonensis seeds, in the production of a product considered more nutritious than the raw material from which it is produced. This study assesses the optimal conditions in which the microbes thrive and give the desired product quality. The parameters: pH, temperature, acidity of fermenting medium and the different organic acids produced during the fermentation process, were monitored on a daily basis. Bacterial isolates included Bacillus spp, Micrococcus spp, and streptococcus spp. Principally only one fungi Candida tropicalis DMB321 was involved in the entire process. Three stages were categorized in the process flow chart. The early stage fermentation caused by Bacillus spp, at pH 6-7, 30 O C and 1.8% acidity of extract; the intermediary stage microorganism, Micrococcus spp, and Streptococcus, at pH 5.6, 35-38 O C and 4.4% acidity of extract while the late stage showed drastic decrease in bacterial load and prolific increase in growth of Candida tropicallis, at pH 4.5-5.1, 70 O C and 5.4% acidity of extract. Organic acids in the fermenting substrate included citric acid 2.4% DM, glycolic acid 1.22% DM and oxalic acid 2.98% were quantified. Optimization of this fermentation process would enable itugha product development and commercialization. Thereby expanding the frontiers of irvingia gabonensis utilization

Chemical constituents, antiinflammatory and antinociceptive activities of essential oils from Cordia millenii, Bougainvillea glabra and Phyllanthus muellerianus

Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of air-dry leaves of Cordia millenii Bak. (Boraginaceae), Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (Nyctaginaceae) and Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell. (Euphorbiaceae) using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical constituents of the oils were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on an HP-5MS column. The major constituents of C. millenii were limonene (19.9%), diallyl disulfide (18.4%), β-caryophyllene (16.6%) and linalool (13.4%) while (E)-nerolidol (31.4%), (E)-β-ionone (10.3%) and linalool (10.1%) were present in B. glabra. Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (11.6%), isocaryophyllene (9.8%) and limonene (9.4%) occurred in higher proportions in P. muellerianus. The antinociceptive properties of C. millenii oil were statistically not significantly different (p>0.05) when compared to the control for most tested concentrations except at the 120th minute (p0.05) when compared to the control. The antinociceptive properties of the essential oil of B. glabra were statistically significantly different, p<0.05 and p<0.01 at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o., respectively, when compared to the control at the 30th minute but much more effective (p <0.001) at a dose of 400 mg/kg. For the 1st and 2nd hour, at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (p <0.001), the antiinflammatory activity was statistically significantly (very low values of p) different from the control, while at the 3rd hour, it was significant (p <0.01) at a dose of 300 mg/kg but there were no statistical differences observable at the 4th hour. The essential of P. muellerianus at 100 mg/kg p.o. displayed an increased antinociceptive activity with p<0.01 to p <0.001 from the 30th to the 120th minute. Moreover, the oil showed a high inhibition, with up to p <0.001, in the case of carrageenan-induced inflammation

Antioxidative and Chemopreventive Properties of Vernonia amygdalina and Garcinia biflavonoid

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary and medicinal phytochemicals that inhibit, reverse or retard diseases caused by oxidative and inflammatory processes. Vernonia amygdalina is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. Extracts of the plant have been used in various folk medicines as remedies against helminthic, protozoal and bacterial infections with scientific support for these claims. Phytochemicals such as saponins and alkaloids, terpenes, steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, xanthones, anthraquinones, edotides and sesquiterpenes have been extracted and isolated from Vernonia amygdalina. These compounds elicit various biological effects including cancer chemoprevention. Garcinia kola (Guttiferae) seed, known as “bitter kola”, plays an important role in African ethnomedicine and traditional hospitality. It is used locally to treat illnesses like colds, bronchitis, bacterial and viral infections and liver diseases. A number of useful phytochemicals have been isolated from the seed and the most prominent of them is the Garcinia bioflavonoids mixture called kolaviron. It has well-defined structure and an array of biological activities including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antigenotoxic and hepatoprotective properties. The chemopreventive properties of Vernonia amygdalina and Garcinia biflavonoids have been attributed to their abilities to scavenge free radicals, induce detoxification, inhibit stress response proteins and interfere with DNA binding activities of some transcription factors

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract from Vernonia polyanthes Leaves in Rodents

The ethanol extract from Vernonia polyanthes leaves (EEVP) was investigated for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects at the doses (p.o.) of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in animal models. The extract reduced the number of abdominal contortions by 16.75% and 31.44% at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The results obtained showed that EEVP exerted a significant antinociceptive effect in the two phases of formalin. The EEVP increased the reaction time on a hot plate at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg after 90 min of treatment. The paw edema was reduced by EEVP at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg after 4 h of application of carrageenan. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, administered 4 h before the carrageenan injection, significantly reduced the exudate volume (29.25 and 45.74%, respectively) and leukocyte migration (18.19 and 27.95%, respectively). These results suggest that V. polyanthes can be an active source of substances with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities

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