The Study of the Efficiency of Silicon Solar Cell

In this work, we examined the influence of temperature on the mean power out of silicon solar cell. Sensitive digital ammeter and voltage were connected in series and parallel across the silicon solar cell housed in a plastic encasement with clean anti –reflection with 100W electric heater to provide variation of temperature which was kicked started with  and increased in step up to  . Open circuit, reverse bias current and voltage were taken at various temperatures and the mean power computed from the values of shunt resistance for all temperature values. Keywords; Silicon Solar cell, Temperature, Open circuit, Voltage, Current, Reverse bias Mean power

Investigation of the chemical composition and biological activity of Xylopia aethiopica Dunal (Annonacae)

The phytochemical composition and physicochemical properties of oil extractable from the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were determined. Extracts’ effects on cell membrane stability and prostaglandin synthetase activity were also evaluated. X. aethiopica oil extracted with chloroform: methanol (2:1, v/v) mixture contained carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phytosterols. The characteristic volatile and sweet smelling nature of X. aethiopica was predominantly inherent in this fraction. The sterol content was 64.30 mg/100 ml; with a high degree of unsaturatedness as evident in its high iodine value (85.76). High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the lipid extract revealed a fatty acid profile of palmitic acid (19.21%), palmitoleic acid (0.81%), stearic acid (4.54%), oleic acid (39.12%), linoleic acid (25.98%) and linolenic acid (1.10%). Investigation of the effect of the extract on hypotonicity- induced haemolysis of human red blood cells produced by water showed that the methanol extract of X. aethiopica (XAME) stabilized the red blood cells against the haemolytic action of distilled water. The lipid extract, on the other hand did not show any protective action against the osmotic shock. Xylopia aethiopica fruits may therefore be helpful in the maintenance of the integrity of the cellular membranes. The lipid extract also, in vitro, exhibited a prostaglandin synthetase substrate activity, whereas the methanol extract enhanced the synthesis of prostaglandins using X. aethiopica oil as  substrate. The presence of appreciable quantity of unsaturated fatty acids, stabilization of the cellular membrane integrity, promotion of the  biosynthesis of the hormone-like substances, prostaglandins, may be responsible for the usefulness of X. aethiopica fruits in the healing of wounds, inflammatory disorders and treatment of post-natal pains.Key words: Xylopia, linoleic acid, membranes, haemolysis, pains

Phytochemical and antimycobacterial analysis of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Annona muricata Linn (Soursop)

Against the backdrop evidenced in the threat Tuberculosis poses to developing economies, especially its prevalence among people in their productive (15-45) years; this preliminary study examined the phytochemical constituents and antimycobacterial effect of four (4) aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the fruit skin (epicarp) and leaf of Annona muricata Linn

Assessment of background ionizing radiation exposure levels in industrial buildings in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Increased exposure from background radiations and the attendant health effects have in recent times drawn the attention of researchers. This study aimed to assess the indoor and outdoor background radiation levels in selected offices/industrial buildings in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: Forty buildings in the four villages of Nnewi were surveyed using a calibrated international medicom CRM 100 radiation monitor. Radiation readings were obtained in counts per minute and converted to micro-sieverts per hour (µSv h-1). The indoor annual effective dose rate (IAEDR), outdoor annual effective dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk, and organ doses were calculated using recommended occupancy and conversion factors.Results: The mean IAEDR and OAEDR were respectively 0.8060±0.056 mSv y-1 and 0.2281±0.020 mSv y-1 with estimated ELCR of 2.822x10-3 and 0. 799x10-3 respectively. The testes received the highest dose (0.843 mSv y-1) followed by bone marrow (0.710 mSv y-1).Conclusions: The study revealed that the mean background radiation exposures in and outside offices in Nnewi, Anambra State were below the UNSCEAR and ICRP recommended doses for the general public

In vivo evaluation of the antiviral activity of Cajanus cajan on measles virus

Cajanus cajan, a tropical shrub, serves as source of food and traditional medicines. The evaluation of aqueous and ethanol extracts for activity against measles virus and toxicity to embryonated chicken eggs was carried out in this study. In vivo and in vitro assay techniques using embryonated chicken eggs and tissue culture (Hep-2 cell lines) as media for both virus cultivation and anti-virus assay showed that a hot-water extract yielded higher activity against measles virus. The hot-water extract of the stem yielded a Log2 titre of 0.1 for the in vivo assay and an inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) in Hep-2 cells by 100% for the in vitro assay. At all concentrations of the extracts, there was a lowering of virus concentration (p = 0.05), indicated by hemagglutination (HA) titration, which is the advantage of HA titration over the tissue culture technique using CPE. This study validates embryonated chicken eggs as suitable media for anti-virus assay and the use of C. cajan in the treatment of some diseases of viral origin

EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, PROXIMATE STATUS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Gongronema latifolium (Benth) FRUIT

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition, proximate status, and antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of G. latifolium fruit. The chemical composition was determined using spectrophotometric method. Moisture, ash, lipid, and fibre contents were determined using gravimetric method, while crude protein and total carbohydrate were determined using kjeldahl and difference methods respectively. Acute toxicity study was carried out with eighteen albino rats using lorke’s method. The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were determined spectrophotometrically. The results of phytochemical composition obtained are flavonoids(39.32±0.88mgCE/g), phenols(37.50±1.41mgGAC/g), tannins(31.45±0.46mgTAE/g), oxalates(3.45±0.41mg/g), saponins (2.91±0.53%), alkaloids (0.23±0.06%), phytates (0.14±0.00%), beta carotene (0.12±0.03%), and lycopene (0.09±0.02%). Total carbohydrate, crude protein, lipid, moisture, ash, and crude fibre obtained are 64.59%, 10.07%, 9.20%, 8.62%, 4.96%, and 2.85% respectively. The fruit extract has antioxidant effect with EC50 318.6

The Effect of Processing on the Antioxidant Activities of Purple Onions (Allium Cepa L.), Bulb.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a common vegetable and is widely consumed all over the world. It has been used as a food and medicinal crop since ancient times; it is grown worldwide and because of its peculiar taste, unique flavor, highly valued aroma, and various health benefits, it is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of the kitchen”. Onions is traditionally used as fresh condiment, but recently, particularly in the year 2020, the scarcity of the commodity has led to a thought of processing and preserving it for the scarcity period. The present study was therefore, conducted to evaluate the effect of processing on the antioxidant activities of fresh, sun dried and oven dried purple onion bulb. Two processing methods which included sun-drying and oven-drying at 70oC were used. The antioxidant activities were determined using standard biochemical methods. The oven dried sample showed better antioxidant activities when compared to the other samples. The results of the parameters analyzed in this study, suggests that oven drying (70oC) is the most efficient method of processing and preservation of purple onion, since it gave the best results among the samples assessed. Therefore, it can be concluded that oven dried purple onions have enhanced antioxidant properties making it a good candidate for the prevention and therapy of array of diseases which meets consumer requirement of being readily available all seasons.  

The Effects of Oral Intraperitoneal and Inhaled Methamphetamine on some Biochemical Parameters using Wistar Albino Rats

Abuse of hard drugs has become a norm for an increasing number of young people globally with methamphetamine currently the second most abused in Nigeria. The need for people to know as much as it is consumed was what inspired this research. With the oral, inhaled and intraperitoneal as the three routes of administration to be investigated, the animals were sequestered into seven groups of five each. Besides the control group, the other six were used to investigate effects of administering low and high doses of methamphetamine. Doses 0.57mg/kg and 14.28mg/kg were administered to the test animals via inhalation, oral and intraperitoneal means for 21 days while their weights were taken four times in a five day interval before sacrifice and biochemical analysis. The highest reductions in weight were recorded in groups orally administered 14.28mg/kg with a reduction percentage of 24.4% while those intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg showed a 15.9% increase in weight. Groups orally and intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg showed significant (p<0.05) elevations in AST levels when compared to the control group. The ALT levels increased significantly (p<0.05) in all test groups when compared to the control. Significant increase (p<0.05) in serum urea levels was recorded in groups intraperitoneally administered as well as those administered 0.57mg/kg via inhalation while all test groups administered 14.28mg/kg showed significant (p<0.05) rise in serum urea levels. Also, the creatinine levels showed significant increase (p<0.05) in groups intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg. The results summarily suggest that the substance; both in low and high doses, can cause serious perturbations to vital organs and expose patrons to a host of health complications notwithstanding route of administration.

Modification of Lipid Peroxidation and Oxidative Stress In Hepatocytes of Diabetic Rats Treated with Root Extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius

Abstract: Increased oxidative stress and lipid disorders may exacerbate complications of diabetes mellitus. This study, therefore was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous root extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius and Daniella oliveri (SDAE) on oxidative strees and lipid peroxidation in nondiabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The alloxan (65mg/kg) induced diabetic rats were treated in 12-h cycles for 3 weeks with 250mg/kg of the extract and glibenclamide (5mg/kg); while the nondiabetic control rats received distilled water. The results indicated that hepatic catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly increased in the diabetic animals (p&lt;0.05) for both activities. The extract significantly reduced catalase activity (p&lt;0.05) but non-significantly reversed the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity observed in diabetic liver tissues. However, glibenclamide treatement showed slight modification in the changes observed in diabetic liver tissues. A significant increase in MDA content and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) was observed in the hepatocytes of the diabetic untreated rats. The diabetic induced changes in both MDA and GSH were distinctly reversed by the extract. The study concluded that the combined root extract reversed diabetes -induced oxidative changes in the hepatocytes, thus suggesting its use for the management of diabetic complications