Extraction, Characterization and Storage Stability of Oils from Selected Plant Seeds

There is a great demand for renewable sources of raw materials that have nutritional and industrial potential. To meet the increasing demand for vegetable oils, improvements are being made with conventional crops as well as with selected plant species that have the ability to produce unique, desirable fats and oils. The physicochemical properties and chemical composition of oil extracted from five varieties of plant seeds (bitter melon, Kalahari-melon, kenaf, pumpkin and roselle) were examined by established methods. Most of the quality indices and fatty acid compositions showed significant (P < 0.05) variations among the extracted oils. The oils were rich in tocopherols, with γ-tocopherol as the major component in all oil samples. Among the phytosterols, β-sitosterol was the major phytosterol extracted from the five plant-seed oils.Enzymatic extraction of oil from Kalahari-melon seeds was investigated and evaluated by response surface methodology. Two commercial protease enzyme products were separately used: Neutrase® 0.8 L and Flavourzyme® 1000 L from Novozymes (Bagsvaerd, Denmark). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to model and optimize the reaction conditions, namely concentration of enzyme (2-5 g/100 g of seed mass), initial pH of mixture (pH 5- 9), incubation temperature (40-60 °C), and incubation times (12-36 h). The optimal conditions for Neutrase 0.8 L were enzyme concentration of 2.5 g/100 g, initial pH of 7, temperature at 58°C and incubation time of 31 h, yielding an oil recovery of 68.58 ± 3.39%. The optimal conditions for Flavourzyme 1000 L were: enzyme concentration of 2.1 g/100 g, initial pH of 6, temperature at 50 °C and incubation time of 36 h, yielding a 71.55 ± 1.28% oil recovery. The physicochemical properties of oil from Kalahari-melon seed were determined following extraction with petroleum ether and aqueous-enzymatic methods. The free fatty acid, peroxide, iodine and saponification values of the oils extracted using these two methods were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) different. No significant (P > 0.05) difference was observed between the melting points of the oils obtained from solvent and aqueous-enzymatic extractions. Enzyme-extracted oil tended to be light-colored and more yellow in color, compared with solvent-extracted oil. Fatty acids and phenolic acids in enzymeextracted oils were comparable to the solvent-extracted oil. The oils extracted with these two methods differed in the composition of their phytosterol and tocopherol contents, but no significant (P > 0.05) difference between the two enzyme-extracted oils was observed Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil from Kalahari-melon and roselle-seeds were investigated in this study. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to model and optimize the extraction conditions, namely pressure (200-400 bar), temperature (40-80 ºC) and supercritical fluid flow rate (10-20 mL/min). The optimal processing conditions for Kalahari-melon-seed oil recovery and phytosterol concentration were pressure of 300 bar, temperature of 40 °C and supercritical fluid flow rate of 12 mL/min. These optimal conditions yielded a 76.3% oil recovery and 836.5 mg/100 g of phytosterol concentration. The results indicate that the roselle-seed oil recovery was optimal, with a recovery of 102.61% and a phytosterol composition of 727 mg/100 g at the relatively low temperature of 40 °C, a high pressure of 400 bar and at a high supercritical fluid flow rate of 20 mL/min. Tocopherol-enriched oil from Kalahari-melon and roselle-seeds was extracted by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE-CO2). The optimal SFE-CO2 conditions for the extraction of tocopherol-enriched oil from Kalahari-melon seeds were extraction pressure of 290 bar, extraction temperature of 58 ºC and flow rate of carbon dioxide of 20 mL/min. The optimum conditions for roselle-seeds were extraction pressure of 200 bar, extracting temperature of 80 ºC and flow rate of carbon dioxide of 20 mL/min. These optimum conditions yielded a tocopherol concentration of 274.74 and 89.75 mg/100 g oil from Kalahari-seed and roselle-seed, respectively. During 6 months of storage of Kalahari-melon-seed and roselle-seed oils at both 4 ºC and room temperature in the darkness, changes occurred in the content of fatty acids, phytosterols and tocopherols, and in the presence of primary and secondary oxidative products. These seed oils were obtained from the seeds of Kalahari melon (Citrullus lanatus) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). As expected, statistically significant differences were observed in the content of fatty acids, phytosterols and tocopherols, and in the presence of primary and secondary oxidative products in Kalahari-melon-seed and roselle-seed oils throughout the storage. The quality indices peroxide and anisidine values increased during the 6 months storage time. After storage, degradation parameters may change because of lipid oxidation

Checklist and Assessment of Efficiency of Some Traditional Gears and Crafts Used on River Benue

The study was carried out in 2006 from January to October. This covered the dry season and the rainy seasons of the year. The work was carried out along the Lower River Benue. The data were collected monthly using questionnaires and taking photographs of the crafts and the gears by visiting the fishing areas of Abinse, Wadata, Agatu and Kastina Ala. More than half of the one hundred and fifty species of fish native to Nigerian waters were caught in commercial quantities using these gears. A few types of selected gears seem to be distributed according to tribal patterns. It is on this basis that one hears fishers saying &#8220;why should I use the Jukun, Tiv, or Hausa type of gear&#8221;. In most cases, fishermen will always choose the most efficient type of gear despite the tribal affiliations. The efficiency and use of the gears and crafts was also seasonally based. The commonest gears observed during the study were scoop net, doubled chamber cane trap, woven trap, and Malian trap. In addition, most of these gears were found to be more efficient on predatory fishes. It was also observed during the course of this study that the cost of making these gears is relatively low compared to the imported types. The commonest crafts observed during the study were spear, knife, machete, planked canoe, dugout canoe and calabash. The traditional gears and crafts were cheaper than the imported ones therefore easily affordable by the local fisher forks. The spears and machetes were used as accessory instruments while fishing. The gears were observed to be either passive or active gears

Radioactivity in Some Food Crops from High Background Radiation Area on the Jos –Plateau, Nigeria

The activity Concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 228Th were determined in the food crops on the Jos Plateau using -ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclide in the food crops lied between 12.36 ± 0.82 and 56.92 ± 8.84Bq/Kg for 40K,(1.46 ± 0.05 to 10.42 ± 0.04) Bq/Kg for 226Ra and from (1.53 ± 0.08 to 6.85 ± 0.42) Bq/Kg for 228Th. These relativity high values for the activity concentrations maybe attributed to the series of tin mining activities that have taken place in these areas in the past decades. However, the values obtained suggest that the dose taken from intake of these radionuclides in the food crops is low and that harmful effects are not expected. Keywords: Radionuclides, Activity concentration, Food crops, Mining ,Jos-Plateau.

Effect of pre-treatments on seed germination of Parkia biglobosa (Benth)

There has been emphasis on the use of indigenous tree species to check land  degradation but these have not yielded the desired result, due to poor regeneration and slow growth rate of most indigenous trees. Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) Benth is being endangered as a result of over-exploitation coupled with the adverse effect of increasing human activities on its habitats and lack of its stand plantations (presently not being cultivated). This study was conducted at nursery section in University of Agriculture Makurdi. This study was carried out to investigate the most effective pre-sowing treatments to break seed dormancy and to stimulate seed germination. Matured seeds of P. biglobosa were collected from farmers at Mbalagh council ward of Makurdi area of Benue, Nigeria. The seeds were dried at room temperature and tested for viability by floatation. The seeds were subjected to four (4) different pre-treatments, namely: physical scarification treatment (treatment A); sulphuric acid for 20 minutes (treatment B); hot water treatment for 15 minutes (treatment C); cold water Treatment for 24 hours (treatment D) and untreated seeds which served as control. The result shows that dormancy was effectively broken by physical scarification which improved the germination  percentage to 72%; sulphuric acid for 20 minutes had 61% germination, treatment with hot water for 15 minutes had germination percentage of 49% while treatment with cold water for 24 hours had percentage of 32% and untreated seeds (control) had 21% germination. Based on this study, physical scarification is recommended as the best treatment to break dormancy in P. biglobosa (Jacq) Benth seed.Keywords: Seed, Dormancy, Germination, Treatment, Indigenous species P. biglobosa

System archetypes underlying formal-informal urban water supply dynamics

Contrary to developed countries, developing countries have been observed to have an increased reliance on a diversity of water supply options to meet their daily demands, where formal supply systems are incapable of fulfilling the daily needs of consumers. In filling a demand-supply gap, informal supply systems are increasingly being associated with issues of long-term sustainability, higher consumer cost, and inequity. Emerging formal-informal dynamics in developing countries require a thorough understanding of complex human-water interactions for policy direction, in order to best support the advancement of urban water sustainability. Accordingly, system archetypes offer a platform to explain the behaviors of complex systems. This paper identifies common system archetypes that define urban waterscapes in the developing world. In this way, Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) are used to present relationships and identify common archetypes that define the complexity of urban water supply systems in Hyderabad, Pakistan. These archetypes include ‘fixes that fail’, ‘shifting the burden’, ‘limits to growth/success’ and ‘growth and underinvestment’. These archetypes demonstrate that increases in formal infrastructure capacity and the number of informal suppliers to increase supply reliability are symptomatic solutions, restrained by financial and technical resources, and thus have unintended consequences. Further, a number of policy instruments are discussed as leverage points to achieve financial sustainability of formal systems. This paper emphasizes the need of a policy framework for informal supply system in national and regional water policies to ensure its service reliability as a short to medium term solution

Fibre from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds and rinds : physico-chemical properties, antioxidant capacity and application as bakery product ingredients.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to determine the proximate composition, functional properties and antioxidant activity of pumpkin seeds and rind. Besides, the effects of dietary fibre in pumpkin seeds and rinds on bread qualities and properties were evaluated. Methods: Formulations for bread substituted with 0%, 5% and 10% pumpkin seed and rind, respectively were produced. Sensory evaluation of the prepared bread samples for such attributes as appearance, aroma, flavour, texture and overall acceptability was undertaken. The physical properties of the bread samples, including dough expansion, loaf volume, crumb colour and bread texture, were determined. Proximate analysis and determination of antioxidant activity of the bread samples were also conducted. Results: Crude fibre of the pumpkin seeds and pumpkin rinds was high at 31.48% and 14.83%, respectively. The total phenolic compound (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity for the pumpkin rinds were 38.60 mg GAE/ 100 g dry weight and 69.38%, respectively, which were higher than those of pumpkin seeds. A 5% level of pumpkin rind bread gave the best overall acceptability and sensory attributes, followed by 5% pumpkin seed bread. Total dietary fibre, total phenolic compound and DPPH radical scavenging activity in breads substituted with 5% pumpkin seed and 5% pumpkin rind flour were higher than the values in control bread. Conclusion: Pumpkin seeds and rinds can be used as dietary fibre sources in bakery

In vitro evaluation of the structural and bioaccessibility of kenaf seed oil nanoemulsions stabilised by binary emulsifiers and β-cyclodextrin complexes

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil contains high nutrition value, suggesting its potential applications in food and nutraceutical fields. However, the poor water solubility and stability strictly limit its applications. A good physical stability of kenaf seed oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilised by sodium caseinate, Tween 20 and β-cyclodextrin complexes were produced using high pressure homogeniser. A simple model of two-stage dynamic in vitro digestion was employed to investigate the releasing rate of bioactive compounds from kenaf seed oil-in-water nanoemulsions, compared to unencapsulated bulk oil. The particles size and structural changes during digestion were also evaluated. Digested nanoemulsions showed good lipid digestion (85.25%), good bioaccessibility of antioxidants (tocopherols and total phenolic contents) and lower degradation rate of phytosterols compared to digested bulk oil. This study provides good information about the characteristic and release behaviour of formulated kenaf seed oil-in-water nanoemulsions, which is important for the future application in food and nutraceutical industries

INVESTIGATION OF THE URANIUM CONTENT IN SOME SOIL SAMPLES FROM BARKIN LADI LGA, PLATEAU STATE – NIGERIA

In this work the Uranium (238U) content in soil samples collected in BarkinLadi LGA from some villages was been determined. The measurement of the soil Uranium activity concentration were made using a multi –channel pulse height analyzer (Canberra series 10 plus) coupled to a 76.2mm x 76.2mm NaI (TI) scintillation detector. The mean uranium content in the analyzed samples was found to be (39.61 ±2.93) Bq/kg which is slightly higher than the world mean value of 35Bq/kg. The results were in good agreement with others for soils from region which is considered as normal or slightly high in radioactivity level. Keywords: Uranium,Soil samples, Barkinladi,Gamma ray spectrometry and Nigeri

Exposing the changes in work stress level among Mongolian nurses by salivary Alpha amylase test

When stress is part of the work environment, it is difficult to control stress, which can cause recurrent aggression, and which in turn affects an individual's health and ability to act.&nbsp; The relationship between workplace stressors, physical and mental health changes of the nurses have been found. A combination of high workplace demands, over-responsibility, and over-authority have been identified major sources of occupational stress among nursing staff. A total of 473 nurses from four tertiary referral hospitals of Mongolia were involved in the study. We employed a Work Stress Profile (WSP) questionnaire of Rice to figure out how nurses perceive and accept stress. The Likert scale was used in measuring the questions. Concerning physical stress factor we measured the level of α-amylase in the saliva of the nurses using the SALIVA AMYLASE MONITOR 2004, a Japanese device. Fabricated salivary amylase activity monitor consisted of three devices, the salivary transcription device, a testing-strip and an optical analyzer. Firstly, the test-strip was taken and put under the tongue for 30 seconds in the morning. Occasionally, our study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine period, and we could clearly see that the nurses at National Center for Infectious Diseases are working hard under the urged stressed condition

Effect of gum arabic, β‐cyclodextrin, and sodium caseinate as encapsulating agent on the oxidative stability and bioactive compounds of spray‐dried kenaf seed oil

Kenaf seed oil is prone to undergo oxidation due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids, thus microencapsulation stands as an alternative to protect kenaf seed oil from the adverse environment. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the oxidative stability of microencapsulated refined kenaf seed oil (MRKSO) by the use of gum arabic, β‐cyclodextrin, and sodium caseinate as the wall materials by spray drying. Bulk refined kenaf seed oil (BRKSO) and MRKSO were kept at 65 °C for 24 days to evaluate its oxidative stability, changes of tocopherol and tocotrienol contents, phytosterol content, and fatty acid profile. The results showed that the peroxide value, p ‐Anisidine value, and total oxidation value of BRKSO were significantly higher than the MRKSO at day 24. The total tocopherol and tocotrienol contents were reduced 66.1% and 56.8% in BRKSO and MRKSO, respectively, upon the storage. There was a reduction of 71.7% and 23.5% of phytosterol content in BRKSO and MRKSO, respectively, upon the storage. The degradation rate of polyunsaturated fatty acids in BRKSO was higher than that of MRKSO. This study showed that the current microencapsulation technique is a feasible way to retard the oxidation of kenaf seed oil