Comparison of a-amylase activity in some sprouting Nigerian cereals

The yield and characteristics of Alpha-amylase obtained from some sprouting Nigeria cereals (maize, acha, rice and sorghum) were compared using standard procedures. The result indicated maximum a-amylase yield was attained from 72-120 hours of sprouting cereals). Of all the sprouted cereals, acha gave rise to the highest amylase yield (16.6 ± 0.02x102 and the least was exhibited by maize (11.0±0.04x102). The optimum temperature for a-amylase activity was 600C for maize and rice while that of acha and sorghum was 700C. The optimal pH for the activity of a-amylase from sprouting maize, rice, acha, and sorghum were exhibited at 6.5, 5.5, 6.5 and 5.8 respectively. The apparent kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km, were 9.0x10-2 and 0.23; 12.5x10-2 and 0.56; 7.0x10-2 and 0.29; 12.5x10-2 and 0.50 for a-amylase from sprouting maize, acha, rice and sorghum respectively. It is concluded that a-amylase obtained from sprouting Nigeria cereals manifest differences in quality and quantity, and may be useful in different starch processing industries

Growth performance of broiler chicks fed Aspergillus niger- fermented Terminalia catappa seed meal-based diet

Forty-five, day-old broiler chicks with an initial average weight of 30.25±2.40 g were divided into three groups of fifteen animals each. The first group was placed on soybean-based (control) diet; the second group on raw (unfermented) T. catappa seed meal-based diet; and the third on A. niger-fermented T. catappa seed meal-based diet, for seven (7) weeks. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, average weekly body weight gain and mortality were monitored. Though significantly lower (

Effect of delayed sterilization on the production of intravenous fluids (parenterals)

The effect of delayed sterilization on the production of intravenous fluids using 5% (w/v) dextrose solution was studied. The 5% (w/v) dextrose was prepared with distilled water. The solution was inoculated with a  laboratory isolate of Escherichia coli and thereafter divided into two: Solutions A and B. Sample A was  sterilized within 1 h of innoculation, while B was incubated at 37‹C for 48 h and sterilized after. The microbial  load was determined before sterilization. Both samples were then tested for pyrogenicity using rabbit test of  pyrogen. The results revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in E. coli count in solution B from 8 } 2 to 99 } 5 cfu/ml after 48 h. Sample A became pyrogen-free after sterilization (sum of response (SR) of 3 rabbits,  0.75‹C), while sample B contained 40 EU/ml (limit: . 0.5 EU/ml for large volume parenteral). A 10 times dilution of sample B with pyrogen-free 0.9% w/v sodium chloride produced a response of 2.80‹C and SR of 3 rabbits (failed limit . 2.65‹C). From this study, a delay of up to 48 h before sterilizing solutions intended for parenteral use could produce high pyrogenicity.Key words: Parenterals, pyrogen, Escherichia coli, sterilization, microbial load

Oral Administration of Escherichia coli Endotoxin Caused Liver - Kidney Dysfunction and Death in Rabbits

This study was carried out to determine the effects of ingested endotoxin on cellular and histological parameters in European albino rabbits - Oryctolagus cuniculus. Twenty-four (24) rabbits of either sexes weighing 1.5-1.8 kg each were randomly grouped into four of six (6) rabbits per group. The control group, A was orally administered with 5 % w/v dextrose containing 0 EU/ml and hence received 0 EU/kg body weight; groups B, C and D received 50, 500 and 1000 EU/kg body weight respectively, once daily by 10 am prior feeding  for a total of 21 days. On a daily basis, blood samples were taken from each animal and serum levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and catalase activities; bilirubin, malondialdehyde, total protein, albumin (ALB), urea, uric acid and creatinine levels were assayed for. At the end of the 21 days a mortality of 20.83 % was recorded in the groups administered with endotoxin (500 and 1000 EU/kg bw). Also, there was significant increase (p <0.05) in the serum activities of ALT, AST and ALP; significantly reduced total protein and ALB levels with significant (p<0.05) increase in endotoxin doses and duration of the administration. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in bilirubin, urea and creatinine levels in the serum. Histopathology examinations show tissue degeneration in the liver, heart, kidney and lung related to increased dosages and durations of the orally administered endotoxin. We therefore conclude that oral ingestion of endotoxin causes damage to the liver, kidney, heart and the lungs in rabbits, especially when prolonged

ANTAGONISTIC POTENTIALS OF TALINUM\ud TRIANGULARE EXTRACTS AGAINST IRON II –\ud INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN TISSUE\ud HOMOGENATES OF WISTAR ALBINO RAT -IN\ud VITRO

This studies show the inhibitory effects of an aqueous and ethanolic\ud extracts of Talinum triangulare (Tt) on tissue homogenates of matured\ud male albino rat (Rattus norvegicus) incubated with iron II (60 µM\ud FeSO4) to induced oxidative stress by thiobarbituric acid reactive\ud species (TBARS). The aqueous extract caused significant (p < 0.05)\ud increase in the inhibition against malondialdehyde (MDA) produced in\ud the brain (with IC50 value = 2.45 ± 0.04 µg/ml) and testes homogenates\ud (with IC50 = 0.75 ± 0.02 µg/ml) but significant (p > 0.05) decreased\ud was observed in the treated liver homogenate in dose-dependent\ud manner (0.33-3.33 µg/ml). However, the level of MDA produced was\ud significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the Talinum triangulare ethanolic\ud extract treated rat’s brain (with IC50 value = 1.63 ± 0.01 µg/ml) but\ud significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed in both the liver and the\ud testes homogenates when incubated with Iron II in the in vitro assay. Therefore, it could be\ud concluded that the plant is potentially active against iron II - induced oxidative stress in the\ud brain and testes as it has been implicated in the assay