Potential of Rice Husk and Cassava Peel as Carriers for Bio-fertilizer Production

The quality of carrier is a vital factor in determining microbial load and shelf life of biofertilizers. Rice husk and cassava peels are abundant and practically of no economic value in many developing countries and thus satisfy two important requirements of biofertilizer-carrier materials. This study evaluated other properties necessary to confirm their suitability for this purpose. Low moisture content and bulk density, high porosity and good water absorption capacity of both materials suggest adequate environmental conditions within them for the growth and survival of inoculant organisms. Both carrier materials supported the growth of the test organism, thus suggesting the presence of nutrients and absence of toxicity. Rice husk showed potential for good shelf life. Promotion of plant growth (p ≤ 0.5) by test organism was not diminished after six weeks of immobilization in this carrier.Keywords: Biofertilizer carriers; cassava peel; rice huskNig J. Biotech. Vol. 23 (2011) 1-

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF LEAF, STEM-BARK AND ROOT OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM)

Objective:  Plant chemicals abound in different parts of plants, in different compositions. Thus, the comparative screening of the leaf, stem-bark and root of Azadirachta indica becomes imperative. The presence of nine phytochemicals which include; alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, phenols, steroids, tannins, reducing sugars and anthraquinones, and the quantity of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and glycoside in the leaf, stem-bark and root of Azadirachta indica were investigated. Methods: The plant parts were collected from a plantation grown in Okpotegu Echara, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Plant samples were air dried at room temperature, ground into uniform powder, sieved, bottled and labeled, ready for physico – chemical analysis. Results of the investigation revealed that anthraquinones were beyond detection limits in all the plant parts tested in both ethanol and aqueous extracts. Results:  Alkaloids were not detectable in leaf, stem-bark and root samples of aqueous extract. Glycosides were not detectable in leaf sample of ethanol and aqueous extracts. Quantitatively, the phytochemical compositions of each part showed higher concentrations of Alkaloids in the leaf, stem-bark and root (11.63%, 4.93% and 3.79%), compared to flavonoids (2.19%, 2.72% and 0.92%), saponins (0.70%, 1.12% and 0.44%), tannins (0.33 mg/100, 0.50mg/100 and 0.17mg/100) and glycosides (0.23%, 0.27% and 0.19%), respectively. Conclusion: Obviously, except for the higher percentage (11.63%) of alkaloids in the leaf, the phytochemicals in the stem-bark are higher as shown by the results, which could support the reason that the bark is preferably chewed commonly together with the stem as chew stick for its germicidal and antifungal action.                            Peer Review History: Received 24 October 2018;   Revised 29 October; Accepted 6 November, Available online 15 November 2018 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected]  Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,  Giza, Egypt, [email protected]  Similar Articles: HEATING EFFECT ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PROXIMATE CONTENTS OF COOKED AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS (KIDNEY BEANS) PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND THROMBOLYTIC PROPERTIES OF LEAVE EXTRACTS OF GARDENIA CORONARIA BUCH-HA

Assessment of Community Pharmacist Role in the Management of type 2 Diabetic Patients: Enugu Urban Case Study

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Effect of Annealing on the Physicochemical Properties of Some Under-utilised Legume Starches

Starches isolated from Jack bean (JBS), Detarium microcarpum (DMS), Bambara groundnut (BNS) and African yam bean (AYBS) seeds were annealed at 50oC for 24 h. Proximate composition of the starch samples revealed that the moisture content of the starches ranged from 8.65 to 9.88%. There was increase in the moisture level of the annealed starches compared to native starches. The protein, ash, fat and fibre contents reduced in all starch samples following annealing compared with the native starches. Annealing decreased the swelling power and solubility index (BNS > AYBS > JBS > DMS), peak viscosity (JBS > BNS > DMS > AYBS), setback viscosity (AYBS > BNS > JBS > DMS) and breakdown viscosity (AYBS > DMS > BNS > JBS). However, annealing increased pasting temperature (BNS > JBS > DMS > AYBS), water (JBS>DMS>BNS>AYBS) and oil (JBS > DMS > BNS > AYBS) absorption capacities

Evaluation of nutritional composition and anti-nutrients in African white star apple (Chrysophyllum abidum) seed

A preliminary step to investigating the nutritional importance of Chrysophyllum albidum seed was carried out on the raw seed. In order to achieve this, some analyses like proximate composition, minerals as well as identification of some antinutrient contents of the seed were done. The seed was found to be moderately high in crude protein (18.34%), fat (6.48%) and crude fibre (4.63%). The inorganic determination revealed that the seed is low in minerals. Lead was not detected in the raw seed. It was equally found that the seed contained anti-nutrients like saponnins, glycosides, tannins and flavonoids while alkaloids and anthraquinone were lacking. However, when the seed was fed to wistar rat orally at a dose of up to 2000mg/kg body weight, no death was recorded. However, intraperitoneal treatment of 500mg/kg body weight showed clinical disorder and subsequent death at 50% lethal dosage LD50.Keywords: chrysophllum albidum seeds, anti-nutrients, protein, minerals, lethal dosage Nigerian Food Journal Vol. 23 2005: 252-25

Modelling the Effect of Toasting Time on the Functional Properties of Brachystegia eurycoma Flour

The effect of toasting time on the functional properties of Brachystegia eurycoma flour was investigated. The water absorption capacity, swelling power and solubility index of the flour, increased with increase in toasting time, while the oil absorption capacity and amylose content of the flour decreased with increase in toasting time. The peak viscosity, final viscosity, break down and setback viscosity increased from 134.67 to 176.24 RVU, 460.33 to 650.43 RVU, 57.83 to 120.33 RVU and 405.70 to 581.17 RVU respectively, as the toasting time increased. The pasting temperature decreased from 88.25 to 78.32oC, as the toasting time increased from 0 to 12 min. Regression models that could be used to adequately express the relationships existing between the functional properties of the flour and toasting time were established.Keywords: Brachystegia eurycoma flour, pasting properties, toasting time