Potentials of underexploited seed of Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn

The cultivation and usage of Trichosanthes cucumerina have declined with time, especially in Nigeria. The study evaluated the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of T. cucumerina seeds. Standard procedures were followed in the determination of the bioactive compounds (proximate composition, vitamins, amino acids and phytochemicals) and mineral elements. Waters 616/626 Liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in quantifying some of the bioactive compounds while atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The proximate composition of T. cucumerina seed revealed thus: carbohydrate (37.08%), protein (32.80%), lipid (5.69%), crude fibre (5.42%), ash (7.27%) and moisture content (11.73%). The fat-soluble vitamins (60.37%) were more in the T. cucumerina seeds than water-soluble vitamins (39.63%). Twenty amino acids (essential and non-essential) were detected with threonine (13.09%) been the most abundant and tryptophane (1.32%) amino acids out of the total amino acid. The study showed that the seed contains phytochemicals (oxalate, tannin, saponin, phytate, trypsin-inhibitor, hydrogen cyanide, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics and glycosides) with varying concentrations. Also, T. cucumerina seed contains different proportions of mineral elements (Mg, Cu, Mn, K, Zn, Ca, Na, N, P, Sn, Pb, Cd, Se, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Hg, Ag and Fe). The study has shown that the underexploited or neglected seeds of T. cucumerina has nutritional and anti-nutritional properties. Hence, the cultivation of T. cucmerina should be encouraged and the potentials harness to tackle some of the health challenges faced by human, thereby preventing T. cucumerina from going into extinction.Keywords: Minerals, neglected plant, nutritional composition, phytochemicals

Profile of organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds in the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis cultivated in hydroponic and geoponic media using water 616/626 HPLC as a tool

The Water 616/626 HPLC was used as a tool for identifying and quantifying the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of Telfairia occidentalis pumpkin leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media. Standard procedures were adopted for the determination of these secondary metabolites. The study showed that the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media varied in composition and concentration. Also, the total organic acids, total glycosides and phenolic compounds were more in the T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic condition compared to geoponic medium. The T. occidentalis leaves had total organic acids (6.880 g/100g; 6.508 g/100g), total glycosides (6.762 g/100g; 4.549 g/100g) and phenolic compounds (2.032 g/100g; 1.387 g/100g) for hydroponic and geoponic media, respectively. However, individual components of organic acids, glycosides and phenolics revealed variation in concentration between the media. Shikimic acid was the predominant organic acid among the organic acids assessed in both hydroponic (28.76%) and geoponic (44.73%) media while E-strophanthin acid (21.37%; 23.92%) was the most abundant glycoside out of the total glycosides in that order. Phenolic profiles of T. occidentalis leaves showed 45 phenolic compounds, which had some important phenolics such as ferulic, cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid. To effectively harness these secondary metabolites, the study recommends the use of hydroponic system for cultivation of T. occidentalis

Assessment and quantification of some bioactive components and minerals in the leaves and roots of two Acalypha species

The study assessed and quantified some bioactive constituents (proximate, vitamins, amino acids) and minerals in the leaves and roots of Acalypha wilkesiana L. and Acalypha hispida L. used in the treatment of some ailments. Standard procedures were followed in the assessment. The proximate composition varied in the leaves and roots of A. wilkesiana and A. hispida. The total water-soluble vitamins for the leaves and roots of A. wilkesiana were 14.26% and 33.29%, and fat-soluble vitamins were 8.63% and 19.86%, respectively, while for A. hispida, the water-soluble vitamins were 22.23% and 44.95% and the fat-soluble vitamins were 13.25% and 26.35%, respectively. The non-essential amino acids of A. wilkesiana leaves and roots were 0.98% and 1.79%, respectively, and the essential amino acids were 4.49% and 6.69% while for leaves and roots of A. hispida, 1.18% and 3.36% (non-essential amino acids) and 5.40% and 9.63% (essential amino acids) were recorded, respectively. The mineral composition varied in the leaves and roots of A. wilkesiana and A. hispidia. These bioactive compounds and minerals present in the leaves and roots of A. wilkesiana and A. hispida could be harnessed and used in addressing the challenging matrix in human nutrition

Effect of Water Sources on the Radicle Elongation of some Cash Crops from Nigeria

Five water sources were used to germinate four different cash crops from Nigeria. The water was sourced from salty water, river water, stream water, rain water and borehole water. The effect of these water sources on the radicle elongation were measured on the seeds of maize (Zea mays L.) variety TZL Comp 4C3DTP2, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp ssp. unguiculata) variety ITO7K-299-6, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and melon (Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad) respectively. The physicochemical properties of the different water used varied from one location to another. The pH of salty water, river water, rain water and borehole water were alkaline except stream water. The Ca, Mg and total hardness were high in borehole water than other water sources. Salty water had high Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cl, SO4 contents when compared with others. The highest radicle growth length after five days were obtained with stream water at 25.36 ± 7.461 mm, 4.47 ± 1.438 mm, 4.75 ± 1.975 mm, 6.24 ± 1.018 mm for maize, melon, cowpea and groundnut respectively. There was significant difference (p>0.05) amongst treatments. The seeds of monocotyledon (maize) gave higher radicle length in different water sources when compared to dicotyledonous seeds (melon, cowpea, and groundnut). The study revealed a reduction in radicle growth length with seeds germinated with salty water

Profile of organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds in the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis cultivated in hydroponic and geoponic media using water 616/626 HPLC as a tool

The Water 616/626 HPLC was used as a tool for identifying and quantifying the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of Telfairia occidentalis pumpkin leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media. Standard procedures were adopted for the determination of these secondary metabolites. The study showed that the organic acids, glycosides and phenolic compounds of T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic and geoponic media varied in composition and concentration. Also, the total organic acids, total glycosides and phenolic compounds were more in the T. occidentalis leaves grown in hydroponic condition compared to geoponic medium. The T. occidentalis leaves had total organic acids (6.880 g/100g; 6.508 g/100g), total glycosides (6.762 g/100g; 4.549 g/100g) and phenolic compounds (2.032 g/100g; 1.387 g/100g) for hydroponic and geoponic media, respectively. However, individual components of organic acids, glycosides and phenolics revealed variation in concentration between the media. Shikimic acid was the predominant organic acid among the organic acids assessed in both hydroponic (28.76%) and geoponic (44.73%) media while E-strophanthin acid (21.37%; 23.92%) was the most abundant glycoside out of the total glycosides in that order. Phenolic profiles of T. occidentalis leaves showed 45 phenolic compounds, which had some important phenolics such as ferulic, cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid. To effectively harness these secondary metabolites, the study recommends the use of hydroponic system for cultivation of T. occidentalis

Nutritional Composition of Telfairia occidentalis leaf grown in hydroponic and geoponic media

The bioactive components of Telfairia occidentalis Hook F. leaf grown in both geoponic (GM) and non-circulating hydroponic (HM) media were assessed. The bioactive components assessed were vitamins, proximate composition and amino acids. Standard procedures were followed in the analyses. The percentage vitamins showed that cobalamin content was the highest (40.29%), followed by beta-carotene (19.89%), riboflavin (13.25%), ascorbic acid (10.33%), thiamine (9.78%), pyridoxine (6.13%), niacin (3.46%), tocopherols (2.66%) and Vitamin K (1.46%) in that order for HM while the sequence for GM was beta-carotene (17.27%), cobalamin (12.70%), thiamine (6.13%), ascorbic acid (3.16%),  pyridoxine (2.12%), niacin (1.25%), tocopherols (0.97%), riboflavin (0.80%) and Vitamin K (0.63%). The proximate composition of T. occidentalis varied in HM and GM. The percentage protein  were 0.53% and 0.30%, crude fat (0.90% and 0.30%), moisture (83.36% and 81.42%), crude fibre (2.09% and 4.76%) and ash (0.37% and 0.47%) for HM and GM, respectively. The carbohydrate composition (12.76%) remained same for both treatments. The essential and non-essential amino acids ranges from 0.11-3.44% and 0.01-2.51% for HM and 0.05-1.73% and 0.01-1.26% for GM, in that order. The percentage total amino acids of T. occidentalis grown in HM and GM were 19.07% and 9.77%, respectively. The study therefore support the growing of T. occidentalis in hydroponic nutrient medium with the aim of improving the bioactive components, directly providing the nutritional requirements of humans and thereby addressing an aspect of food security challenges.Keywords: Bioactive, geoponic, hydroponic, medium of growth

Proximate analysis, phytochemical properties and antifungal activity of ‘miracle plant’, Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken

The leaf and root of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken were evaluated for proximate composition, vitamins, amino acids, phytochemicals, mineral elements, micro-morphology and its antifungal activities on some selected fungal species obtained from diseased Arachis hypogaea seeds. These were assessed following standard procedures. The study showed that the protein, moisture, ash, crude fibre and crude fat contents were higher in the root of B. pinnatum than in the leaves except for carbohydrate. B. pinnatum leaves and roots had water-soluble vitamins (19.45%; 48.22%), fat-soluble vitamins (11.75%; 29.05), essential amino acids (5.324%, 8.318%) and non-essential amino acids (1.189%, 2.355%), respectively. Phytochemicals and mineral concentrations were higher in the roots of B. pinnatum than in the leaves. The micromorphology revealed aniocystic stomatal type, the presence of tannins in the petiole and stem as seen in the vascular bundle and secretory cells while starch grains were seen in the root. Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract inhibited Rhizopus stolonifer mycelia growth followed by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The mycelial growth of these fungi ranged from 2.57 – 3.33 cm compared with the control treatment (8.7 cm). These inherent potentials in B. pinnatum could be the reason the plant is recommended for the treatment of various ailments

Evaluation of proximate composition of fruits of lycopersicon esculentum (roma vf) under stress and staking.

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Performance of maize (Zea mays l.) in crude oil treatment

The performance of maize (Zea mays) in crude oil treatment was investigated at the University of Port Harcourt botanical garden. Germination and growth responses of Z. mays were examined using various crude oil pollution treatments. There was no significant difference in the germination and development of Z. mays subjected to oiling at 1-3% compared to those of the control (0%), while 4-5% oiling showed a significant difference at P=0.05. Percentage germination decreased with increase in concentration of crude oil equilibrated with water. Germination rate decreased significantly with increased time of pre-soaking in crude oil. Crude oil spilled soil immediately after planting, increased the length of lag phase preceding germination from 48 hours to 96 hours and decreased percentage germination from 100% in the control to 58% in crude oil contaminated soil. This study shows that crude oil pollution has adverse effects on germination and development of Z. maysKEY WORDS: Performance, crude oil treatment, germination and development, maize (Zea mays

Growth and development response of maize (Zea mays L.) In crude oil pollution treatment

Growth and development response of Zea mays were investigated at the University of Port Harcourt botanical garden. Crude oil pollution effects of direct spray on foliage or spill on soil on the growth changes and chlorophyll content of Z. mays were examined, alongside a control. There weresignificant (p = 0.05) reductions in chlorophyll content in treatments with crude oil sprayed on foliage or spilled on the soil in comparison with the control. Visual symptoms of crude oil contamination effects on Z. mays showed gross damage on the growth and development of the crop. This study shows that crude oil pollution has adverse effects on growth and development of Z. mays