Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaf Oil Extract of Mentha Spicata and its Efficacy in Repelling Mosquito

Synthetic drugs and repellents have been discovered to have adverse toxicity effects apart from the fact that they are no longer efficient due to adaptation of microbes and mosquitoes to them. This study is based on using the extract from local leaves (Mentha spicata plant) as treatment for microbial diseases as well as mosquito repellent. Extract of leaf were studied and screened for the presence of phytochemicals (secondary metabolites) and antimicrobial properties against some fungi and bacteria viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus Subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed that the leave extract contained tannin, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols and cardiac glycosides while anthraquinones and saponins were not determined. From the microbial analysis the zone of inhibitions indicated that the extract of Mentha spicata plant had strong activity against bacteria and fungi used in this analysis. Mentha spicata oil extract with the highest concentration when introduced into the produced cream had the highest repellency time lasting up to four [4] hours. The chemical constituents of the leaf oil extract were analyzed using Gas chromatography- mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and the major chemical constituent identified was carvon

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaf Oil Extract of Mentha Spicata and its Efficacy in Repelling Mosquito

Synthetic drugs and repellents have been discovered to have adverse toxicity effects apart from the fact that they are no longer efficient due to adaptation of microbes and mosquitoes to them. This study is based on using the extract from local leaves (Mentha spicata plant) as treatment for microbial diseases as well as mosquito repellent. Extract of leaf were studied and screened for the presence of phytochemicals (secondary metabolites) and antimicrobial properties against some fungi and bacteria viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus Subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed that the leave extract contained tannin, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols and cardiac glycosides while anthraquinones and saponins were not determined. From the microbial analysis the zone of inhibitions indicated that the extract of Mentha spicata plant had strong activity against bacteria and fungi used in this analysis. Mentha spicata oil extract with the highest concentration when introduced into the produced cream had the highest repellency time lasting up to four [4] hours. The chemical constituents of the leaf oil extract were analyzed using Gas chromatography- mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and the major chemical constituent identified was carvon

ASSESSMENT OF GRAIN STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFECTIVE MARKETING IN SUSTAINING FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME BY TRADERS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Nigerian Food Security Programme is centred on three-tier grain storage with active participation of traders in storage of 85% of grain requirements through the On-Farm Storage Programme. The study assessed grain storage technologies to determine suitable ones for storage and marketing by traders in Southwest Nigeria. A pre-data survey of recommended grain storage technologies was followed by multi- stage sampling of Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States for 120 rural and urban traders. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics at p = 0.05. Traders preferred recommended storage technologies except silo. Only sacks were preferred out of the indigenous storage technologies. Technology attributes and communication factors are essential for use of recommended storage technologies. There is no significant relationship between age (r = 0.86), income (r = 0.78) and use of recommended storage technologies while quantity of grains stored (r = 0.94), years of experience in grain storage (r = 0.93) and educational status (X2 = 9.51) were significantly related.  Rural and urban traders were not significantly different in their levels of use of recommended grain storage technologies (tc = 0.20). Traders’ storage extension through the use of various channels of communication, trainings and adult education programme were recommended. Key words: Recommended technologies, indigenous technologies, determinants, use

Controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpea under nitrogen

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the efficacy of the long-term controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpeas under nitrogen in Kano, Nigeria, where hot dry weather prevails, typical for a semi-arid zone. The 30-month storage trial consisted of the application of nitrogen in an experimental 0.65 m3 mini-silo containing half a tonne of the commodity. The storage in nitrogen completely suppressed insect infestation, and grain quality was maintained during the period. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the population of insects in the cowpea stored under nitrogen, and the control. The initial insect population of 15 adults of C. maculatus, and one adult of T. castenium per kg of cowpea died after 12 months of storage under nitrogen. They however, increased in the control to 1288, and 54 adults per kg respectively before their eventual death. Free fatty acid contents increased from 2.60% to 6.51% under nitrogen, but increased rapidly to 58.60% in the control cowpea. This was attributed to the action of insect activities, mould infection and water activities in the control cowpeas. Viability dropped slightly from 89.75% to 72.84% in nitrogen, but dropped rapidly to 0.00% in the control. The palatability of cowpea did not change adversely in nitrogen, whereas it became very poor in the air-stored commodity. The germinability of cowpea seeds stored in the inert atmosphere silos was maintained above 85% after 12 months of storage, which shows that the technology is effective for seeds storage

Investigating the cyclic breaking of butyl-, methyland ethyl-biodiesel from waste vegetable oil using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry

The main advantage of biodiesel to fossil-diesel is attributed to the ester functional group in its structure. Many researchers have affirmed that the functional group assists the diesel engine to function at its peak. However, the efficiency of the biodiesel to keep the mechanical piston-strokes in the diesel engine is experimentally presumed low especially if the engine works for a long time. In this research, it was proposed that the cyclic break down of the ester functional group of biodiesel is a major disadvantage. Butanol, ethanol and methanol biodiesel were produced in the laboratory using waste vegetable oil from restaurant. The Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or spectrophotometer (UV–Vis) was used to investigate the cyclic break down in the Butyl-, Methyl- and Ethyl- biodiesel. The Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or spectrophotometer (UV–Vis) was used to probe the various biodiesel samples with a start and stop wavelength of 500 and 900 nm respectively. The wavelength interval was 1 nm at a high scanning speed. Between 500–550 and 800–850 nm, the Ethyl- and Butyl- biodiesel had an absorbance of 2.7 and 1.6 respectively with 3 peaks each. Methyl-biodiesel had the highest absorbance of 1.7 at 600–650 nm with 1 peak. The computational extrapolation of all outcomes affirms that cyclic breaking is highest in Butylbiodiesel. The most resilient biodiesel type was the Ethyl-biodiesel. However, it was recommended that cyclic breaking may be preserved by ratio-mixing of biodiesel with fossil-diesel

Oxirane Ring Opening of Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Seed Oil by Perfomic Acid

Studies on the epoxidation of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed oil, a renewable source with formic acid was performed in the presence of 30% hydrogen peroxide at a of temperature 40, 50,60,70 oC. The process is favoured by an increase in temperature forming a product with high oxirane content which is as a result of mole ratios of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Products of high oxirane content are commercialy viable in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Natural rubber and other products can be obtained from this in- situ technique. Studies in this research shows that the rate of epoxidation increases with an increase in temperature.Oxirane values of 2.30, 3.62 and 4.73 for the various temperature. However high oxirane content of 6.22 was obtained at 70 oC which is in line with literature. FTIR analysis was also carried out on the epoxidized rubber seed oil which shows the peaks of oxirane cleavage

EVALUATION OF GLUCOSE SYRUP PRODUCED FROM CASSAVA HYDROLYZED WITH MALTED GRAINS (RICE, SORGHUM & MAIZE)

The crude malt obtained from the grains were hydrolyzed with cassava starch to obtain glucose syrup. 94.33% malt was produced from maize, rice had 84.46% malt, while sorghum had 84.97% malt. Glucose syrup yield was greatest using sorghum malt with percentage yield of 75.55%, 52.37% using rice malt, and while maize malt had 48.33 % syrup. Maize sample had highest malt yield but lowest glucose syrup yield showing that glucose syrup yield is in dependent on malt yield but on the quality of amylase produced during malting. Analysis on the glucose syrup obtained gave the following results: moisture content of 13.8%, 14.5%, 15.4%; ash content of 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.01%; carbohydrate 86.47%, 84.76%, 83.01%; total reducing sugar (invert sugar) 85.79%, 83.86%, 82.58%; total soluble (sugar brix) 100°Brix, 110°Brix, 105°Brix for rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively. Dextrose equivalent, viscosity, colour and taste of the end products were also analyzed. Microbial analysis was 2×101, 5×101, 3×101 cfu/mL for glucose syrup from rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively with no trace of yeast or mold growth making the glucose syrup fit for consumptio

Technical appraisal of some maize shellers in Oyo and Kwara States of Nigeria

This study assessed the performance of some maize shellers in use in grain markets in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. A preliminary survey conducted identified shellers in use as basic maize sheller (BMS) without blower, maize sheller with blower attachment (MSB) and the multi-purpose sheller (MPS). The shelling/cleaning performance of the shellers were assessed using yellow maize (SWAN 1 variety) and some key equipment parameters, which impact performance were measured. The air velocity for MSB and MPS ranged between 0.4 and 2.4 m/s which was not sufficient for efficient cleaning of chaff from shelled grains. Shaft speed for BMS, MSB and MPS were 845, 920 and 820 rpm, respectively. Average throughput for BMS, MSB and MPS was 1,714, 600 and 840 kg/hr, respectively with mean shelling efficiencies of 92.9, 82.7 and 97.9%, respectively. Mean cleaning efficiencies were 54.0 and 57.7% for MSB and MPS, respectively. The percentage grain loss for BMS, MSB and MPS were 17, 7.1 and 1.9%, respectively. It was observed that many fabricators do not consult agricultural engineers when producing machines, relying more on previous experience. Additionally, there was a lack of consideration for operator safety with the exposure of moving parts of the equipment in all the designs evaluated. A key recommendation from this study is that sheller designs should be standardized to ensure the provision of quality and highly efficient machinery for processors

Studies of the In-Situ Epoxidation of Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Seed Oil by Performic Acid

Studies on the epoxidation of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed oil, a renewable source with formic acid was performed in the presence of 30% hydrogen peroxide at a of temperature 40, 50,60,70 oC. The process is favoured by an increase in temperature forming a product with high oxirane content which is as a result of mole ratios of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Products of high oxirane content are commercialy viable in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Natural rubber and other products can be obtained from this in- situ technique. Studies in this research shows that the rate of epoxidation increases with an increase in temperature.Oxirane values of 2.30, 3.62 and 4.73 for the various temperature. However high oxirane content of 6.22 was obtained at 70 oC which is in line with literature. FTIR analysis was also carried out on the epoxidized rubber seed oil which shows the peaks of oxirane cleavage