Effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of cassia occidentalis l. seeds on serum electrolytes concentration in rats

The effect of aqueous extract of C. occidentalis seeds on serum electrolytes concentration, in rats, was investigated in order to assess the acclaimed hypotensive effect of the seeds and also the seeds extract’s relation with acid – base balance of the body. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate ions were determined in 64 rats grouped into 4. Groups I, II and III rats were orally administrated with the seeds extract at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg and 90 mg/kg respectively for 1,2,3 and 4 weeks each. Group IV served as control. Concentration of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate in the serum of control rats were found to range from 130 – 155 mEq/L, 3.4 - 8.7 mEq/L, 80 – 107 mmol/L and 20 -35 mmol/L respectively. The results of this study showed no significant difference (

Flower extract as an improvised indicator in acid – base titration

Different flowers were collected and the extracts were tested for indicator properties in acidic and basic solutions. The results showed different colour changes in alkaline and colourless in acid solutions. When used in acid-base titration, the end points colours and the average titre values obtained matched with that of standard phenolphthalein indicator. The finding indicates an alternative way of enriching laboratory practical with an instructional material that is useful, economical, simple and accurate for the said titration. Therefore, it is recommended for integrated science and chemistry instructions.Keywords: Flower, acid, base, indicator, titration

Isolation and Characterization of Steroids from Petroleum Ether Extract of Stem Bark of Parinari curatellifolia Planch ex. Benth (Chrysobalanaceae)

In our search for biologically active compounds, three steroids have been isolated from the stem bark of Parinari curatellifolia through series of column chromatography. Compound C1, C2 and C3 where characterized as ?-sitosterol (22,23-dihydrostigmasterol), stigmast-4-en-3-one and stigmasterol, respectively, on the basis of 1D-NMR (1HNMR, 13CNMR and DEPT-135), 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY,  1H-1H NOESY), mass spectroscopy (MS) and IR spectroscopy. These compounds are reported for the first time as constituents in Parinari curatellifolia. Keywords: Parinari curatellifolia, ?-sitosterol, stigmast-4-en-3-one and stigmastero

A discrete-time mathematical model for the control of weeds population density towards improving crop yields

In this paper, a mathematical model for the control of single weed species population density is proposed. The model’s steady-state solutions were obtained and analysed for local and global stabilities. The analysis reveals that the model is locally asymptotically stable and as well globally stable. Graphical simulations were carried out to support the analytic analysis of the model for the global stability and concludes that, weed proliferation may be controlled if the control strategy is target at the recruitment factors. Base on this finding, it is recommended that for effective control, weeds management tactics should be targeted at the recruitment stage rather than the usual practice of controlling mature weed through the application of herbicides. Hence, application of the results of this work may reduce or eradicate the weeds density and improve crop yield at its optimum capacity for sustainable food production

Feeding of Kargo (Piliostigma reticulatum) to Small Ruminants in Jigawa State: A Preliminary Study

A survey was conducted to investigate the use of Kargo (Piliostigma reticulatum) as feedstuff for small ruminants in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 120 structural questionnaires were administered to randomly selected livestock rearers in six Local Government Areas of Jigawa State during the months of October to May (dry season) of 2013. The results obtained showed that the respondents examined vary in age group from 11 years to above 61 years with majority being within the ages of 31- 40 years (42.72%). Male respondents constituted 64.08%. Almost all the respondents had some form of education and their experience in small ruminant rearing vary from 1 year to 40 years. Majority of the respondents (81) encountered had a flock size (21-40) which constitute 78.64%. Livestock species kept by the respondents vary from sheep alone 14.56% to those that kept goat alone 23.30%, while those that kept both sheep and goat were the majority 62.14% among the respondent encountered and 41.74% fed Kargo as sole feed during dry season. However, majority of the respondents 66.02% fed their animals Kargo leaves and Kargo pods, whilst 21.36% fed Kargo leaves alone, and 12.62% fed Kargo pods only. The study concluded that farmers had some level of awareness on the potential value of Kargo as feedstuff for small ruminants and therefore recommended that they should be enlighten on it nutritive value. Keywords: Jigawa State, Kargo, Small Ruminants, and Utilization

PENTACYCLIC TRITERPENOIDS FROM THE STEM-BARK OF ALBIZIA CHEVALIERI HAMS (MIMOSACEAE)

Objective: This research is focused towards isolation and identification of pure compounds from the extracts fractions of Albizia chevalieri through the means of gravity column chromatography and other chromatographic processes.Methods: the stem bark was extracted exhaustively with hexane and subsequently with methanol. The methanolic extract was fractionated into ethyl acetate (EA) and n-butanol (NB) soluble parts, after which the hexane extracts were subjected to silica gel gravity column chromatography for the isolation of pure bioactive molecules.The major compounds isolated, were then determined and identified by the use of spectrometric analysis of HR-ESIMS, 1HNMR, [13]CNMR, IR and UV spectra.Results: Investigation of the stem bark hexane extract fraction of A. chevalieri led to the isolation of three known pentacyclic triterpenoids: friedelin (HXC1), Friedelan-3-ol (HXC2) and Lupeol (HXC3), for the first time in the plant.Conclusion: The results obtained will be useful in the evaluation (bioassay) of the isolated compounds against the list of folklore therapeutic claims of A. chevalieri (which include its use as purgative, taenicidal, remedies of cough, dysentery, cancer, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis and snake bite), and thereby providing scientific basis for its used for treatment of the aforementioned ailments.Keywords: Friedelin, Friedilan-3-ol, Lupeol, Isolation, Spectrometr

Ergonomic Assessment of Power Tiller Operators during the Testing of System of Rice Intensification Practices at Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Nigeria is intensively working hard to achieving food security for its ever growing population. One of the strategies adopted was introduction of modern crop intensification practices and mechanization. In line with this, testing and evaluation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was conducted at Bakolori Irrigation Scheme (BIS), Zamfara State - Nigeria. Power Tiller was among the appropriate tools and machinery that were investigated. However, there is the need to match operator’s efforts adopted. Both male and female operators were selected according the ergonomic practices from two farmer’s groups selected for the study. These operators were calibrated using hand ergometer and stethoscope while calibration curves were developed. Weather of the days of the exercise were also documented. Similarly, the anthropometric data of operators were examined in order to compute the quetlets index. Ergonomic assessments of the operators was conducted for energy cost assessment with mouldboard plough, disc plough and puddler. The overall results indicated that: quetlets index of the male operators ranges 17.24 – 22.9, while that of the female was 17.86 – 21.00. The energy cost of the male operators for mouldboard plough ranges; 14 – 25kJ/min, disc plough; 13.2 – 23.1kJ/min and puddler; 10.3 – 15.8kJ/min. The female operators operated mouldboard plough, the energy cost ranges; 10.4 – 14kJ/min. It was observed that the energy cost of male mouldboard plough operator is almost twice that of the female in the same environment, soil condition and power tiller type

Ultrastructural Changes and Bacterial Localization in Buffalo Calves Following Oral Exposure to Pasteurella multocida B:2

This study describes the ultrastructural changes and distribution of P. multocida B:2 in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of buffalo calves following oral exposure and compared with intratracheal exposure. Nine 8-month old buffalo calves were divided into 3 groups. At the start of the experiment, dexamethasone (1mg/kg) was injected intramuscularly into buffaloes of all groups for three consecutive days. Then, calves of Group 1 were exposed orally to 50ml of the inoculum containing 109 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL of live P. multocida B:2. Calves of Group 2 were exposed intra-tracheal to the same inoculum while calves of Group 3 were exposed orally to PBS. Transient and mild clinical signs were observed in calves of Groups 1 and 2. Pasteurella multocida B:2 was isolated from the nasal mucosa for up to 5 days post-infection. Only calf that was killed at 48 h post-infection had P. multocida B:2 in both respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts showing ultrastructural changes typical of acute cellular injury, with degeneration of endothelium and vascular walls. There were deciliation in the respiratory and microvilli degeneration in the gastrointestinal tracts. The study concludes that oral exposure may not play major role in the development of hemorrhagic septicemia. Nevertheless, the buffalo calf that succumbed to hemorrhagic septicemia carried P. multocida B:2 in the gastro-intestinal organs