Improvement of diabetic dyslipidemia by legumes in experimental rats

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins; hence, their exploitation is expected to grow in relation to a growing world's food needs. Apart from high level of dietary fibre, their protein composition makes them useful in managing diabetes. This paper reports a study conducted to evaluate the effects of four different non-soy legume-based (Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata, Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranea) diets in rats administered with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bodyweight). Concentration of plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and HDL-triacyglycerol as well as hepatic levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined spectrophotometrically in alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed on these legumes for five weeks. Induction of rats with alloxan monohydrate led to significant (p<0.05) elevation of fasting plasma glucose and reduction in body weight. Consumption of each of the four legumes led to a significant reduction in the fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) with V. subterranean causing about 60% reduction. Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana and Sphenostylis stenocarpa caused a reversal of the diabetes-induced reduction of hepatic cholesterol (p<0.05). Plasma dyslipidemia was observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats as significant (p<0.05) increases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed. The legumes improved the plasma lipid profile as shown by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (ranging from 1.25-2.25 for control groups to 1.00-1.35 for the legume-fed groups) and LDL-Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol (ranging from 0.50-1.75 for control groups to 0.50-0.75 for the legume fed groups). The results suggest that wild cowpea, white cowpea, african yam bean and bambara groundnut equally reversed diabetes-associated dyslipidemia as indicated by the indexes of cardiovascular disorder. This, therefore, underscores the potential of these underutilized legumes in managing dyslipidemia associated with diabetes in experimental rats. These data should contribute toward enhancing the nutraceutical potential and utility of these legumes.Keywords: Diabetes, lipid profile, rats, legumesAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 13 No. 2, April 201

Assessment of bio-preservative potential of Gmelina arborea roxb. Seed-oil on laminated bamboo against termite attack

The efficacy of Gmelina arborea seed-oil as preservative on laminated bamboo against termite attack was investigated. Gmelina arborea fruits and ten matured Bambusa vulgaris of over 4 years were sourced from Oyo State, Nigeria. Oil was chemically extracted from the G. arborea seeds using n’ hexane and ethanol solvents and thereafter mixed with kerosene (at 50%) using volume-to-volume method to increase its quantity. The phytochemical screening of the seed of Gmelina arborea revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and phenols at different quantity. Strips from the base, middle and top of the harvested bamboo culms were soaked in the hexane and ethanol extracted G. arborea seedoil while, the untreated samples served as the control and thereafter used to produce boards. The production of laminated bamboo board was carried out in Bamboo and Rattan Workshop of Forest Products Development and Utilization Department, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria. Durability test was carried out and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P<0.05. From the results, the weight loss from termite attack of the laminated boards ranged from 7.93 to 27.75% with increase from top to base resulting in decrease in weight loss of the boards produced. Boards preserved with G. arborea seed-oil ethanol extract were more resistant to termite attack (12.29%) compared to those preserved with the G. arborea seed-oil n’ hexane extract (13.59%). Based on the result obtained, G. arborea seed-oil extracts have the potential of being an effective wood preservative. Keywords: Bamboo, G. arborea seed-oil, chemical extraction, phytochemical, weight los

Nanomaterials for subsurface application: study of particles retention in porous media

The ability to transport nanoparticles through porous media has interesting engineering applications, notably in reservoir capacity exploration and soil remediation. A series of core-flooding experiments were conducted for quantitative analysis of functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles transport through various porous media including calcite, dolomite, silica, and limestone rocks. The adsorption of surfactants on the rock surface and nanoparticle retention in pore walls were evaluated by chemical oxygen demand (COD) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. By applying TiO2 nanoparticles, 49.3 and 68.0 wt.% of surfactant adsorption reduction were observed in pore walls of dolomite and silica rock, respectively. Not surprisingly, the value of nanoparticle deposition for dolomite and silica rocks was near zero, implying that surfactant adsorption is proportional to nanoparticle deposition. On the other hand, surfactant adsorption was increased for other types of rock in presence of nanoparticles. 5.5, 13.5, and 22.4 wt.% of nanoparticle deposition was estimated for calcite, black and red limestone, respectively. By making a connection between physicochemical rock properties and nanoparticle deposition rates, we concluded that the surface roughness of rock has a significant influence on mechanical trapping and deposition of nanoparticles in pore-throats

Improvement Of Diabetic Dyslipidemia By Legumes In Experimental Rats

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins; hence, their exploitation is expected to grow in relation to a growing world&apos;s food needs. Apart from high level of dietary fibre, their protein composition makes them useful in managing diabetes. This paper reports a study conducted to evaluate the effects of four different non-soy legume-based ( Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana, Vigna unguiculata ssp.unguiculata, Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranea ) diets in rats administered with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bodyweight). Concentration of plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and HDL-triacyglycerol as well as hepatic levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined spectrophotometrically in alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed on these legumes for five weeks. Induction of rats with alloxan monohydrate led to significant (p<0.05) elevation of fasting plasma glucose and reduction in body weight. Consumption of each of the four legumes led to a significant reduction in the fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) with V. subterranean causing about 60% reduction. Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana and Sphenostylis stenocarpa caused a reversal of the diabetes-induced reduction of hepatic cholesterol (p<0.05). Plasma dyslipidemia was observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats as significant (p<0.05) increases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed. The legumes improved the plasma lipid profile as shown by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (ranging from 1.25-2.25 for control groups to 1.00-1.35 for the legume-fed groups) and LDL-Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol (ranging from 0.50-1.75 for control groups to 0.50-0.75 for the legume fed groups). The results suggest that wild cowpea, white cowpea, african yam bean and bambara groundnut equally reversed diabetes-associated dyslipidemia as indicated by the indexes of cardiovascular disorder. This, therefore, underscores the potential of these underutilized legumes in managing dyslipidemia associated with diabetes in experimental rats. These data should contribute toward enhancing the nutraceutical potential and utility of these legumes