MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPROVED INDIGENOUS CHICKENS (FUNAAB-ALPHA) FED TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) OR CLOVE (Syzygium aromaticum) AS FEED ADDITIVES

The experiment was conducted to investigate meat quality of improved indigenous chickens (FUNAAB alpha) fed diet containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) and clove (Syzigium aromaticum) powders. One hundred and thirty-five (135) mixed sexed day-old improved indigenous FUNAAB alpha chicks were brooded collectively for two weeks, and assigned into three (3) treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated three times, consisting of fifteen (15) birds. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum through the duration of experiment. The control group was fed the basal diet at starter and  finisher phases (T1), while the other groups were fed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) powder at 3 g/kg (T2) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) (T3) powder at 4 g/kg respectively as additives.   Data obtained were subjected to a One – Way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomised Design. Muscle obtained after evisceration was subjected to quality analysis. Proximate composition of meat obtained from chickens fed the basal diet had the highest (p<0.05) moisture content value of 75.45% compared to other treatments. Water absorptive capacity and cook loss of meat obtained from chickens fed 4 g/kg dietary turmeric showed (p<0.05) values of 3% and 16.4% respectively. Meat sensory properties analysed revealed (p<0.05) score in groups fed 3g/kg and 4 g/kg clove and turmeric powders respectively, for tenderness (6.14) and overall acceptability (7.19). Meanwhile (p<0.05) lipoprotein profile was observed in group fed 4 g/kg turmeric powder. Inclusion, turmeric and clove had beneficial effects on FUNAAB Alpha. &nbsp

Preparation and use of maize tassels’ activated carbon for the adsorption of phenolic compounds in environmental waste water samples

The determination and remediation of three phenolic compounds bisphenol A (BPA), ortho-nitrophenol (o-NTP), parachlorophenol (PCP) in wastewater is reported. The analysis of these molecules in wastewater was done using gas chromatography (GC) × GC time-of-flight mass spectrometry while activated carbon derived from maize tassel was used as an adsorbent. During the experimental procedures, the effect of various parameters such as initial concentration, pH of sample solution, eluent volume, and sample volume on the removal efficiency with respect to the three phenolic compounds was studied. The results showed that maize tassel produced activated carbon (MTAC) cartridge packed solid-phase extraction (SPE) system was able to remove the phenolic compounds effectively (90.84–98.49 %, 80.75–97.11 %, and 78.27–97.08 % for BPA, o-NTP, and PCP, respectively) . The MTAC cartridge packed SPE sorbent performance was compared to commercially produced C18 SPE cartridges and found to be comparable. All the parameters investigated were found to have a notable influence on the adsorption efficiency of the phenolic compounds from wastewaters at different magnitudes

Solubility studies of haemoglobin A modified with Acetyl-3,5-ibromosalicylic acid

No Abstract. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Physics Vol. 14 (1) 2008 pp. 67-7

Morfologija testisa i zalihe sperme u epididimisu štakora nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent

The reversibility of crude oil-induced male reproductive abnormalities was studied in fifi fty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats. Exposure to crude oil was achieved by oral administration of increasing doses (165mg/kg body mass, 330mg/kg body mass, and 660mg/kg body mass) of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil to male rats every 48 hours for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the crude oil was withdrawn from some of the rats for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed signififi cant reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of the rats that received the crude oil (P<0.05) and the rats from which the crude oil was withdrawn (P<0.05), relative to the control group. The testes of the rats that received crude oil showed reduced spermatogenic activity in the seminiferous tubules, as well as hyperaemia and oedema of the interstices. The testes of the rats from which crude oil was withdrawn showed evidence of recovery and the restoration of active spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules. The indication is that the withdrawal of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil from male rats over a period of 8 weeks reversed the testicular pathology, but not the cauda epididymal oligospermia associated with this environmental pollutant.Reverzibilnost reprodukcijskih poremećaja uzrokovanih sirovom naftom istraživana je na 56 štakora Sprague-Dawley. Peroralno su štakorima bile davane sve veće doze (165 mg/kg tjelesne mase, 330 mg/kg tjelesne mase i 660 mg/kg tjelesne mase) nigerijske Qua Iboe Brent sirove nafte svakih 48 sati tijekom četiri tjedna. Nakon toga neki od štakora više nisu dobivali sirovu naftu u razdoblju od osam tjedana. Rezultati su pokazali značajno smanjenje rezervi sperme u epididimisu štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu (P<0,05) i u štakora kojima se prestalo davati sirovu naftu (P<0,05) u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Testisi štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu pokazivali su smanjenu sposobnost spermatogeneze u sjemenskim tubulima, a dokazana je bila hiperemija i edem intersticija. Nakon prestanka davanja sirove nafte testisi su se oporavili te je ponovo došlo do aktivne spermatogeneze u seminifernim tubulima. Aktivnost testisa vratila se na normalu osam tjedana nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent, ali ne i oligospermija repa epididimisa povezana sa zagađenjem okoliša

Antioxidant Properties of Polyalthia longifolia

ABSTRACT: Polyalthia longifolia is a plant found in the tropical areas of the world. The plant is used as an ornamental tree. The seeds of the plant were investigated for its toxicity, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities. The acute toxicity studies of the plant revealed LD 50 of 400mg/kg which indicates that the seeds of the plant are non-toxic and save for human consumption. The plant was found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, tannins, steroids and terpenoids. The antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of the seeds were assayed using rat liver homogenate. Nitric oxide, ferrous sulphate and carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid scavenging activities carried out showed that there were inhibition in the formation of free radicals; indicating a possible antioxidant property. The use of the plant on humans can alleviate the incidence of oxidative stress

Heavy metals concentrations in some surface and ground waters in Imo State, Nigeria

No Abstract. IJONAS Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 157-15