Isolation, Modification and Characterization of Tiger-Nut, Maize, Cassava and Potato Starch

Four different sources of starchy foods were used for the isolation of starch using commercially cheap and readily available chemical-hypo (3.5 % active Chlorine). The isolated starch was modified through NaIO4 oxidation under mild reaction conditions. Carbonyl functional group test was employed for confirmation of the success of oxidation. FT-IR and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used for functional group identification and morphological examination of both modified and native samples to further confirm the success of modification. The appearance of the carbonyl band at 1747-1746 cm-1 and 1647 – 1637 cm-1 indicated the successful synthesis of oxidized starch. Proximate results showed that the isolated starches were rich in mineral content: 0.25-2.13; crude fibre: 0.85-3.31; fat: 0.23-0.28 and energy: 1331-1410. The study showed that commercial hypo could be a useful replacement for metabisulphite for starch isolation without side effects on starch properties. SEM images showed that morphological architecture of granules was not destroyed during surface functionalization. Characteristic and nutritional features of the oxidized starch showed that it could find useful applications in food and pharmaceutical industries

Physicochemical properties and in vitro stability studies of green synthesized gold nanoparticles using pelargonium sidoides

In the present study, Pelargonium sidoides (PS) extract was used in the green synthesis of AuNPs that was characterized by UV-Vis, TEM, SAED, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and DLS. UV-Vis showed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at λmax of 532 nm while TEM shows that the particles are predominantly spherical and monodispersed. DLS measurement indicated the particle size and the zeta potential to be 27.20 nm and -24.0 mV respectively. The in vitro stability of the hybrid particles in different solutions and buffers (pH 7 and 9) confirmed that the particles are stable over a given period. The method employed is simple, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive. Our studies suggest that the Pelargonium sidoides-gold nanoparticles (PS-AuNPs) may be safely used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery. Keywords: Pelargonium sidoides; biosynthesis; biomedicals; capping agent; zeta potentia

Assessment of Selected Heavy Metal Content on Dumpsites Soil and Vegetables Grown in Muwo Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria

This study examines the concentration of heavy metals in soil samples and some vegetables (spinach, water leaf, bitter leaf and jute mallow) cultivated around dumpsites in Muwo Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria. The soil samples and vegetable were analyzed for Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd using AA500 spectrophotometer after acid digestion. Data obtained show that, the Pb (1.684 mg/kg of Jute) content was high compared to other metals study in this work. Concentration of Zn was 1.993, 0.862 and 0.443 mg/kg for water leaf, soil and control sample respectively. The content of Pb was 1.727, 1.738 and ND mg/kg for water leaf, soil and control sample respectively. Also, the concentration of Pb was 1.736, ND and 0.457 mg/kg for spinach, soil and control sample respectively. However, the content of Zn was 0.786, 0.751 and 0.554 mg/kg for spinach, soil and control sample respectively The accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils is of increasing concern because of, potential health risks, food safety as well as its detrimental effects on the soil ecosystem and human health. The pollution indexes of Ni contents are 0.439, 0.378, and 0.083 for jute, soil and control sample respectively. While Zn concentration was 1.117, 0.858 and 0.492 for jute, soil and control sample respectively. The result of this study shows that Pb concentrations are present in high levels in the study area at the different level of contamination

EFFECT OF SOLUTION pH AND TEMPERATURE ON PHENOL ADSORPTION ONTO CARBONIZED RICE HUSK CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED WITH PHOSPHORIC ACID

Operating conditions such as pH and temperature are important factors that influence the performance of activated carbon and solute uptake in adsorption process. Thus, this research work was aimed at studying the effect of solution pH and temperature on phenol adsorption onto rice husk activated carbon. Results obtained showed that when pH was increased from 2 to 4, adsorption capacity and removal efficiency increased, and thereafter, decreased progressively with additional increase in pH. Results also showed that when temperature was increased from 30 to 50 oC adsorption capacity and removal efficiency decreased. Therefore, this study has established that the optimum solution pH for adsorption of phenol onto phosphoric acid modified rice husk activated carbon is 4, and better performance of the adsorption process was occurred at lower solution temperatures

Possible association between ABCC8 C49620T polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in a Nigerian population

The association between ABCC8 gene C49620T polymorphism and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in populations of diverse ethnic backgrounds has been reported. However, such occurrence in an African population is yet to be established. This case-control study involving 73 T2D and 75 non-diabetic (ND) patients investigated the occurrence of this polymorphism among T2D patients in Nigeria and assessed its relationship with body lipids of patients. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were collected and lipid profile indices including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were assayed. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR (RFLP-PCR) was employed to genotype the ABCC8-C49620T polymorphism using PstI restriction enzyme. This study revealed significantly (p 0.05) of T2D for the unadjusted codominant, dominant and recessive models. Following age adjustment, the mutant genotypes (CT and TT) showed significant (p<0.05) risk of T2D for all the models with the recessive model presenting the greatest risk of T2D (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.16-4.91, p<0.018). The TT genotype significantly (p<0.05) associated with high level of HDL and reduced levels of TC, TG and LDL in non-diabetic patients but was not associated with any of the demographic and clinical characteristics among T2D patients. ABCC8 C49620T polymorphism showed possible association with T2D marked by predominance of the mutant TT genotype in T2D patients. However, the relationship between TT genotype and lipid abnormalities for possible beneficial effect on people suffering from T2D is unclear

Barrier property enhancement of starch citrate bioplastic film by an ammonium-thiourea complex modification

Although citric acid modification of starch biopolymers gives a more thermodynamically stable starch citrate, the barrier properties of the product is relatively poor. This paper reports a novel modification process which significantly improved the barrier properties of starch citrate by treating it with a complex formed from ammonium acetate and thiourea in the presence of a polysorbate catalyst. The barrier characteristics which were investigated include percentage moisture absorption, percentage reflectance, and water vapour release study. FTIR, SEM and TGA were employed to characterize the starch citrate biofilms before and after ammonium-thiourea complex modifications. Keywords: Bioplastics, Starch citrate, Barrier properties, Thiourea, Biopolymer

PLGF-MMP9 expressing cells restore microcirculation and efficacy of cell terapy in old dystrophic muscle

Sclerosis and reduced microvessel density characterize advanced stages of muscular dystrophy and hamper cell or gene delivery, precluding treatment of most individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Modified tendon fibroblasts expressing an angiogenic factor (placenta growth factor, PlGF) and a metalloproteinase (matrix metalloproteinase-9, MMP-9) are able to restore a vascular network and reduce collagen deposition, allowing efficient cell therapy in aged dystrophic mice. These data open the possibility of extending new therapies to currently untreatable individuals