Effects of dietary levels of enzyme (Maxigrain®) supplemented yam peel meal on performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits

A study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary levels of enzyme supplemented yam peel meal (YPM) on performance and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. Five diets were formulated using YPM to replace maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% representing diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. All the diets were supplemented with Mixagrain® enzyme at 200g except the control diet 1 (0%). Thirty weaner rabbits consisting of mixed breeds and sexes were randomly allotted to the five dietary treatments with six rabbits per treatment and replicated 3 times with 2 rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design. On the 56th day of the experiment, 3 rabbits from each treatment were randomly selected for carcass and internal organs evaluation. Result of performance shows no significant differences (P>0.05) across the treatments for all the parameters measured for growth performance. Feed cost/kg (₦ /gain) reduces from ₦225.68 in diet 1 – ₦189.15 in diet 5 (100%) while cost savings increased from ₦ 0.9 in diet 1 - ₦28.33 in diet 5 (100%). Result of carcass and internal organs characteristics did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) except for small and large intestine length in diets 4 (75%) and diet 5 (100%). Based on this result therefore, enzyme supplemented YPM can be used to replace maize completely.Keywords: Enzymes, yam peel meal, performance, carcass, weaner rabbit

Antibacterial Activity and Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Extracts of Garlic cloves and Lemon juice by GC-MS Analysis

The search for alternative regimens to treatment of infectious diseases as well as the increase in antibiotic resistance by pathogens has prompted continuous efforts towards discovery of new drugs. In this study, crude aqueous and acetone extracts of garlic cloves and lemon juice were obtained. The extracts were tested against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar well diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton Agar plates. All extracts showed inhibitory action against the bacterium with acetone extracts having higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The acetone extracts were further fractionated using solvent – solvent extraction and retested on the bacterium. The bioactive compounds that lead to the antibacterial activity of the fractions of the extracts were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis where 2,5-Furandione and dihydro-3-methylene were identified in garlic cloves fraction as main compounds with other 8 compounds in trace quantity while 11-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester, Oleic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid were identified in lemon juice fraction as main compounds with 6 other compounds in trace quantity. These findings claim capacity and future use of these compounds for new drug development. The future work will be to determine toxicity, side effects and pharmaco-kinetic properties of the compounds. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Garlic cloves, Lemon juice, GC-MS analysis, bioactive compounds

Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Senna Fistula on some Haematological Parameters, Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Summary: Increasing evidence in both experimental and clinical studies suggests that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of both types of diabetes mellitus. The disease is also known to adversely affect some haematological parameters and cause dyslipidemia. This study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic administration of ethanolic leave extract of Senna fistula on haematological values, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in experimental diabetic rats. Twenty-four albino rats weighing 120-150 g were divided into 4 experimental groups of six rats each; control, diabetic untreated, diabetic treated with glibenclamide and diabetic treated with 100 mg/kg b.w of Senna fistula. Diabetes was induced by 100 mg/kg b.w. of alloxan monohydrates. The control and diabetic groups received normal saline while the diabetic treated groups were administered with 5mg/kg and 100mg/kg body weight of glibenclamide and ethanolic leaves extract of Senna fistula respectively for 28 days. At the end of experimental period blood samples were taken from the animals for the determination of Red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA), marker of lipid peroxidation. The result showed that in diabetic rats, PCV, RBC and Hb were decreased but the application of the extract increased the parameters (P<0.05, n=6). Similarly, the result showed a significant increase in total cholesterol, TG and LDL level of the diabetic group when compared with the control, glibenclamide and extract treated diabetic groups, however, there was no significant difference in HDL level in all the groups. The result also showed a significant decrease in elevated MDA (P<0.05, n=6) of diabetic treated rats. These findings suggest that ethanolic leaves extract of Senna fistula might improve the diabetic induced disturbances of some haematological parameters, reduces the plasma lipid imbalances and decreases the production of free radicals associated with diabetes.Keywords: Glibenclamide, Senna Fistula, Diabetes Mellitus, Packed Cell Volume, Malondialdehyd

Reaction of some selected soy bean varieties (Glycine max (L)Merril)to root -knot nematode infection

Two-year screen-house studies to evaluate the reaction of five soybean varieties (TGX – 1987 – 34F, TGX -1987 – 38F, TGX – 1987 – 95F, TGX – 1986 -3F, TGX – 1985 – 8F) to root – knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, were conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin. Forty experimental pots containing pasteurized soil were used. Twenty pots were inoculated each with approximately 3,000 eggs of M. incognita while the other twenty which did not receive any treatment served as control. The experimental set up was a completely randomized design having each treatment replicated four times. Results showed that all the varieties were susceptible to M. incognita at varying degrees. While plant height of nematode inoculated varieties were significantly (P=0.05) lower than the un-inoculated plants, among the same varieties, there were significant differences in the number of branches of inoculated and non inoculated plants between different and among the same varieties. There were varietal differences in terms of seed weight which represented actual yield. Generally, the un-innoculated plants gave significantly higher yield than inoculated ones. Root gall infestation rated the same level for all the five varieties. However, variety TGX-1985 – 8F exhibited superior characteristics over the other four varieties because it showed higher level of tolerance to nematode infestation judging from its performance and yield. From the study, it can be deduced that the use of nematode resistant/tolerant Soybean varieties be adopted in the management of root- knot nematode infestation. It is one of the cheapest and safest control methods that pose no form of hazard to man and the environment. In nematode endemic ecological zones, TGX-1985 – 8F is therefore recommended as it proved to contain some specialized genes that conferred a higher level of tolerance against root- knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Key Words: Glycine max, root – knot nematode, Dominant loci, Mi – 1.2, leucine zipper and R genes

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of Orange II by Chlorate Ion in Aqueous Hydrochloric Acid

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2):165-170 Authors: B. Myek, S. O. Idris, A. D. Onu and M. K. Yakubu Received 05 March 2020/Accepted 03 May 2020 The kinetics of the oxidation of orange II (OR-) by ClO3-was studied in aqueous hydrochloric acid where the ionic strength and other parameters of the reaction mixture was, I = 0.50 mol dm-3 (NaCl), [H+] = 5.0 10-2 mol dm-3 (HCl) and T = 21 +/_ 1o C. The redox reaction displayed a stoichiometry of 1:2 and obeys the rate law given as,−????[????????−]/???????? = ????[????][????????][???????????? ]. The observed second order rate constant was found to increases with increase in hydrogen ion concentration. The rates of reaction displayed a zero salt effect and was inhibited by some added cations and anions. From the Michaelis-Menton Buck plot, there was no evidence for the formation of intermediate during the course of the reaction. Based on the results obtained, the outersphere mechanism was proposed for the reaction.&nbsp

Structural And Phytochemical Characterization of Bioactive Components of the Endophytic Fungi (Trichoderma harzianum) Extracts

This research aims to investigate the antioxidant activity of the crude extract of endophytic fungi (T. harzianum) and to test for the presence of phytochemicals. Fungi isolated from the leaf and stem of endemic medicinal plant were extracted with ethyl acetate. The fungi extract was then investigated for its phytochemicals, antioxidants and active compounds through LC-MS. Some of the phytochemicals present in abundance include saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and steroids, with tanins and cardiac glycosides also present in reasonable amounts. Those compounds identified by LC-MS with antioxidant properties include inosine diphosphate, vigabatrin, isoamylnitrite, proline, trihexyphenidyl-N-oxide, N-methyl gabapentin, penbutolol, dextromoramide M2, solanidine, aceclidine, desethyleneciproflaxin, sapropterin and kinetin

FULL CAR ACTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM FOR VIBRATION CONTROL

Full car passive and active damping system mathematical model was developed. Computer simulation using MATLAB was performed and analyzed. Two different road profile were used to check the performance of the passive and active damping using Linear Quadratic Regulator controller (LQR)Road profile 1 has three bumps with amplitude of 0.05m, 0.025 m and 0.05 m. Road profile 2 has a bump with amplitude of 0.05 m and a hole of -0.025 m. For all the road profiles, there were 100% amplitude reduction in Wheel displacement, Wheel deflection, Suspension travel and body displacement, and 97.5% amplitude reduction in body acceleration for active damping with LQR controller as compared to the road profile and 54.0% amplitude reduction in body acceleration as compared to the passive damping system. For the two road profiles, the settling time for all the observed parameters was less than two (2) seconds. The present work gave faster settling time for mass displacement, body acceleration and wheel displacement

A Review on Required Catalysts Composition and its Effective Preparation Method for Hydrodeoxygenation of Bio-oil

The hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil performance is dependent on the efficiency and effectiveness of the applied catalyst. The effectiveness of a catalyst in hydrodeoxygenation reaction heavily depends on its composition. In this review, an overview of hydrodeoxygenation catalyst composition and its effective preparation methods are highlighted and discussed. Various catalyst compositions such active metals,  promoters, and catalyst supports used for hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil to saturated hydrocarbon fuels are discussed. Furthermore,  effective synthesis methods for nickel-based catalysts as well as factors that can enhance better distribution and dispersion of active nickel species over catalyst support at various developmental stages, i.e. during deposition, drying and activation (which involve calcination and reduction of catalysts synthesis) are discussed