Effect of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) on serum glucose, and lipid profile in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Momordica charantia (bitter melon) has been used extensively in herbal medicine as remedy for many disease conditions. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Momordica charantia (MC) aqueous leaf extract on serum fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid profile (total cholesterol TC, triglyceride TAG, high density lipoprotein HDL, low density lipoprotein LDL) in alloxan-induced diabetic rat. The extract was administered orally at the dose of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, and 600mg/kg body weight either for a period of 2 or 4 week. A significant (p<0.05) improvement in the biochemical parameters such as FBG, TC, TAG, HDL, and LDL levels was observed in MC treated rats as compared to diabetic control rats. The response to treatment was gradual and dose-dependent with maximum effect at higher dose of 600mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks.Keywords: Momordica charantia, blood glucose, Lipid profile, Diabetes

A study of the combustion chemistry of petroleum and bio-fuel oil asphaltenes

The combustion of heavy fuel oils such as Bunker C and vacuum residual oil (VRO) are widely used for industrial applications such as furnaces, power generation and for large marine engines. There is also the possible use of bio-oils derived from biomass. Combustion of these oils generates carbonaceous particulate emissions and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that are both health hazards and have an adverse effect on the climate. This paper explores the mechanism of the formation of fine particulate soot and cenospheres. The chemical structure of petroleum asphaltene have been investigated via pyrolysis techniques. The results are consistent with a structure made up of linked small aromatic and naphthenic clusters with substituent alkyl groups, some in the long chains, with the building blocks held together by bridging groups. Other functional groups also play a role. The corresponding bio-asphaltene is made up of similar aromatic and oxygenated species and behave in an analogous way

The Impact of Fuel Properties on the Composition of Soot Produced by the Combustion of Residential Solid Fuels in a Domestic Stove

Soot is formed from the incomplete combustion of biomass and conventional fossil fuels. It consists largely of a carbonaceous core termed Elemental Carbon (EC) with adsorbed volatile organic species, commonly termed Organic Carbon (OC). Estimation of the ratio of BC/OC is critical as climate models have recognised the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of BC as the second most important climate forcing agent after carbon dioxide. This paper presents values of EC, OC and EC/TC (where TC = EC + OC) for three different soot types: Firstly, soots collected on filters from the combustion of eight fossil fuel and biomass residential solid fuels (RSF), burned in a 6 kW heating stove. Secondly, chimney soot deposits taken from 'real-life' stoves installed in domestic homes; and finally wick burner soots generated from biomass model compounds; namely eugenol, furfural and anisole. Values of the EC/TC ratios for wood logs, torrefied briquettes, coal and smokeless fuel are given. These ratios are highly dependent on burning conditions; namely the flaming and smouldering phases. The results of this study suggest that EC and OC emissions from various solid fuels differ substantially in composition and relative proportion, which is useful information for climate models

Quantitative estimation of biogas produced from the leaves and stem mixtures of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The concept of using aquatic plants for the production of energy (methane) is gaining attention in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, where warm climate is connected to the plant growth throughout the year. This research work investigated the overall quantity of biogas produced by the leaves, stem and the mixture of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) using locally constructed digesters for a period of eight weeks. The percentage gas production fell within the range of 50-55%, with a high yield record in order for the leaves > mixture > stems. The effect of mixed substrate, which was earlier reported to favor the rate of gas production, had in the present study no appreciable effect on biogas yield as did the leaves. Generally, biogas was successfully obtained from Eichhornia crassipes, in a comparable proportion with similar biomasses earlier reported. Mineral elemental analysis revealed that digested slurry could be used as eco-friendly manure after the production of the gas.Keywords: Water hyacinth, biomass, biogas, methane, anaerobic digestion International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(3): 203-207, 200

Antibacterial activity of the active Component of Cassia alata (Linn) Leaves

Fresh leaves of Cassia alata Linn were extracted using different solvents first with water, then methanol then n-hexane and lastly with acetone. On comparison between methanol extract and extracts of other solvents it was revealed that methanol gave the maximum extraction, this was evident during the chromatographic separation as it gave large number of fractions. Chromatographic method was used to separate the different components of the extract. The crude extract as well as the chromatographic fractions were tested for antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method. Among the fractions, only one component show antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus. The active chromatographic fraction revealed the presence of steroids. KEYWORDS: Antibacterial, ,Cassia alata, Staphylococcus aureu

Physicochemical and heavy metals values of Nigerian crude oil samples

Crude oil samples collected from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Benin City representing three different oil wells each for Onshore and Offshore and labeled A, B, C for Onshore and D, E, F for offshore were analyzed for their ash content, volatile matter, pH, relative density and metal content. The results showed that manganese recorded the highest concentration, while copper had the least. The mean values of the ash in both the Onshore and Offshore crude oil are in the order C>A>B for the Onshore and E>F>D for the Offshore oil samples analyzed, and the overall ash content for all the samples analyzed are in the order C>E>B>F>D>A. The values of the volatile matter in both the onshore and off shore crude oil samples obeyed the order B>A>C for the onshore and D>F>E for offshore crude oil samples, while the general trend was in the order C<E<B<F<D<A. The mean pH values of both the onshore and offshore samples were (7.89) for A, (7.62) for B, (7.93) for C, and (8.03) for D, (8.23) for E, (8.11) for F. The relative density of crude oil samples determined at temperature 34oC were of the order C<E<B<F<D>A, The concentration of the heavy metals ranged from 2.20 – 3.5 ppm for Mn, 1.42-1.62 ppm for Ni, 1.04 – 1.44 ppm for Fe, 0.68 – 0.74 ppm for Cr, 0.48 – 0.54 ppm for Zn, 0.28 – 1.12 ppm for Co, 0.31-0.34 ppm for Cd, 017 – 0.19 ppm for Pb and 0.08-0.12 for Cu. It was obvious from these studies and previous ones that Nigerian crude have low metal content. However, the low concentrations could pose an intrinsic health hazard considering their cumulative effect in the environment. Keywords: Heavy metals, crude oil, petroleum, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(1): 10-15, 201

Determination of the Biogas Yielding Potentials of Cattle Dung and Cattle Egret Dropping

Anaerobic fermentation of cattle dung and cattle egret droppings was carried out to determine their biogas yielding capacities. Two digesters labeled A and B were used. Digester A contained 50 g cattle dung and 500 ml of water and digester B contained 50 g cattle egret dropping and 500 ml of water (i.e. 0.1 gcm-3 slurry concentration). The retention time was 10 weeks (70 days). The fermentation temperature varied from 27 to 330C. The pH also varied from 6.8 to 8.2. The total biogas yield (TBY) over the 70 days was 6.779 liters for digester A and 4.494 liters for digester B. Analyses of physicochemical properties that had bearing on the digesters biogas production capacity was also carried out. The N., P and K analysis on the samples showed greater contents in undigested sample of A and contrarily, greater contents in digested sample of B

Biogas Production Potential of Calatropis Procera (Sodom Apple)

The leaves and stems of Calatropis procera was digested under anaerobic condition to generate biogas. Cow dung was used as reference sample. Three digesters Calatropis procera leaves (CPL), Calatropis procera stem (CPS) and Cow Dung (CWD) respectively were used. Each contained 40g sample and 800 ml of water (i.e. 0.05 gcm-3 slurry concentrations). Physicochemical characterization of the digesters for percentage moisture content (%MC) ash content (%AC), volatile matter (%VM), Total Solid (%TS), and Carbon contents (%CC) were also carried out The pH varied from 6.8 to 7.1, the temperature fluctuated from 270C to 330C. The length of time taken was 84 days (12 weeks). The total volumes of biogas produced were 7,919, 5,490 and 4,384 cm3 for CWD, CPL and CPS respectively. The biogas production capacity order for the three samples during the 12 weeks period is cow dung > Calotrpis procera leaves > Calotropis procera stems. Physicochemical analysis on some parameters that affect the bioconversion process was also carried out. Keywords: Calatropis procera, Bio-energy, cow dung, biogas, volatile matte