Phytochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Root and Leaf Extracts of Calotropis procera

Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of water, methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from root and leaf of Calotropis procera were investigated. Antibacterial growth inhibition was determined using Ditch method against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyrogenes. The phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and cardiac glycosides, balsams and volatile oil and steroids with higher amount in water extracts. The concentration of the phytochemical constituents were in the order of water > methanol > ethanol. Water extracts showed broad spectrum activity against the tested organisms at concentrations of 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/ml. Methanol and ethanol extracts did not show a significant effect against the tested organisms at 120 mg/ml as compared with those of tetracycline. The result of this study validates the use of water extract of this species in ethnomedicine and could provide a lead in the isolation of antibacterial agents from water extracts of Calotropis procera

Antimicrobial activity of Solanum tomentosum

Acetone, methanol and water extracts from the leaves of Solanum tomentosum were investigated for their antimicrobial activities. Growth inhibition was determined using agar dilution assays against ten selected bacterial and three fungal species. Acetone and methanol extracts were active against the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. None of the extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonae and Penicillium notatum. The activities of the extracts on the test fungi were generally low. Methanol extracts was particularly suppressive to the growth of fungi with inhibitory percentage ranging from 47.22 to 50.56% on Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum.Keywords: Solanum tomentosum, Solanaceae, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifunga

Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Biodiesel from African Grapes (Lannea microcarpa Engl.& K.Krause)

The African Grape (Lannea microcarpa) seed oil was extracted and subjected to fuel properties tests according to standard method for oil and fuel analysis to evaluate its suitability as oil crop for biodiesel production in Nigeria. The oil was transesterified using alkali hydrolysis to biodiesel. The yields of the oil and its methyl ester were 41.20 ±1.32% and 85 ± 1.30% respectively. The biodiesel produced was analysed for its  physicochemical properties and yielded the following properties; kinematic viscosity at 40oC (5.80 cSt), acid value (1.66 mgKOHg-1), flash point (96 oC), cloud point (+9oC), sulphur content (0.03 wt %), and free glycerol (0.54%). The results obtained showed that most of the important properties were within the recommended standards for a biofuel grade biodiesel and suggest the potential of L. microcarpa seeds as a source of biodiesel.Keywords: African Grape, Lannea microcarpa, Seeds, Oil, Biodiese

Chemical and nutrient characterization of Solanum pseudocapsicum berries

Solanum pseudocapsicum is a poisonous plant, yet it is used in traditional medicine topically for the treatment of boils and gonorrhoea, and orally as male tonic and for abdominal pain. Chemical analyses of the berries were carried out by GC-MS and photometric procedures. Twenty-five components were identified from the GC-MS spectra, constituting 99.80% of the extract composition. The major components were predominated by alkaloids (38.55%), hydrocarbons (22.18%), fatty acid (19.38%), alcohol (13.27%), and carboxylic acids derivatives (3.73%). The results of the mineral nutrient evaluation showed that the berries contains substantial amount of phosphorous and nitrogen. The majority of the components identified in this plant are known to be poisonous, which explains the toxic nature of theseberries on animals including human beings. The possible exploitation of these components as a source of pharmaceutical and biodegradable industrial raw material is discussed

Physicochemical Flux and Phytoplankton diversity in Shagari Reservoir,Sokoto, Nigeria

Nutrients availabilty is one of the major contributors to distribution and growth of phytoplankton species. Physicochemical properties and phytoplankton species and their distribution in Shagari Reservoir were evaluated. Standard methods of UNEP were used to determine monthly physicochemical flux properties, diversity and distribution of phytoplankton species were also determined. Phytoplankton classes identified included Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cynophyceae and Dinophyceae. Class Chlorophyceae had the highest annual percentage distribution (37.55%) with four species identified. The least monthly percentage (7.64%) was recorded in November by Dinophyceae. Anabaena wisconsineae (Dinophyceae) had the highest frequency of occurence (96.6%). August, September and October were the most turbid months using Secchi disc measurement with 8.30, 9.0 and 9.8cm respectively. The monthly variation in the physicochemical parameters may be due to seasonal changes and human activities. The levels of nitrogen and phosphorus ranged from 0.30-7.30 Mg/l and 0.1-0.8Mg/l respectively. The reservoir has low species of phytoplankton, which may be due to low levels of nutrients and age of the reservoir.Keywords: Phytoplankton, Physicochemical, Reservoir, Chlorophyceae, Shagari, Sokoto, Nigeria

Phytochemical Screening, Polyphenolic Content and Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne. (Asclepiadaceae) is widely used as vegetable and traditionally in the management of diabetes mellitus and in the treatment of wounds and stomach ache. In this study, phytochemical screening, total phenolic contents and alpha-glucosidase activity of L. hastata leaf extracts were evaluated with the view to validating its antidiabetic potentials. Acetone, methanol and water extracts were screened for the polyphenolic contents while methanol and water extract were used for the evaluation of alpha-glucosidase activity. Phytochemical screening of L. hastata leaf indicated the presence of phenolic glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, alkaloids and saponins. The total phenolics, total flavonoids and proanthocyanidins contents were in the ranges of 17-38, 10-16 and 4-10 mg/g respectively depending on the extraction solvent. The methanol and water extracts had 69.81 and 37.02 % inhibitory effect on alpha-glucosidase activity respectively. The results indicated that L. hastata leaf is rich in polyphenols and possess significant alpha-glucosidase inhibition potential and may therefore be a source of lead compounds in the management of diabetes mellitus and/or other diseases that may be caused by oxidative stress.Keywords: Leptadenia hastata, phytochemicals, polyphenols, alpha-glucosidase, effect, inhibitionNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19 (2): 181-18

Nutritional composition, antinutritional factors and elemental analysis of Nymphaea lotus (water lily)

The study is aimed at evaluating nutritional composition, antinutritional factors and elemental analysis of three parts (roots sample RS, seed sample SS and leave sample LS) of Nymphaea lotus (water lily) using standard  methods. The plant parts were analyzed for the content of crude lipid, crude fiber, crude proteins, ash,  moisture and carbohydrate was estimated by difference. Crude lipids and carbohydrate were higher in seeds,  while crude protein was exceptionally higher in the leaves. There are moderate amount of both antinutritional  factors and heavy metals. The vitamin E content was high in the seeds sample while other vitamins  determined were present in all plant parts respectively. Considering the potential nutritive and health benefits  of the underutilized water lily, it is suggested that utilization of water lily should be encouraged so as to  ameliorate the problem of malnutrition, since it is rich in nutrients.Keywords: Nymphaea lotus, Nutritional, antinutritional factors, water lily, elemental analysi

Biocatalysis of H. sabdariffa during ‘dawadawan botso’ production and biogeneration of volatile compounds

The analysis of free amino acid and volatile compounds were conducted to understand how the fermenting organism’s biocatalyse H. sabdariffa seeds and its role in the biogeneration of free amino acids and flavour compounds in “dawadawan botso”. Fermentation increased the quantity of all essential amino acids except of threonine which decrease by 1.23 g/100 g protein. Arginine had the highest increase with a value of 3.06 g/100 g protein while proline had the least value of 0.22 g/100 g protein. Fermentation increased the total free amino acid from 68.32% to 76.79%. The values of bitter, sweet and MSG-like free amino acids in the unfermented seeds and “dawadawan botso” were different. A total of 22 compounds were identified from the fresh “dawadawan botso” and locally produced dried “dawadawan botso”. Predominant among them are Methyl (9Z) – 12- hydroxyl -9 –octadecenoate (40.66%) in fresh, Methyl (14E) – 14, 17- Octadecadienoate (33.97%) in dried and Cis -9- Hexedecenal (19.96%, 15.13%) in both samples. The compounds include alcohols, acids, esters, aldehydes, and alkanes. In this study, fermentation increased the bioavailability of free amino acids and volatile compounds in “dawadawan botso”.Keywords: “Dawadawan botso”, Fermentation, Free amino acids, GC-MS analysis, H. sabdariffa, Volatile flavor compound

Evaluation of Nutrient and Anti-nutrient Contents of Parkia biglobosa (L.) Flower

Nutritional and antinutritional contents of Parkia biglobosa flower were analysed using standard analytical methods. On dry weight basis, the flower had the following proximate compositions; ash (6.50 ± 1.00%), crude lipid (4.66 ± 0.29%), crude protein (6.77 ± 0.15%), available carbohydrate (78.9 ± 1.18%) and crude fibre (3.17 ± 0.29%). The calorific value was 384.7 kcal/100g. Mineral analysis indicates that the flower contain some essential minerals such as K, Na, Ca, Mg, and Zn, but was low in Cu, Mn, and Fe. The flower has low concentration of anti-nutritive factors: phytate (1.41±0.24mg %); oxalate (0.03±0.01mg %); hydrocyanic acid (0.17±0.01mg %) and nitrate (1.32±0.10mg %). The values are below the reference toxic standard levels. Therefore, P. biglobosa flower could supplement the microelements requirement, energy and to some extent protein

Nutritional and Anti-nutritional Composition of Strychnos innocua Del. (Monkey Orange) Fruit Pulp Grown in Zuru, Nigeria

The Strychnos innocua (Monkey Orange) fruits pulp were analysed to establish its proximate, minerals, anti-nutritional and ascorbic acid compositions using standard analytical methods. The pulp, on dry weight basis (DW), contains crude protein (3.97%), crude lipid (20.0%), ash (0. 05%), available carbohydrates (75.53%), calorific value (498.0kcal/100g) and moisture (60.17%Wet Weight). The pulp is rich in, potassium (256.33mg/100g), magnesium (10.67mg/100g), iron (9.77mg/100g), zinc (28.73 mg/100g) and manganese (2.50mg/100g). The pulp contains appreciable concentration of ascorbic acid (17.97 91mg/100g DW). But the pulp also has high content of total oxalate (48.75 % DW) and phytic acid (242.91mg/100g). The levels of various nutrient and mineral elements varied significantly, which indicates the potential of the pulp to be harnessed for diverse application for value addition as health food provided that the anti-nutritional factors are tackled appropriately.Keywords: Strychnos innocua, Fruits, Nutrition, Antinutritional factors, Minerals, Proximate compositio