Effect of Cadmium on Seed Viability of Vigna unguiculata

Cadmium, a heavy metal pollutant of growing global concern, was investigated for its effect on grain seed viability using Vigna unguiculata. The cowpea seeds were germinated after treatment in solution containing varying concentration of cadmium chloride (CdCl2.H2O). The concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in the solution used for the treatment were 0.00ppm, 0.80ppm, 8.00ppm, 40.00ppm, 100.00ppm and 180.00ppm. The percentage germination at 120 hours germination time and the rate of increment in shoot height between 120 and 168 hours were determined. Results shows that the percentage germination and rate of increment in shoot height decreased as cadmium level in the treatment solution increased. There were however no growth at 100 and 120 ppm. The lethal concentration of cadmium for 50% of the viable seeds (LC50) in the treatment solution appears to be at about 40 ppm

Chemical Properties of Starch and Its Application in the Food Industry

Starch is an important food product and a versatile biomaterial used world-wide for different purposes in many industrial sectors including foods, health, textile, chemical and engineering sector. Starch versatility in industrial applications is largely defined by its physicochemical properties and functionality. Starch in its native form has limited functionality and application. But advancements in biotechnology and chemical technological have led to wide-range modification of starch for different purposes. The objective of this chapter is to examine the different chemical reactions of starch and expose the food applications of the modification products. Several literatures on starch and reaction chemistry including online journals and books were analyzed, harmonized and rationalized. The reactions and mechanisms presented are explained based on the principles of reaction chemistry. Chemical modification of starch is based on the chemical reactivity of the constituent glucose monomers which are polyhydroxyl and can undergo several reactions. Starch can undergo reactions such as hydrolysis, esterification, etherification and oxidation. These reactions give modified starches which can be used in baked foods, confectionaries, soups and salad dressings. This chapter discusses the different chemical reactions of starch, the associated changes in functionality, as well as the applications of chemically modified starches in the food industry

Preliminary Studies on Vernonia ambigua: Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Screening of the Whole Plant

A dry, whole plant of Vernonia ambigua Kotschy and Peyr was collected from Suleja, Niger State, Nigeria and qualitatively screened for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard methods. Some proximate compositions were also determined. The result showed the presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, flavonoid and carbohydrate while terpene, sterol, anthraquinone, phlobatannin, resin, cardiac glycoside, balsam, phenols and volatile oil were not detected. The result of proximate analysis which includes ash value, acid-insoluble ash value, water and alcohol extractive values are reported. Crude extracts of the plant were screened for activity against selected microorganisms. The result is also reported. This work is aimed at providing some scientific data for this plant since there is limited scientific report on it in literature

Preliminary Phytochemical and Proximate Analysis of the leaves of Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redhead

Piliostigma thionningii (Schumach) Milne-Redhead leaves from Idu Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Nigeria, were collected and qualitatively analyzed for identification of phytochemical constituents. The results showed the presence of bioactive constituents of carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, balsams, volatile oil, and terpenes. Phlobatannins, resins, alkaloids, anthraquinones and sterols were not detected. The proximate analysis of the leaves revealed a composition of 9.90% moisture content, 4.62% total ash value, 11.28% alcohol soluble extractive value, 2.50% water soluble extractive value and 0.91% acid insoluble ash value. More research work is recommended on the plant leaves for isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds that may be active against malaria parasites and other diseases

Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Analysis of Commelina benghalensis L.

Phytochemical and pharmacognostic analysis and thin layer chromatography were carried out on the herb, Commelina benghalensis L. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phlobatannins, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, volatile oils, resins, balsams, flavonoids and saponins, while terpenes, sterols, anthorquinones and phenols were absent. The pharmacognostic analysis revealed moisture content of 11.60 %, ash value of 6.24%, water soluble extractive value of 22.45 %, alcohol soluble extractive value of 5.99% and acid insoluble ash of 1.21%. The thin layer chromatography development revealed three spots for hexane extract, six spots for ethyl acetate and five spots for methanol

Maerua angolensis DC: evaluation of the oral acute and sub-chronic toxicity profile of its freeze-dried leaves infusion extract

Maerua angolensis is a shrub/small tree that grows up to about 10 m tall. The plant is widely distributed in tropical Africa and used in various ethnomedicinal applications across the region. The objective of this study is to investigate the oral safety profile of the infusion extract of Maerua angolensis (IEMa) in laboratory animals. Hippocratic screening was adopted to evaluate the acute toxicity profile using 2000 mg/kg of IEMa, p.o. in mice. The sub-chronic toxicity was performed by daily oral administration of IEMa (800 mg/kg) in Wistar rats for 28 days and clinical observations and toxicological related parameters were recorded. After the treatment period, blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analysis, and organs were removed for macroscopic analysis. The agent exhibited mild symptoms and no mortality recorded in the Hippocratic screening. In the sub-chronic test, few changes in urine output, platelets counts and alkaline phosphatase were observed, but are within the physiological ranges for this animal specie. The results shows that IEMa does not present oral toxicity thereby displaying a wide safety margin for therapeutic use

Phytochemical analysis and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of Cassia occidentalis L. (whole plant

ABSTRACT: Cassia occidentalis L. whole plant was extracted successively with hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. Another crude extract of aqueous methanol was also carried out. The extracts were tested in vitro for activity against standard strains microbes and clinical isolates. The zones of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. The in vitro antimicrobial screening revealed that the extract exhibited varying activity against different microbes with zones of inhibition ranging from 14-34mm, MIC ranging from 1.25 -10mg/ml, and MBC/MFC of 2.5-20mg/ml for the sensitive organisms at the tested concentrations. The highest activity was an MIC of 1.25 mg/ml and MBC of 2.5mg/ml. The activities observed could be due to the presence of some of the secondary metabolites like, alkaloids, anthraquinones, sterols, glycosides, saponins, terpenes and flavonoids detected in the plant

Evaluating the Strength of Evidence on the Effectiveness of Accommodative Support Lens on Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer vision syndrome is a disease that has emerged with the advent of the computer and digital age. It is most associated with long-hour users of digital screen devices. Its symptoms are ocular and extraocular and may include blur or double vision, and other visual discomforts such as redness, irritation, dry eye, watery eye, headache, neck and shoulder pains, back aches and tendonitis. Several studies have reported a prevalence rate of between 10-90%. Depending on a number of factors, different treatment approaches have been adopted by physicians for primary and secondary care. These approaches include optimization of ergonomics, progressive addition of lenses, use of nutritional supplements, and artificial tears. The validity of the efficacy of these approaches has continued to generate debates among public health stakeholders due to limited evidence. This article discusses the strength of evidence of the use of accommodative support lenses in alleviating the symptoms of computer vision syndrome, with a special focus on the work of Seguí-Crespo et al., 2022

Ending the Epidemic of Malaria in Nigeria Towards Attaining SDG Target 3.3.3: A Systematic Review of the Progress in Intervention Coverage

Background: Meeting SDG 3, ‘healthy lives and well-being for all,’ is one of the bedeviling challenges of low-/medium income countries like Nigeria whose health index is adversely impacted by the burden of malaria, an epidemic that seems to have defied all interventions aimed at eliminating it and achieving the SDG target. A confounding problem in the efforts so far is the apparent inability to expand and sustain interventions coverage. This review systematically examines available evidence to determine if the current level of malaria intervention coverage in Nigeria could help achieve the SDG target 3.3.3. Methods: Data were systematically extracted through online search of ProQuest databases and BioMed Central website for publication between 1st January 2015 and 3rd February 2024. Of the 26 potential articles that met the inclusion criteria, 12 were selected for quality assessment using the CASP checklist. Seven of the studies reported coverage for seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), while coverage for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) or long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) interventions was reported by 6 of the publications. One study each reported coverage for indoor-residual spraying (IRS) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The findings were thematically discussed. Findings: The included studies were 1 systematic review (SR), 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 4 household or community campaigns/surveys. Apart from one study, all the others raised questions of external validity due to the small sample size. The descriptive statistics of the evidence showed that the mean intervention coverages for SMC, ITNs/LLINs, IRS, and RDTs, were 40.31%, 50.02%, 51.1% and 39.67%, respectively. Conclusion: The current intervention coverage is not adequate to meet the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) vision/goal of 0:10:5:80:80 and the SDG targets 3.3.3 set for the elimination of malaria by 2025 and 2030, respectively. An incremental minimum annual coverage of about 6.3% is needed over the next 6 years to meet 80% coverage for SMC. The same trajectory is estimated for other intervention components

Starch: A Veritable Natural Polymer for Economic Revolution

Amidst growing concerns for environmental degradation by anthropologic activities and use of non-biodegradable materials for industrial and household purposes, a focus on natural polymeric materials offers the veritable prospects for future survival. Although some synthetic polymers are biodegradable, the process of production that is usually non-green adds to environmental pollution. Natural polymers are naturally occurring organic molecules such as cellulose, starch, glycoproteins and proteins. They are mostly obtained from plant sources, but are also produced in animal and microorganisms. One of the most abundant natural polymers of multidimensional and multifaceted application is starch. Starch is used across wide-range applications spanning engineering, food and beverages, textile, chemical, pharmaceuticals and health, etc. This is because it can readily be modified into products of desired physicochemical characteristics, thus making starch a potential tool for industrial and economic revolution. The global trade balance for starch and derived products is about $1.12 trillion, presenting a huge opportunity for more investment in starch production. Africa’s negative starch trade balance of about$1.27 trillion makes it a potential investment destination for starch production. This chapter discusses the use of starch in various industrial sectors, its potentials for sustainable economic development and as a veritable natural polymer for economic revolution