Nutritional and biochemical properties of Malaysian okra variety

The nutritional and biochemical contents of Malaysian okra fruits and leaves were studied by analysing the nutritional contents in the fruits and leaves such as protein, carbohydrate, moisture, oil, ash and fibre, while the biochemical contents in the fruits and leaves such as chlorophyll, phenolics and flavonoids were also analysed. The result of the proximate analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) among the fruits and leaves with highest percentage of crude protein (4.81%) and ash (2.44%) were present in the leaf. Mature fruits contain highest percentage of fiber (2.44%), oil (0.4%) and carbohydrate (11.7%) respectively, while the young fruits showed highest moisture contents of 88.47%. The results of the biochemical analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the fruits and leaves with the highest total chlorophyll content in mature leaves (32.99 mg/1 g). The total highest phenolics content was found in young leaves (0.99 mgTNE/1 g) and the total flavonoid was highest in mature leaves (0.79 mgQE/1 g). This paper showed that nutritional and the biochemical contents of okra were higher in the leaves than in the fruits

Proximate analyses and anti-nutritional factors in local and improved cowpea varieties

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds from local and improved varieties obtained from Abuja market, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) were analyzed for the proximate determination (protein, moisture and ash) and anti-nutritional composition (Phytate, Alkaloid and Tannin). The seed protein content in the local and improved cowpea varieties ranged from 22.61% to 27.92%. The highest crude protein was found in NG/SA/066-1 (27.92%) and lowest was in Sampea 10 (23.76%). There was no significant difference in the moisture and ash content among the local and improved cowpea varieties. The result of the anti-nutritional composition showed that the highest phytate content (1.94 mg/g) was found in Big white variety while the lowest phytate content was found in Butter beans (0.84 mg/g). White cowpea variety recorded the highest alkaloid content at (2.54 mg/g) while Butter beans recorded the lowest alkaloid content at (0.24 mg/g). The highest tannin content was found in Big white at (5.72±0.15 mg/g) while the lowest was found in NG/AO/035 at (1.92±0.03 mg/g). The results herein can aid in cowpea breeding and conservation

Development of protocol for in vitro regeneration in Abelmoscus esculentus (L.) Moench (okra) through shoot apical meristem, and nutrient and biochemical composition of its leaves and fruits

Okra is an important vegetable of valuable nutrient, good sources of vitamins, important antioxidants and medicinal compounds such as polyphenols and gossypol. The tissue culture was carried out by using shoot apical meristem while the nutritional and biochemical values of fresh okra leaves and fruits were evaluated. Meristematic tissues (0.4 -0.6mm) of okra seedlings were excised. Shoot apical meristems (SAM) were cultured in MS medium supplemented with a range of concentrations of NAA (0.1 mg/l 0.5mg/l, BAP (0.1mg/l, 2- 4.0mg/l), and in combination of NAA and BAP (0.1 mg/l – 1.0mg/l). This present study showed the highest shoot proliferations and formation from SAM on semi-solid MS medium cultured on 1.5mg/l BAP with four shoots per culture and best rooting on 1.0mg/l with an average of 4 roots per culture. The plantlets were transferred into pots containing soil for acclimatization and showed average of 82% survival. The proximate analysis was used to determine the percentage of protein, carbohydrate, ash, fats, fiber and moisture present in okra leaves and fruits. In addition, selected biochemical properties of okra leaves and fruits such as Chlorophyll a, b, xanthophylls and caretonoids, total phenolics and total flavonoids were measured spectrophotometrically. This study revealed the highest percentage of protein (4.82%) and ash (2.44%) in okra leaves while fruits contain highest percentage carbohydrate (11.17%), crude fiber (2.44%) and moisture (88.47%). Interestingly, this present study found that okra leaf contains higher chlorophyll, total phenolics and total flavonoid than okra fruit. Okra leaf showed highest chlorophyll a (23.66mg/0.1g), carotenoids (4.63mg/0.1g), Chlorophyll b (6.6mg/0.1g). Furthermore, the result also showed highest total phenolics (0.99mg/ 0.1g) and flavonoids (0.80mg/0.1g) in the leaf. This study has established standard protocol for in vitro regeneration of mucilaginous plant such as okra and okra leaf has shown to contain high nutritional and biochemical value compared with okra fruit

Biochemical assays and simple sequence repeat markers characterization of local and improved Nigerian cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] varieties

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important food and fodder crop in the semi-arid tropics of Africa. In Nigeria, it serves as a principal source of energy, protein, vitamins and mineral nutrients for the people in the region. The aim of this study was to characterize cowpea accessions from Nigeria in order to generate information that could be used to design appropriate breeding and conservation strategies. In this study, five local cowpea varieties from local Abuja market and five improved varieties from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NAGRAB), Nigeria, were screened to ascertain the genetic variation using biochemical analysis (antioxidant, anti-nutritional, mineral element and amino acid) and PCR-based molecular marker; Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR). In the first objective, the protein content was determined using Kjeldahl method, while spectrophotometer was used to measure the antioxidant (antioxidant activities, phenolics and flavonoids) and anti-nutritional values (phytate, alkaloid and tannin). The mineral analyses of (Calcium, Iron and Zinc) were carried out using Optimal Emission Spectroscopy 2000DV and the amino acid analysis was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). There were significant differences for Nutritional, Antioxidants, Anti-nutritional, Amino acids and Mineral content among 10 local and improved cowpea accessions from Nigeria. The seed protein content ranged from 22.61% to 27.92% indicating a significant variation among the cowpea genotypes. Highest protein content was recorded in improved variety NG/SA/0661 (27.92%) as compared to other varieties. The highest moisture contents were found in sweet honey (10.52%) and Sampea 10 (10.52%). Big white (4.28%) showed the highest seed ash content. There was a slight variation in the antioxidant properties ranging from (1.70-3.42mg/TAE/g) in phenolic and (1.67- 2.31mg/QE/g) in flavonoids. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) recorded among local and improved varieties was in the genotypes Big brown (3.43mg/TAE/0.1g) and Sampea 10 (3.132mg/TAE/0.1g). The results obtained showed the highest total flavonoid contents was found in the Butter beans (2.2QE/g) and NG/AO/035 (2.31QE/g) varieties. The anti-nutritional results clearly showed that cowpea seeds contain more tannin (1.92-5.72mg/g) than phytate (0.84-1.94mg/g) and alkaloid (0.24-2.54mg/g). The highest Phytate content was found in Big white (1.94mg/g) and NG/SA/0661 (1.89mg/g). The highest alkaloid was noted in Big white variety at (2.54mg/g) and the highest tannin was recorded in Small white (5.72mg/g). The total amino acid ranged from 13.43g/100g-16.20g/100g. The highest total amino acid was recorded in NG/AO/035 ((16.20g/100g) and Sampea 9 (15.77g/100g). NG/SA/0661 proved the highest total essential amino acid (48.21%), highest total basic amino acid (19.39%), and highest total neutral amino acid (54.17%). The highest total non-essential amino acid and the highest total acid amino acid was recorded in Sampea 11 at (57.85%) and (32.05%) respectively. The mineral element content varied from (45.61±1.22mg/g-14.79±0.24mg/g) in Ca, (2.29±0.06-0.94±0.02mg/g) in Fe and (2.1±0.02-0.96±0.02mg/g) in Zn. The highest calcium content was found in the genotype Big brown (45.61mg/g) and Big white (2.29mg/g) recorded the highest iron content. The highest zinc content was noted in Big white genotype at (2.1mg/g). In the last objective, a total five local and five improved varieties were genotyped using 19 SSR primers. A wide genetic variation was observed with the allele sizes ranging from 160 to 300bp. The average number of alleles was two per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.32 to 0.59 (average of 0.46). The analysis of molecular variance showed percentages of molecular variance of 76% within population and 24% among population. The study established the existence of considerable genetic variation among Nigerian cowpea varieties. The genetic variation and relationships observed in this research provide insights for cowpea conservation and utilization in Nigeria. The variation in the protein and mineral content found among cowpea accessions could also be exploited for selection of cowpea improvement in Nigeria

Aquatic macrophytes (Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea L.) as substrates for biofuel production: potentials and challenges

Green fuel represents one of the most promising means of sustainably replacing liquid fuels, and freshwater macrophytes has become one of the auspicious substrates for biofuel production due to high cellulose and hemicellulose contents. In this study, the use of Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn for biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas production was investigated with other feedstocks (rice husk and biochar) using dry and wet extraction methods. Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn were harvested from a freshwater lake in Ndufu Echara in Ikwo Local Government, Ebonyi State, Nigeria and thoroughly washed. Biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas production by an alkali-catalysed transesterification using mechanical and chemical methods, acid and base simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and anaerobic digestion was carried out, respectively. Results showed that freshwater macrophytes produced more biodiesel compared to rice husk and biochar. S. porticalis and Nymphaea L. yielded higher biodiesel using chemical and mechanical methods, respectively. Quality evaluation of the diesel oil according to ASTM standard revealed that chemical method was the most proficient for biodiesel production because of its proximity to ASTM D6751 standard. For bioethanol, acid hydrolysis (1M HCl) produced more bioethanol than the base (1M NaOH) with Nymphaea L. yielding 60% ethanol. However, the macrophytes did not generate biogas after 30-d of anaerobic digestion compared to other feedstocks. Further analysis revealed sample acidification and inhibitions on the anaerobes responsible for anaerobic digestion (p<0.05). This suggests that acidification and/or toxicity may be a major factor associated with anaerobic digestion and biogas production from aquatic macrophytes. Thus, optimization and/or combined pre-treatment methods (biological, mechanical, enzymatic) are recommended. This suggests that Spirogyra porticalis and Nymphaea alba Linn could be major substrates for biofuel production, and tropical freshwater ecosystems can be good for their large-scale cultivatio