Evaluation of antiulcer activity of aqueous ethanol extract of Thesium viride on ethanol and aspirin induced models in rats

Thesiumviride Hill (Santalaceae) is a sub-shrub hemiparasite that grows up to 45cm tall and widely distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa. It is used in treatment of ulcer and jaundice. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous ethanol extract of the whole plant by using standard phytochemical methods. Acute oral toxicity test was carried out and antiulcer activity was conducted using absolute ethanol and aspirin as the ulcerogenic agents on rats where the ulcer index was the parameter and percentage preventive index was determined. The aqueous ethanol extract of the plant was found to contain flavonoids,  anthraquinones, glycosidesand alkaloids. Acute toxicity test showed an oral LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. In ethanol model, aqueous ethanol extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg exhibited significant (P<0.0001) protection against ulcer with mean ulcer indices of 4.40 ± 0.60 and 1.80 ± 0.37 respectively as compared with negative (12.80 ± 0.97) and positive (4.00 ± 0.71)control mean ulcer indices. In aspirin model, aqueous ethanol extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg demonstrated  significant (P<0.05) protection against ulcer with mean ulcer indices of 3.20 ± 0.80 and 2.60 ± 0.24 respectively ascompared with negative (5.60 ± 0.97) and positive (1.00 ± 0.44) controlmean ulcer indices. The higher dose of the extract demonstrated greater protective ability with percentage preventive index 85.94% in ethanol induced model and 53.57% in aspirin induced model. The aqueous ethanol extract of the plant was found to be non-toxic and contains some phytochemicals that could be responsible for its antiulcer activity.Keywords: Thesiumviride, Phytochemical, LD50, Ulcer index, Aqueous ethanol extrac

Application of spectral analysis to determine the magnetic source depths in ibarapa district, oyo state, sw nigeria

The method of spectral analysis was applied to the total aeromagnetic intensity data covering the district of Ibapara, located on the Nigeria Basement Complex in Oyo State, SW Nigeria. Prior to the spectral analysis, inclined magnetisation was converted to vertical, reduced to the pole and filtered out in order to more correctly reflect spatial location and morphology of magnetic sources over geological bodies, and enhance the effects of shallower sources over deeper ones. The data was divided into blocks and sub-blocks, and was spectrally analysed for the depths to the deep- and shallow-seated magnetic sources. The Curie-point-depths computed from these depths vary between 20.8 and 32.73 km, indicating that the magnetized basement rocks are at different elevations and are probably block faulted. The correlation of shallow Curie-point-depth with the Older Granites inferred that the low Curie-point-depth is due to magmatic intrusion in the highly deformed migmatite unit, the main geologic unit. The surface heat flows derived from the Curie-point-depths vary between 40.82 and 62.84 with a mean of 50.10 mW m-2, with areas having high surface heat flow presumed to be areas of recent intrusions where the elevated heat has transformed appropriate minerals to sapphire, tourmaline and aquamarine. Correlations of the surface heat flows and the average geothermal gradients on one hand and the Curie-point-depth on the other, unlike global compilation, yielded close empirical relations that are attributed to homogeneous geology of the area

Performance of Broiler Chickens to Time Limited Feeding of Mash or Pellet Feed

The effect of feed form (FF) and time limited feeding on performance of broiler chickens was studied. 160 marshal strain of broiler were allocated in a 2 × 4 factorial experimental arrangement with two FF (mash and pellet) at four Time limited feeding  (TLF) (24, 6, 4, and 2 hours). Data collected were analysed using a completely randomized design. Significant differences were obtained on feed intake (FI), weight gained (WG), final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality (M). FI reduced (P<0.05) as TLF reduced. FI was influenced by FF, birds fed pellet diet having higher (P<0.05) FI compared to mash at each corresponding level of TLF. WG was lower (P<0.05) at all levels of TLF in broilers fed mash compared to ad libitum group. However, birds fed for 4 and 6 hours on pellet diet during feed limitation had similar (P>0.05) WG compared to their control group. FW at 8 weeks of age was lower in birds fed mash compared to pellet. FCR was influenced by FF and TLF with birds placed on pellet having a better FCR compared to those fed mash. Pellet fed birds recorded higher M compared to the mash fed birds particularly during the first week of life because the pellet size of 2mm was too big for their mouth size hence inability to feed properly, thereafter improvements were observed from week two. The study revealed a better performance and better benefit of feed limitation when birds are fed pellet diet compared to mash. Keywords: Broiler Chickens, Feed Forms, Growth Performance, Time Limited Feeding. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-18-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

In-silico Investigation of the Interaction between Beta-class Glutathione S-Transferase and Five Antibiotics, namely; Ampicillin, Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin and Cephalexin

Glutathione s-transferases(GSTs) are enzymes involved in the conjugation and deactivation of various xenobiotics including drugs. Thisin-silico study was undertaken in order to investigate the interaction between beta-class glutathione s-transferase and five selected antibiotics, namely; ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and cephalexin using molecular docking study. RaptorX server was used to predict the amino acids involved at the binding sitewhile molecular docking study was employed in order to investigate the binding interactions.RaptorX predicted several amino acids which were different from the ones observed in molecular docking because of the variability in the substrate binding site of GSTs however, all the amino acids predicted by RaptorX were also found to be involved in the GSH binding.Lys107, Phe109, Ser110, Leu113, Trp114, His115 and Arg123, Leu168 were the amino acids involved in the binding of various antibiotics to the substrate binding site of the protein while Ala9, Cys10, Leu32, Tyr51, Val52, Pro53, Glu65 and Ala66were involved in the binding of the co-substrate GSH to the binding site of the protein. The results indicated that all the antibiotics showed a good binding affinity with the beta class GST and are therefore capable of deactivating the drugs. With these, finding a beta class GST inhibitors alongside antibiotics during a treatment of diseases will be of beneficial in the current fight against antibiotic resistance

Modeling the Grade Point Average (GPA) System in Nigerian Universities

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress. Keywords: Mathematical Model, Course credit system, Semester system, Grade Point Average (GPA) system, Student Academic Progres

Effect of Administration of Aqueous Suspension of Ricinus communis Seeds on Serum Estrogen and Progesterone in Female Albino Rats

In this study, twenty seven (27) female albino rats were used in the determination of contraceptive effect of oral administration of aqueous suspension of Ricinus communis seed. Estrogen and progesterone levels of these rats were analysed using electrochemiluminescent method. The result revealed estrogenic property of the aqueous suspension of R. communis seed, which is partly attributed to the anticonceptive effect of the seeds. The estrogenic activity was high with 107×10-2mg/kg dose administered after 48hours and 7 days respectively, indicating some degree of dose-dependency. In addition, alteration of estrogen/progesterone balance as indicated by this study may be responsible for the contraceptive effect of aqueous suspension of R. communis seed. Keywords: Contraceptive effect, Estrogen, Estrogenic activity, Progesterone, Ricinus communi

Yellow fever childhood immunization coverage in Jos North Local Government Area, North Central Nigeria: 2015 – 2017

Background: The transmission of Yellow fever,a viral hemorrhagic feveris facilitated in countries which have close proximity to the mosquito vectors and large number of unvaccinated population. Globally, mass vaccination campaigns have significantlyreduced the incidence of this disease, but recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicates an increase in the rate of transmission, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2017 and 2018,some Nigerian states including Plateau state reported confirmed cases of yellow fever. In this study, we assessed the yellow fever immunization coverage in Jos North Local Government area (LGA) of Plateau state.Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out to assess yellow fever immunization coverage in Jos North LGA over a 3-year period from January 2015 to December 2017, with data obtained from the Local Government Area office. This included both data from routine and supplemental immunization activities. The number of children immunized was then compared to the target population to assess coverage for each year.Results: Overall, 71, 734 children were immunized. This comprised of  infants 9-11 months 69,344(96.7%) and 1 -5 year old infants 2390(3.3%). The overall average immunization coverage was (21,514/92,652) 23.2% in 2015, (24,977/93,569) 26.6% in 2016, and (25,243/94,495) 26.7% in 2017, with a mean coverage of 25.5% over the 3 year period.Conclusion: Yellow fever immunization coverage in this LGA is low. Urgent work needs to be done to increase immunization coverage across the local government, and by extension the state and country, especially in view of the recent outbreak of yellow fever in some states.Key words: Yellow fever, Immunization, North-Central Nigeria

Effect of Period and Storage Conditions on Essential Oil Yield And Composition of Eucalyptus Citriodora Leaves

Fresh eucalyptus citriodora leaves were harvested and kept under shade and sun for a period of four weeks. The effect of storage conditions and period of storage on the oil yield, oil composition and extraction pattern of the oil were investigated. It was observed that for the leave kept under sun there was significant decrease in the oil yield from 0.38% in the 1st week to 0.11% in the 4th week. However, for leaves kept under shade the oil yield slightly decreased from about 0.40% in the 1st week to 0.36% in the 4th week. The results further revealed that the storage condition and period of storage had no effect on the extraction pattern of the oil with about 72% of the oil extracted within 40 minutes of extraction time after induction period of 24 minutes. Two mathematical model equations were developed for the prediction of oil yield as a function of storage time for both conditions. The models predicted that for leaves stored in the shade and sun the expected oil yield would be 34.5% and 1% respectively. Physiochemical analysis of the oils revealed that the properties of the oil were not affected by both the period and condition of storage except the colour which changed from pale yellow to light brown. These results imply that the leaves should best be kept under shade before production in order to preserve its oil content and physiochemical properties

Qualitative And Quantitative Phytochemical Screening Ofcola Nuts (Cola Nitida And Cola Acuminata)

A study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical constituent ofaqueous and methanol nut extracts of Colanitida and Colaacuminata. The phytochemical screening which involves both the qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloid, tannins, glycoside, steroids and saponins glycoside with higher contain in methanol and aqueous extracts. The saponins content is higher in the aqueous extract  and not detected in the methanol extract of the two species. Flavonoids expressed strong presence in methanol extract of C.nitida and not detected in the aqueous extract as well as the aqueous and methanol extracts of C. acuminata. For cardiac glycoside and volatile oil, they show moderate and trace presence in the methanol and aqueous extracts respectively. Anteraquinones are not detected in all the extracts of the two species. The quantitative result shows that, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in glycoside, tannins, saponins and alkaloid content of C. acuminata compared to C.nitida, withC. acuminata having the highest percentage of alkaloid (1.00%) while C. nitidahad (0.80%) alkaloid content,C. acuminatahad (0.80%) saponins, with C. nitida having (0.40%), more over the tanninscontent of C. acuminatawas higher (0.89%) compared to C. nitidawith (0.77%) while the glycoside content of C. acuminatawas (0.53%) and that of C. nitida was (0.43%). The results as indicated above disclose the scientific basis for the traditional uses of cola nut. Finally, the study  recommend the isolation of these metabolites using highly purify methods in other  to obtain their maximum therapeutic potentials. Keywords:Colanitida, Cola acuminate,Qualitative and Quantitative PhytochemicalScreening

Enhancing Onion Preservation and Storage through Improved Storage System

The objective of this paper was to assess the influence of traditional and improved storage system for freshly harvested onion bulbs cultivar violet de Galmi widely grown in Northern Nigeria on postharvest losses of onions using standard methods. Data obtained revealed that incidences of rotting (23%) and sprouting (7.8%) onion bulbs were found to be significantly (P> 0.05) lower in Ventilated Onion Safe’ compared with the three traditional storage methods with a range of 34 – 61% rotting and 11 – 22% sprouting. Physiological weight loss was highest in Ventilated Onion Safe (22%) and the least in Straw hut (14%).  The levels and extent of postharvest losses were found to be influenced by relative humidity, temperature and ventilation. Healthy, undamaged cured onion bulbs can be stored for six months in dry, well ventilated stores under ambient environmental conditions of Northern Nigeria. Farmers should be trained with appropriate skills and tools needed to preserve and store Onions such as harvesting Onions at maturity, proper drying of bulbs before storage and the use of dry, well ventilated storage facilities. The adoption of the improved onion storage facility (Ventilated Onion Safe) developed and patented by a team of researchers in Nigeria for enhanced onion preservation and storage is therefore recommended