ABSTRACT
Arthropod invasion on poisoned and embalmed carrions of the African giant rat (Crycetomys gambianus) killed from phostoxin poison was monitored for a period of 30 days (November 13th-December 23rd 2009) with a view to establishing arthropod profile. A total of 18 species (distributed in 13 families, 6 orders and 2 classes of the phylum Arthropoda) were collected and identified. Occurrence of these species was independent of the killing and embalming agent. Species from the order Diptera were most predominant, followed by the Coleoptera and the Hymenoptera. Members of the Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Stapyhinidae, Scarabaeidae, Bostricidae and the Formicidae families were involved in the degradation process of the carrions, making them forensically important. Despite similar insect fauna, the decomposition processes was affected by both the killing and embalming agents with carrions poisoned and embalmed recording longest time in all stages of decomposition compared to that from the controlled sets. The details of general procedure used and the results obtained are reported.
KEYWORDS: Arthropod, Carrion, Crycetomys gambianus, Decomposition, Embalm, Forensic entomology, Poison
ABSTRACT
The present study sought to undertake the phytochemical analysis (using standard methods of analysis), proximate and mineral composition as well as in vitro antioxidant properties (involving inhibition of DPPH and reducing power ability) of aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis consumed in Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaf of T. occidentalis contains flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and phenolics. Quantitative analysis showed that phenol, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins in percentage were 0.19±0.12, 7.12±0.50, 0.12±0.08, 1.03±0.24 and 7.01±0.30 respectively. Result on proximate analysis showed 89.01% dry matter, 10.99% moisture content, 21.14% crude protein,
6.46% lipid, 11.56% crude fiber, 8.31% Ash content, and 53.10 % carbohydrate. Result on Mineral composition in mg/100g dry matter showed Calcium (61.03±0.04), Sodium (51.49±1.32), Iron (25.75±1.65), Zinc (13.15±0.31), Potassium (801.21±0.45), Magnesium 85.11±1.22), Phosphorus (18.09±0.09), Manganese (21.27±0.32) and Copper (0.93±0.03). In vitro antioxidant scavenging activity using 2, 2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ascorbic as standard and reducing power ability of the plant extract was found to be concentration dependent with maximum inhibition and reducing power ability at 0.4mg/ml which were 69% (lower than 89% for ascorbic acid) and 0.199 respectively. Our findings provide evidence that aqueous extract of Telfairia occidentalis is a potential source of natural antioxidants. The result of these findings also revealed that Telfairia occidentalis leaves are good source of carbohydrates and energy. The leaves are also a good source of minerals.
KEYWORDS: Telfairia occidentalis; antioxidant activity; DPPH, free radicals, minerals, Phytochemicals
ABSTRACT
The prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from urine samples at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Nigeria, was investigated. A total of 101 bacterial isolates from urine samples were collected from the Microbiology laboratory of UBTH and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Isolates identity were further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing according to the description of Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Thirty seven of the 101 bacterial isolates (37%) were presumptively identified as Staphylococcus aureus using cultural/biochemical methods, out of which 16 (43%) were confirmed as strains of Staphylococcus aureus by PCR technique. The PCR confirmed isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin (100%), ceftazidime (81%), cefuroxime (75%), ceftriaxone (56%)
and tetracycline (50%). Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) ranging from 4 to 11 antibiotics with MAR indices of 0.21 to 0.57 were observed among the bacterial isolates. This study demonstrated that multidrug resistant strains of S. aureus were frequently associated with urinary tract infections in Benin City, Nigeria and reaffirms the hospital setting as an important reservoir for this pathogen. It is therefore incumbent on relevant stakeholders to continually and regularly place this bacterial pathogen under close surveillance with a view to curbing its spread and preserve the public health.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; Multidrug resistance; UTIs; Infectious disease
ABSTRACT
Amaranthus hybridus constitutes a major part of the diet of the people in the middle and southern parts of Nigeria, where they are mostly used in soups. This study was carried out to screen for bioactive agents, minerals using standard procedures as well as in vitro antioxidant activity using reducing power and DPPH scavenging assays. The result of screened phytochemicals showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins while reducing power and DPPH scavenging activity showed a concentration dependent increase as the concentration increased from 0.2mg/ml to 1.0mg/ml. Ascorbic acid content was found to be 154 ± 8.76mg/100g. Of the minerals in mg/100g, calcium was higher in concentration (320.60 ± 1.51) while chromium was least in concentration (0.68 ± 0.20). Other minerals present were magnesium (153.60 ± 1.13), potassium (132.40 ± 1.11), sodium (69.05 ± 0.82), iron (36.79 ± 0.70), zinc (4.07 ± 0.32), copper (1.81 ± 0.20) and manganese (1.21 ± 0.23). The presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids as well as minerals, ascorbic acid and in vitro antioxidants activities in Amaranthus hybridus leaves contributes to their medicinal and health benefits.
Keywords: Amaranthus hybridus, Antioxidants, Minerals, Phytochemicals
ABSTRACT
The use of trapped cropping system in the control of insect pest of okro was evaluated using cowpea and Roselle as the trapping plants. Insect population, plant growth and yields parameters were monitored. A total of four different types of insect pests (aphid (Aphis gossypii), leaf hopper (Amarasca bigutulla), flea (Podagrica sjostedti) and cotton stainer (Dysdercus cingulatus) were observed throughout the period of study in all the plots. The relative abundance of the pests increased from week 5 to week 7 and decreased at week 9. Trapping system caused a significant reduction in insect population on trapped okro as compared to the control plot. At week 5 of cultivation, the results obtained revealed that okro trapped between cowpea and cowpea (TCC) had the highest average plant height (65.00+2.88cm) and number of flowers (16.00+1.15) which were significantly different (P<0.005) from other plots and control. The highest number of fruit (13.66+0.88) was harvested from the okro trapped between roselle and roselle (TRR) and the number of fruits (7.59+0.87) harvested from okro trapped between cowpea and roselle (TCR) was not significantly different from control (8.00+0.57). Throughout the period of study, okro in control shows the highest insect pest infestation and low yield. Roselle and Cowpea plants are effective as a trapped crop, control insect infestation to minimum and results in increase yield of okro plant. This result has revealed the importance of trap cropping, as an alternative option to management of insect pests by small holder farmers. Trapped cropping system should be encouraged as a means of reducing insect population and increase yield of the target plant.
KEYWORDS: Trap crop, Roselle, Target, Pest, Yield
ABSTRACT
Surface geo-electrical survey using vertical electrical sounding (VES) method was carried out around dumpsite area in Ugbor, Benin City in Edo state, in order to determine the heavy metal concentration of groundwater in the area. Two Vertical Electrical Soundings were carried out within the area of study using Schlumberger array configuration, horizontally and vertically. The interpretation of the vertical electrical sounding (VES) data revealed three to six geo-electric layers with depth to the aquiferousmlayers ranging from 1m to 63m and resistivity of the saturated layers varied between 1026Ωm and 44636Ωm. From the interpretation, the most resistive layer in VES 1 is between layer 5 and 6 and, the most resistive layer in VES 2 is between layer 4 and layer 5. It also shows that the sediments of the various layers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) of the study area have essentially laterite soil (top soil), poorly sorted sand, white clay, coarse sand
moderately sorted and coarse moderately sorted whitish sand. It can be deduced that the depth of groundwater in the study area can be at the range of 57m and above in
comparison with the lithology obtained. The laboratory result only indicates the presence of Iron as a heavy metal after comparing the result with the WHO standard result.
Keywords: Heavy Metals, Pollution, Resistivity method, Benin City, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Mineral and proximate contents of leaf of Launaea taxaracifolia were analysed using the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) method and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and Flame Photometry respectively. This study is aimed at evaluating(using distilled water as solvents) the nutrient composition and minerals present in the leaf of L. taxaracifolia. The results of the proximate analysis of the leaf of L. taraxacifolia yielded 24.18% for moisture, 13.55% for proteins, 2.50% for crude fat, 18.22% for ash, 9.55% for crude fiber and 32.00% for carbohydrates. The mineral analysis of the leaf plant yielded calcium- 15 50mg/kg, magnesium- 25.11mg/kg, iron- 4.51mg/kg, zinc- 0.10mg/kg, copper- 0.20mg/kg ,phosphorus- 0.20mg/kg, manganese- 0.21mg/kg, Sodium- 96.97mg/kg and potassium- 359.50mg/kg. The presence of some essential minerals and proximate values prove that it is really an alternative source of medicine.
Keywords: Launaea taraxacifolia, Proximate, Mineral, Alternative medicine.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to develop a waste-free process for the utilisation of Vernonia amygdalina leaves by fractionation. The leaves were pulped and pressed to yield the leaf juice (53%) and press cake (fibrous fraction, 47%). The juice was heated to coagulate its protein and filtered to yield the deproteinised juice (46.4%). The residue was pressed, washed and pressed again to give the leaf protein concentrate (LPC, yield, 3.8%). The fibrous fraction had a composition similar to that of the fresh leaves, except for its lower ash and higher carbohydrate concentration. Compared with the fresh leaves, LPC had much higher protein (about four times as much) and lipid (one and a half times), but lower carbohydrate concentrations than the fresh leaves. Both fractions had lower β- carotene content (fibrous fraction, 33.30mg/g; LPC, 82.28 mg/g) than the fresh leaves (97.82 mg/g). Total phenolic content of the LPC (13.63mg GAE/g) was twice that of that of the fresh leaves (6.4 mg GAE/g), which was similar to that of the fibrous fraction (5.82 mg GAE/g). Leaf protein and deproteinised juice contained flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids and tannins, and were rich in phenolic compounds (TPC of 713.59 and 812.82 mg GAE/l respectively for leaf juice and deproteinised juice). Possibilities for the utilisation of the fractions are discussed.
Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina leaves, Fractionation, Analysis of fractions
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the association of some socio-demographic features with peripheral malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women at booking for antenatal care in a secondary hospital in Warri, southern Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) patients, aged between 15 and over 40years, were enrolled into this study between April and June 2015. Their mean age was 29.38 + 0.39 years. Blood samples were collected and examined to determine the presence or absence of malaria parasites using standard methods. Copies of structured questionnaire were administered to the patients to obtain their socio-demographic characteristics. The species of Plasmodium isolated from the pregnant women were; P. falciparum (97.6%) and P. malariae (2.4%). Overall prevalence of microscopic Plasmodium sp. among the pregnant women was 50.8%. The mean malaria parasites density was 2119.09 + 329.23 parasites/μL blood. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was highest (62.2%) among women with the first pregnancy (primigravidae) and lowest among the multigravidae (40.5%) (P < 0.001). Parasitaemia peaked in the age group 25-29 years (55.4%) and decreased with advancing age. No significant relationship (P>0.05) was established between malaria parasitaemia and maternal age and trimester of pregnancy. However, other socio-demographic characteristics of the pregnant women, namely, gravidity, maternal residence (urban/rural), occupation, educational status and usage of insecticide-treated bed nets at home, recorded high significant association (P<0.001) with malaria parasitaemia. Any strategy aimed at effectively combating malaria during pregnancy should address not only the direct causal factors but also recognise the contribution of relevant socio-demographic characteristics of the women.
Key words: Socio-demographics, Malaria parasitaemia, Ante natal care, Warri, Nigeria