A comprehensive review of water quality monitoring and assessment in Nigeria.

Nitrogen-doped carbon materials represent a significant part in the field of energy conversion and storage technologies such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells and supercapacitors. The achievement of these materials by sustainable N- and C-containing natural resources using various methods, such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal and ionothermal carbonization is presented. The application of these novel materials as nonprecious catalysts and catalyst supports for low temperature fuel cells is discussed.

Nitrogen-doped carbons by sustainable N- and C-containing natural resources as nonprecious catalysts and catalyst supports for low temperature fuel cells

Saponins of Agave: Chemistry and bioactivity.

Limited P availability in several agricultural areas is one of the key challenges facing current agriculture. Exploiting P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) has been an emerging bio-solution for a higher rhizosphere P-availability, meanwhile the above- and below-ground interactions that PSB would trigger remain unclear over plant growing stages. We hypothesized that PSB effects on plant growth may be greater on root traits that positively links with aboveground physiology more than the commonly believed rhizosphere P bio-solubilization. In this study, five contrasting PSB (Pseudomonas spp.) isolates (low "PSB1", moderate "PSB2 and PSB4" and high "PSB3 and PSB5" P-solubilizing capacity "PSC") were used to investigate above- and below-ground responses in wheat fertilized with rock P (RP) under controlled conditions. Our findings show that all PSB isolates increased wheat root traits, particularly PSB5 which increased root biomass and PSB3 that had greater effect on root diameter in 7-, 15- and 42-day old plants. The length, surface and volume of roots significantly increased along with higher rhizosphere available P in 15- and 42-day old plants inoculated with PSB4 and PSB2. Shoot biomass significantly increased with both PSB2 and PSB5. Root and shoot physiology significantly improved with PSB1 (lowest PSC) and PSB4 (moderate PSC), notably shoot total P (78.38%) and root phosphatase activity (390%). Moreover, nutrients acquisition and chlorophyll content increased in inoculated plants and was stimulated (PSB2, PSB4) more than rhizosphere P-solubilization, which was also revealed by the significant above- and below-ground inter-correlations, mainly chlorophyll and both total (R = 0.75, p = 0.001**) and intracellular (R = 0.7, p = 0.000114*) P contents. These findings demonstrate the necessity to timely monitor the plant-rhizosphere continuum responses, which may be a relevant approach to accurately evaluate PSB through considering below- and above-ground relationships; thus enabling unbiased interpretations prior to field applications.

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Phosphate Solubilizing Rhizobacteria Could Have a Stronger Influence on Wheat Root Traits and Aboveground Physiology Than Rhizosphere P Solubilization

Agave has been used as a raw material for food and folklore medicinal purposes. Traditional processing in- volves the use of agave as a source of carbohydrate-rich syrups for direct use or as substrate to yield hydrolyzed fer- mented products and spirits. Agave plants can accumulate significant amounts of inulin, important molecule with prebi- otic activity. The agave plant has been used to feed ruminants in arid areas where drought episodes are prevalent. This plant is an important source of saponins, considered as antinutritional factors but also as anticancer, antifungal, and anti- inflammatory agents. Considering the low hydrosolubility of saponins, these compounds are not being recovered from the plant and alternative processes need to be devised. Agave also contains polyphenols with activities such as: anticancer, an- tioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitical, antimicrobial, prebiotics and coadjuvant in mineral absorption. The full phytochemical characterization of the sap, leaves and byproducts generated from the traditional food uses is needed to validate the beneficial effects of agave consumption and its potential use as a source of functional ingredients.

Agave (Agave spp.) and its Traditional Products as a Source of Bioactive Compounds

The amount of protein in most foods is usually determined by multiplying its Kjeldahl nitrogen content by a factor of 6.25. The reliability of this method in quantitating plant proteins was investigated. Ten lesser known plant leaf samples of nutritional significance among certain populations in Nigeria were used for this study. Protein contents of the plant samples were determined via the kjeldahl method using the conventional nitrogen to protein (N:P) conversion factor 6.25 (i.e. total nitrogen × 6.25) and by summation of amino acid residues (considered more accurate and taken here as the actual protein content). From data of total amino acid and total nitrogen, specific N:P conversion factors were calculated for each sample. The N:P factors ranged from 3.24 to 5.39, with an overall average of 4.64. Protein contents were also calculated using this new factor. Comparison of the calculated protein contents showed that the traditional conversion factor of 6.25 overestimated the actual protein content of the samples. The degree of overestimation ranged from 16%-93%. Protein contents calculated with our adjusted factor (4.64) gave results that are in good agreement with the actual protein content. Our results indicate that calculation of protein content by N × 6.25 is highly unsuitable for plant samples.

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Determination Of Plant Proteins Via The Kjeldahl Method And Amino Acid Analysis: A Comparative Study.

The methanol and the aqueous extracts of the plant, Agave sisalana were prepared and evaluated for its phytochemical properties and antimicrobial activities. The phytochemical analysis of the preparation revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites which include: saponins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, steroids, tannins and flavonoids. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the crude methanol and aqueous extract of the Agave sisalana were investigated. The extract showed antimicrobial activities against the test organisms with different zones of inhibition ranging from 28-32 mm and 25-29 mm for methanol and aqueous extract, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both the methanol and aqueous extract was between 10-20 mg/mL, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was between 20-40 mg/mL for both extracts. The investigation indicated that the methanol extract inhibited the growth of the microbes more than the aqueous extract. The ability of the crude extracts of A. sisalana to inhibit the growth of the microbes is an indication of its antimicrobial potential, which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.

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Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of methanol and aqueous extracts of Agave sisalana.

The phytochemical screening and comparative study of antimicrobial activity of Aloe veraextracts was carried out. The phytochemical screening revealed the following metabolites: saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, protein, and flavonoids. While cardiac glyocosides and steroids were absent. The antimicrobial activities of the gel in 10% DMSO, methanol and aqueous extracts of green rind and leaf pulp were carried against some pathogenic clinical isolates, namely, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans. The DMSO extract of the gel and the methanol extract of the green rind showed greater potency against tested microorganisms in the order B. Subtilis> S. aureus> C. albicans and S. aureus>C. albicans>B. subtilis>P. mirabilis respectively with different zones of inhibition ranging from 18 to 35 mm gel, 15 to 18 mm for leaf pulp methanol, 20 to 32 mm green rind methanol, also 12 to 14 mm and 14 to 23 mm for leaf pulp aqueous and green rind aqueous respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts against organisms ranged from 6.25 to 25 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was within the range of 12.5 to 50 mg/ml. The study revealed that the green rind methanol extract and gel have greater medicinal potential against B. subtilis.

	 

	Key words: Antimicrobial, gel and green rind extract, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and phytochemical screening, Aloe vera.

Phtyochemical screening and comparative study of antimicrobial activity of Aloe vera various extracts

The risk assessment of coatings on mobile phone recharge cards on end users has been investigated using mobile phone recharge cards of three major brands (designated as A, B and C) with dominations of N200, N400 and N500 purchased from retail shops in Zaria, Nigeria. To appraise the health risk associated with heavy metal contamination of food by metals from the coatings, Daily Intake of Metals (DIM) and Health Risk Index (HRI) were calculated. The heavy metals was analysed using AAS. Mean concentration of metal ranged between; 12926 to 130, 554 to 294, 13175 to 7025.5, 23691 to 561, 700 to 222.5, 15230 to 5554, 2745.8 to 1429, and 75525 to 11397 µgg-1 for Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb and Fe respectively. Generally, high concentration of metals was found in Sample C with the exception of Cu. Also, the distribution concentration of the metals were found to be Fe > Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn > Cd > Cu > Mn, followed by Fe > Pb > Ni > Cr > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cd and Fe > Zn > Ni > Cr > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd for Samples A, B and C respectively in that order of decreasing magnitude. Analysis of difference of means using t-test (p Al > Zn > Fe > Ni > Cr > Mn > Pb > Cu, with intake from Sample B being greater than Samples C and A for Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Ni. Also, the HRI of metals indicated that Pb, Cd and Ni (especially Samples B and C) through adhering ‘silver’ coatings on mobile recharge cards on nails or under the finger contaminating food were higher than 1, which indicates that users experience relatively high health risk.

	 

	Key words: Heavy metals, recharge cards coating, health risk, AAS, Nigeria.

https://www.africaneditors.org/journal/JECE/full-text-pdf/86170-122394

Risk assessment of using coated mobile recharge cards in Nigeria

Water samples collected from boreholes and hand dug wells located in two wards in Wukari town were assessedfor some physico-chemical parameters on collection and after one week of storage using standard analyticalmethods. Furthermore the quality indices were determined for the water samples on collection and after oneweek of storage. The parameters determined include temperature, turbidity, suspended solids, total dissolvedsolids, conductivity, pH, nitrate –nitrogen, phosphates, chlorides, alkalinity, COD and DO. The result showedthat some parameters like turbidity, conductivity and suspended solids exhibited a marked drop in valuefollowing their storage for one week in both borehole and hand dug well water samples. Mean values ofparameters like nitrate-nitrogen, phosphates and chlorides did not exhibit marked drop in concentration values inboth water sources. Turbidity and suspended solid values in the well water samples was more than that ofborehole waters however the mean conductivity values in borehole water is more than in well water. Water fromboth sources was found to exhibit hardness on collection and after one week of storage. The quality indices inborehole and well water on collection were found to be 26 and 136 respectively. After one week of storage thequality indices were determined and the values were found to be 15 and 89 respectively indicating improvementin the water quality after storage for one week. Borehole water in Wukari was found to possess better quality fordrinking than well water. The study provides baseline information on the quality of borehole and hand dug wellwaters in Wukari Town. In addition, the hardness of the water sources may be an indication of the presence ofunderlying minerals in the ground. Keywords : Borehole, hand dug well, storage,water quality index

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G. G. Yebpella

Papers

Determination Of Plant Proteins Via The Kjeldahl Method And Amino Acid Analysis: A Comparative Study.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of methanol and aqueous extracts of Agave sisalana.

Phtyochemical screening and comparative study of antimicrobial activity of Aloe vera various extracts

Risk assessment of using coated mobile recharge cards in Nigeria

Assessment of Water Quality Index of Borehole and Well Water in Wukari Town, Taraba State, Nigeria