Adama University

About: Adama University is a education organization based out in Nazrēt, Ethiopia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 840 authors who have published 1010 publications receiving 5547 citations. The organization is also known as: Adama Science and Technology University & ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ, አዳማ ሳይንስና ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-glycation and toxicity studies on silver nanoparticles synthesized using Rosa damascena flower extract

Abstract: The perspective of this research was to investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic activity and anti-glycation of the SNPs synthesized by aqueous flower extract of pink Rosa damascena pl...

Chemical Constituents of Root Barks of Gnidia involucrata and Evaluation for Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities.

Abstract: The genus Gnidia, with species close to 152, is traditionally used to treat wide ranges of ailments in humans and animals. Gnidia involucrata is one of the species found in Ethiopia and traditionally used as a laxative, antirheumatic agent, insecticide, antibacterial agent, and antimalarial agent. In view of its traditional use, the root bark was sequentially extracted with n-hexane, EtOAc, and MeOH to afford 0.78%, 4%, and 6% crude extracts, respectively. The chromatographic separation of the EtOAc extract using silica gel column chromatography yielded three pure compounds: tetratriacontanyl caffeate (1), 12-O-dodeca-2,4-dienoylphorbol-13-acetate (2), and naringenin (3). This is the first report of the isolation of 1 and its kind from the genus and most probably from the Thymelaeaceae family. The structures of these compounds were characterized and identified by NMR and mass spectrometric analyses and comparison with literature data. The EtOAc extract and isolated compounds were assessed for their in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The EtOAc extract (1.5 mg/mL) showed significant inhibitory activity against S. aureus, E. coli, P. mirabilis, and K. pneumonia bacterial strains with the highest inhibition zone observed against S. aureus (23 mm), which is even greater than that of the reference drug ciprofloxacin (22 mm). However, the inhibition displayed on these bacterial strains for the three pure compounds was marginal with variable degrees of potency between the compounds. The better activity of the crude extract could be due to the synergistic interactions of several phytochemicals present in the extract, which cannot be the case when pure compounds are evaluated alone. The antioxidant activities of the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated using DPPH and ferric thiocyanate methods. The EtOAc and MeOH extracts and compounds 1 and 2 were found to inhibit the DPPH radical by 70.7, 66.9, 85.8, and 52.8%, respectively. The EtOAc extract and compound 1 inhibited peroxidation of lipids by 84 and 86%, respectively. The radical scavenging displayed by compound 1 was significant compared with that displayed by ascorbic acid, indicating the strong antilipid peroxidation potential of the extract of root barks of G. involucrata. Therefore, the extracts of the root bark of G. involucrata can be used as a remedy in combating diseases caused by bacteria and free radicals provided that further comprehensive evaluation could be recommended for the conclusive decision on potential candidacy of this plant.

The Effects of Combined Application of Cattle Manure and NP Fertilizers on Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Potato in North-Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a short season crop that thrives best under sufficient nutrient supply. However, in Ethiopia the yield of potato is quite low as it is produced with little or inappropriate rates of fertilizer application. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for two seasons (2012 and 2013) at Kobo substation of Sirinka Agricultural Research Centre to elucidate the combined effects of cattle manure (CM) and NP fertilizers on growth, yield components, yield and nutrient uptake of the crop. The treatments consisted of three rates each of CM (0, 15 and 30 t ha-1), nitrogen (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1) and phosphorus (0, 46 and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1), combined factorially and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth parameters (growth rate, and leaf area), average tuber weight and marketable and total tuber yield of potato were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced by the interaction effects of chemical and organic fertilizers. Uptake of N and P were higher with treatments in which 30 t ha-1 CM was applied combined with 120 kg N and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1 as compared to the control treatment. Harvest index, total tuber yield, N uptake and P uptake were significantly increased by 134%, 257%, 2446% and 1186%, respectively, over the control treatment in response to the combined application of 120 kg N, 92 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 30 t ha-1 CM. In conclusion, the results revealed that integrated application of chemical and organic fertilizers could be the best strategy to restore highly depleted soils and to enhance economical production of potato in Kobo district and similar agroecologies.