Showing papers by "Rivers State University of Science and Technology published in 1995"

Chemical composition of indigenous wild herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables used as food

Abstract: Thirty wild fruits, nuts, herbs, spices and leafy vegetables were characterized and their chemical composition determined. Some of them were not only used for food, but for medicine in minor aliments by the natives. Results of the proximate analysis showed that on dry weight basis, the crude protein content ranged from 4.6 to 22.1 percent for spices and herbs, 3.2 to 43.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 15.9 to 35.7 percent for leafy vegetables. The fat (ether extract) ranged from 7.5 to 36.0 percent for spices and herbs, 1.8 to 72.6 percent for fruits and nuts and 10.6 to 22.6 percent for leafy vegetables. Total carbohydrate content ranged from 34.6 to 71.9 percent for spices and herbs, 11.3 to 76.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 24.6 to 51.4 percent for leafy vegetables. The wild fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables are high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C.) Ascorbic acid content ranged from 18 mg/100 g dry sample to 113 mg/100 g sample for fruits and nuts, and 23 mg/100 g to 232 mg/100 g sample for leafy vegetables. The levels for peroxide value and free fatty acids (as percent oleic acid) of the spices are generally low indicating good storage stability of these plant materials. The flavour imparting essential oils (as percent oleoresin) content of the spices/herbs were fairly high and ranged from 0.1 to 5.2 percent.

Effect of traditional processing of cassava on the cyanide content of gari and cassava flour

Abstract: Detoxification of cassava cultivars (30572 TMS and 30555 TMS) during their traditional methods of processing to produce gari and cassava flour has been investigated. The HCN quantitative determination was done using the enzymatic assay. Fermentation of cassava pulp for 96 hours during cassava processing for gari reduced the HCN by 22 ppm (52.4 percent) and 20 ppm (57.3 percent) for 30572 TMS and 30555 TMS respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the HCN content of the two cultivars. Soaking of the sliced cassava tissue for 24 hours in cassava flour production prior to sundrying resulted in 16 ppm (38.1 percent) and 15 ppm (38.4 percent) HCN reduction for 30572 TMS and 30555 TMS respectively. HCN loss during sundrying was 6 ppm (14.3 percent) and 5 ppm (12.8 percent) for the two cultivars. There was significantly (P < 0.05) higher HCN loss in processing of gari than cassava flour. The residual cyanide in gari was 12 ppm for 30572 TMS and 10 ppm for 30555 TMS and that in the flour was 20 ppm for 30572 and 19 ppm for 30555 TMS.

Inclusion Rate and True Metabolizable Energy of Palm Kernal Cake In Broiler Chicken Diets in a Humid Tropical Environment

Abstract: Berepubo, NA, Mepba, HD, Agboola, OJ and Onianwah, RI 1995 Inclusion rate and true metabolizable energy of palm kernal cake in broiler chicken diets in a humid tropical environment J Appl Anim Res, 7: 27–34 A study was undertaken to determine the true metabolizable energy (TME) and the relative bioeconomic inclusion rate of palm kernel cake (PKC) (0, 5, 10, 15 or 20%) in five broiler finisher rations (A-E) in a humid tropical environment in Nigeria Ninety broiler birds (aged 5 weeks) were randomly but equally assigned to the five rations for 6 weeks The birds were given water and feed ad libitum except for the period of faecal collection for endogenous N and energy estimations of the diets Fractions of the diets were also subjected to proximate analysis and TME determination There was no significant difference (P>005) in the proximate analysis of control, experimental diets and whole palm kernel cake (PKC) except that at 15% PKC inclusion rate TME value was significantly (P<0

Dynamics of nodulation, nitrogen fixation, nitrogen use and biomass yield over time in pot-grown Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit

Abstract: The dynamics of nodulation, N2-fixation and N use in Leucaena leucocephala cv. K28 over time was investigated in a screenhouse at 4, 8, 12 and 16 months after planting (MAP) using the 15N-labelling method. Leucaena had a consistently increasing pattern of nodulation, dry biomass and nitrogen yield. A sharp rise in nodulation was observed between 12 and 16 MAP, whereas for biomass, N accumulation and N2-fixation, and N2-fixation, an upward surge occurred between 4 and 12 months. Nodulation, N accumulation, N2-fixation and biomass yield all peaked at 16 MAP. Along with the steady increase in N2-fixation throughout the 16-month growth period, the % N derived from the atmosphere rose from 17.9% to 61.5%, 70.1% and 74%, equivalent to 191, 1623, 2395 and 3385 mg N2 fixed plant-1 at 4, 8, 12 and 16 MAP, respectively. Nitrogen assimilation from soil and fertilizer decreased inversely to the increase in symbiotic nitrogen fixation with time.

Occurrence of Nitrosatable Amines in Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Abstract: The presence of secondary amines; di-methylamine and diethylamine, methylamine, nitroso-methyl-n-propylamine have been reported in plants (Bush i970). Levels found in tobacco samples range between 2 - 100 ppm. The occurrence, metabolism and functions of plant amines have been reviewed by Smith(1971). Nitrate is a normal constituent of human saliva, its concentration in that body compartment isdirectly related to the nitrate intake via food. In the mouth it is partially reduced by microflora present to nitrate, which is swallowed and can serve as nitrosating agent for secondary amines in the stomach. The secondary amines have the imino-group which is very reactive and easily undergoes "nitration" to form the nitrosamines or nitroso compounds which have been shown to be toxic and carcinogenic (IARC 1976). Neurath (1968) reported that the high incidence of oesophageal cancer could be associated with the consumption of crude beers and other liquors in Zambia due to secondary amines, in addition to nitrosamines.

Factors affecting performance of permeable groins in channel bank erosion control

Abstract: The factors affecting the performance of permeable groins are investigated by an analytical approach supplemented with field observation. These factors are broadly divided into three classes: (1) the properties of the soil where the groin is embedded; (2) the flow characteristics of the river channel that are imposed on the groin; and (3) the makeup of the groins. Factors relating to the properties of the soil and flow are then combined into an expression for the factor of safety against failure by overturning. This enables a deterministic sensitivity technique involving partial differentiation of the factor of safety with respect to each contributory factor to be applied. The results obtained show that depth of the groin is the most critical factor that determines groin stability. The depth is followed by flow velocity and discharge, unit weight of water, unit weight of soil, and cohesion. This order of importance agrees with the analysis of observed groin performance in a pilot project at Kaiama in the Niger delta.

Microbial profile of organically enriched freshwater ponds in south‐easthern Nigeria

Abstract: Samples of chicken manure and water from fish ponds receiving the latter were found to contain a relatively high bioload of micro‐organisms. Aerobic heterotropic counts in chicken manure were in the range of 1.75 x 10∗ colony forming units CFU per ml. with coliforms constituting about 7.4% of this value. Salmonella and Shigella similarly occurred in relatively high proportions. Iron oxidizing bacteria were also detected. Homogenized tissue of fish growing in the ponds was found to contain on the average 0.25% of total bioloads as pathogenic Vibrio sp. The implication of the use of chicken manure in fish ponds is discussed.