1AJAWOBU, O.I., 2AJAWOBU, N.J., 3AKINDAHUNSI, A., 4EKONG C.E., 1ANUNOBI, J. A

1Dept. of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

PMB 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

2Newlife Food Ind. Nig. Ltd. P.O. Box 10956, Awada, Onitsha,

Anambra State, Nigeria.

3Dept. of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure,

Ondo State, Nigeria.

4NAFDAC- Agulu Laboratory Services Directorate (ALSD),

Awka- Ekwulobia Road,

Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author Email: io.ajawobu@unizik.edu.ng

Some powdered corn starches (Custard) were purchased from the Relief Market, Onitsha and compared for chemical and microbial assessments. The proximate compositions of the samples were found to be: Ash (0.35-1.05 g/100 g), Crude Protein (0.45-0.90 g/100 g), Crude Fat (0.19-0.97 g/100 g), Carbohydrate (81.98-84.61 g/100 g), Moisture (12.28-15.40 g/100 g) and Energy (13.39-14.29). The Mineral compositions were also found to be Fe (0.03-0.12 mg/100 g), Mg (0.63-0.98 mg/100 g), Na (0.07-1.23 mg/100 g) and Zn (0.04-0.06 mg/100 g). The Microbial counts showed that even the highest peak obtained (1.27 x 104) was still lower than the value (106) recommended as limit Thus, all the samples studied were found to be viable and acceptable for consumption.

Chemical, Microbial, Analysis, Market brand, Custard, Corn Starch.

¹WOMBO, N.P., ²LABARAN L. AND ³SAMUEL P.S.

¹Analytical/Environmental Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

²Industrial Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

³Biochemistry Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: ngunanwombo@gmail.com

A precise, specific, rapid and simple UV spectrophotometric method with good sensitivity was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of aspirin and caffeine in an analgesic drug Alabukun. The method employed solving of simultaneous equations based on the measurement of absorbance at wavelengths of maximum adsorption (λmax) 255(3.029) and 265(2.166) nm for aspirin and caffeine in Alabukun and wave length of 265 (2.566) nm, Caffeine 257 (3.029) nm, for standard aspirin caffeine calibration curve was linear within the concentration range of 10 to 50 μg/mL. It can be concluded from the results that present method for the simultaneous determination of aspirin and caffeine within the chosen analgesic drugs is precise, specific, rapid and simple with good sensitivity. This analytical method is also applicable in ordinary laboratories. It can also be adopted for quality control tests.

Alabukun, Analgesic, Aspirin, Caffeine, Simultaneous, Ultraviolet Spectrometer.

¹WOMBO, N.P., ²ONUH K.I., ³LABARAN L. AND ⁴OGA I.A

¹Analytical/Environmental Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology,

Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

³Industrial Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

⁴Environmental Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author: ngunanwombo@gmail.com

Organic farming is an age old practice but has been lost to the present generation as a result of urbanization. Considering the fact that in most municipalities, sources of organic wastes are streamlined to be assessed through the collection from dumpsite and unregulated disposal outlets. This results in the presence of mixed waste streams that are made up of both inorganic and organic materials but with the former being dominantly present. Therefore the feasibility of obtaining needed organic waste for the production of the manure has been a challenge coupled with the huge and relatively costly machinery for processing it particularly the drying. This work presents a simplified, cheap and feasible method of drying, grinding and granulation of organic wastes collected from our municipal market and fruits and vegetable vendors in Lafia Township. Using a kitchen microwave oven, manual blending machine and a small table-top granulator, a 25 kg per batch granulated organic fertilizer/soil enricher was processed within a time space of 2 Hours. The analysis of processed manure gave, pH (7.0&7.1), Organic Carbon (239 & 242), Moisture (42 & 42), Carbon: Nitrogen ratio (16 & 15), N (14.8 &15.7), P (15.3 & 15.2), K (15.8 & 15.9), Mg (7.1 & 7.4). The heavy metal content of the products falls within acceptable limits suitable for healthy farming practice. This process creates the possibility of having a do-it-yourself approach to healthy organic farming as well as provides a cheaper techno-economic processing to organic fertilizer production for small, medium and large scale facilities.

organic waste, organic manure, microwave oven drying, manual grinding, open pan granulator

OSARUMWENSE, J. O.¹ AND SALOKUN, O.¹

¹Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

Faculty of Life Sciences,

University of Benin, Benin City

Corresponding author’s e-mail: judeosarumwense@uniben.edu

The biodiesel produced through transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil and methanol using homogeneous catalyst (sodium hydroxide) contains unwanted impurities such as sodium salt of fatty acid (soap), catalyst, glycerol, unreacted oil and methanol. In order to meet with the acceptable international standard for biodiesel, purification is required. In this study, water washing of crude biodiesel was optimized using response surface methods (RSM) of statistical package Design-Expert^® software version 7.1. Central composite design (CCD) of RSM was employed to create a set of 20 experimental runs, and develop a model to evaluate the relationship between three variables - washing time, temperation and biodiesel-to-water (BW ratio) to the removal of soap, catalyst and glycerol. The results obtained showed that 93.01% of catalyst, 93.72% of soap and 96.68% of glycerol were removed from the biodiesel at optimial conditions of 1:3 B:W ratio, temperature of 33.04^oC and washing time of 43.52 minutes. The quadratic model describing the washing process was statistically significant (p < 0.05) with the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9879, 0.9730, and 0.9839 for catalyst, soap, and glycerol respectively. This is an indication of an adequate measure of good fit and reasonable agreement with the modeled values.

Triglyceride, Jatropha curcas, Transesterification, Washing time, Temperature

¹WOMBO, N.P., ²ONUH K.I., ³OGA I.U. AND ⁴AFOLABI S.

¹Environmental/Analytical Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology,

Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

³Environmental Chemist &Technologist at the Department of Chemistry,

Federal University, Lafia,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

⁴Biochemistry Chemist and Technologist,

Department of Chemistry, Federal University, Lafia,,

P.M.B 146 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author:ngunanwombo@gmail.com

The aqueous extract of Physalisangulatalinn was subjected to preliminary physochemical screening and the tests revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phlobatanins, steroids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, glycosides and anthraquinones as the secondary metabolits. Hexane and methanolic extracts of the plant were also obtained. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) studies of these extracts were carried out and the rf values of the various components determined.

Antimicrobial activities studies were carried out on the aqueous, hexane and methanol extracts of the plants using the filter paper disc method. The organisms used were Escherichacoli, Salmonellatyphi and Staphylococcusaureus. All the extracts showed activity against these organisms at the concentration of 250 mg/mL.

The antimicrobial activities studies contained the fact that the plant contains biologically active components. The results lend scientific support to the local use of the plant as an analgesic in traditional medicine.

Physalisangulatalinn, Phytochemical screening, Antimicrobial, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).

ISOLA, O.B¹., ONIGBINDE, M. O². AND *AKINTELU, M.T³.

^1,2,3Chemical Sciences Department,

Samuel Adegboyega University,

Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author Email: marytoyetunji@gmail.com

+2348060422714

Water samples obtained from selected underground reservoirs and boreholes in Edo state, Nigeria were analysed for heavy metal concentration using flame photometer and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result of physicochemical parameters obtained from the borehole water, fell within the maximum allowable limit set by WHO and Nigeria standards for drinking water but the concentration of Cu (0.15 ppm), Ca (0.15 ppm), Mn (0.29 ppm), and Fe (0.16 ppm) in Eguare 2, Mn (0.12 ppm) in Okalo and Fe (0.49 ppm) in Okpujie exceeded WHO standards for drinking water. The result also shows that borehole waters in these communities were safer for drinking than underground reservoirs. This was because most of the heavy metals were found in greater concentration in the underground reservoir exceeding national and international standards of drinking water quality. The study recommends that Government should make arrangements for continuous inspection of water schemes, health and functionality to avoid the danger of drinking untreated water.

Physicochemical analysis, heavy metal analysis, reservoir and borehole water.

JOEL, ELIZABETH OMOKOSHI

Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan,

Ibadan, Oyo State.

*Corresponding Author Email: omobeth2006@yahoo.co.uk

Phone No. 08136195858

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of selected cooking oil on the chemical and nutritional composition of fresh beef sausage. Sausages were prepared using different cooking oil and stored at -4⁰ C for 20 days. The oils used are groundnut oil, olive oil, shea butter and lard with a control that had no oil addition. The pH of the beef sausage samples was determined at day 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 and proximate analysis was carried on the sausage samples as well. A common slightly acidic pH value tending towards neutral was observed in the entire sausage sample. The pH values ranged from 5.08 – 6.46/ 10 kg sample. Olive oil based sausage recorded the least fat content while groundnut oil based sausage had the highest value compared to other oil bases. At the end of the storage days, olive oil based had the highest ash content and protein value (1.61, 13.73 respectively). The results obtained from this study showed that olive oil based sausage could be a good source of protein and minerals.

Cooking oil; beef sausage; chemical; proximate; nutritional value

*IGBINAKENZUA, O.P¹ AFOLABI, T.A¹ABUNUKEKE, K.² AND OMORUYI, E.³

^1*Dept. of Laboratory Services,

Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology.

²Department of Biochemistry,

Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria.

³Central Analytical Laboratory, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research,

Benin City.

Corresponding Author’s Email: preciousosarobo25@gmail.com

The study aims to evaluate the effect of food chain mediated chronic exposure to arsenic and cadmium (singly and combined) on the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in brains of rats. Fortymale Wistaralbino rats were fed with a diet containing fish fed with normal feed in water contaminated with 0.4 mg/100 ml cadmium (group B), arsenic (group C) and cadmium + arsenic (group D) respectively for three months. The control rats were fed with diet containing non-metal exposed fish. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed; brains were harvested and centrifuged to get the supernatant which were used for biochemical assay of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) within 24 hours. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in brain GST activity in group D (cadmium + arsenic) as compared to group A (control) after periods of treatment, however there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in brain GSH level. The results of the present study show alteration in the level of GSH and in the activity of GST which is due to their antioxidative actions in combating generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by the contaminated diets.

cadmium, arsenic, food chain, glutathione S-transferase, reduces glutathione

EKHATOR O.C.¹, OBARO P.O.¹, EGBE J.U.¹, OBARO O.E.² AND OJEAGA K.¹

¹Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin,

P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology,

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin,

P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author Email: ekhator.osazuwa@uniben.edu:ng

Heavy metals have been reported to induce testicular damage which could result in male infertility. The use of medicinal plants to ameliorate the toxic effects of heavy metals is on the increase worldwide. This study investigated the capacity of Stachytarphet acayennensis extract to protect the testes against mixture of cadmium, lead and arsenic toxicity in male rats. Thirty (30) rats were divided into five (5) groups of six (6) rats. Control group was given distilled water daily, Heavy metal group was given heavy metals mixture of Lead-30 mg/kg, Cadmium-30 mg/kg and Arsenic-1 mg/kg dissolve in distilled water while the treatment groups were given heavy metals mixture and treated with vitamin C and E combination, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg extract of Stachytarphet acayennensis. Administration lasted for 28 days and the rats were sacrificed thereafter. Antioxidant marker enzymes such as Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Sperm and testes were collected for characterization and histopathological analysis respectively. Results showed that heavy metal mixture significantly decreased the SOD, CAT and GPx, and increased MDA levels. Heavy metal mixture also decreased the sperm count, motility, viability, and altered histopathological testes compared to the control. However, administration of vitamin C and E, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of Stachytarpheta cayennensis significantly decreased MDA, increased SOD, CAT, GPx and improved the histopathological architecture of the testes of heavy metal mixture-treated rats. Therefore our findings revealed that Stachytarpheta cayennensis possesses antioxidant and testicular-protective properties.

Oxidative Stress, infertility, Testes, Antioxidant

ADEH I.¹ , MAIKAJE, D.B¹ AND INABO. H.I²

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science,

Kaduna State University, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science,

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author Email: adehibrahim@gmail.com

Phone No. 08035123075

The research was carried out to isolate and characterize pathogenic bacteria from stool specimens obtained from children in selected orphanage centres in Chikun, Kaduna South and Kaduna North Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The children were between the ages of day one to seventy two months. A total of 240 samples were collected and analysed by standard microbiological methods. The identities of the pathogens were determined by Bacteriological, Biochemical and Molecular methods. The pathogenic bacteria isolates bacteria were found to be sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin Ofloxacin, Pefloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Tarivid and Colistin sulfate. Salmonella sp., 23%, Shigella sp. 11% and Escherichia sp. 66% were isolated from the stool specimens. Hence this shows that there could be public health breach in the maintenance and management of the selected Orphanage centres.

Isolation, Characterization, Pathogenic bacteria, Children, Orphanage centres, Kaduna metropolis.

*¹ANOEMUAH, ROSEMARY ARUOREZI AND

²ANOEMUAH, RAWSON OMAGBEMI

¹Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Michael and Cecilia Ibru

University, Ibru Village, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli-North, Delta State, Nigeria

²Geology Department, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Phone Numbers: ¹+234 08033199243 and ²+234 08062489059

*E-mail: ¹rosyjosi@yahoo.com

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was described to be an extension of information technology tools with an addition of telecommunication devices. Few studies have focused on determining laboratory scientists’ perceptions of ICT tools in the laboratory. The objective of this study was to investigate laboratory scientists’ perceptions of the usefulness; ease of use and the factors for effective use of ICT Tools in the Laboratory to determine the relevance of ICT tools in science laboratories. A self-developed and validated online survey was sent to 1306 laboratory scientists’ in higher institutions of learning and private organizations. A total of only 59 laboratory scientists responded to the survey after 4 months. The study’s research questions reliability co-efficient obtained were above 0.7, which shows that the questions were reliable and the study outcomes can be generalized for all science laboratories. The study adopted quantitative descriptive method and analysis, together with the underlying Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The findings shows that majority of the laboratory scientists’ perceived ICT tools as useful and easy to use, thereby suggesting that ICT tools are relevance in attaining good performance in science laboratories works and learning. Recommendations were also made to improve the use of ICT tools.

ICT, science laboratory, computer, information technology, telecommunication, TAM