B. Moyo

Nutritional characterization of Moringa ( Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves

calcium (3.65%), phoshorus (0.3%), magnesium (0.5%), potassium (1.5%), sodium (0.164%), sulphur (0.63%), zinc (13.03 mg/kg), copper (8.25%), manganese (86.8 mg/kg), iron (490 mg/kg) and selenium (363 mg/kg). 17 fatty acids were observed with α-Linolenic acid (44.57%) having the highest value followed by heneicosanoic (14.41%), g-linolenic (0.20%) palmiteic (0.17%) and capric acid (0.07%). Vitamin E had the highest concentration of 77 mg/100 g than beta-carotene, which had 18.5 mg/100 g in the dried leaves. The fiber content was neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (11.4%), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (8.49%), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (1.8%) and (acid detergent cellulose (ADC) (4.01%). The condensed tannins had a value of 3.2%, while total polyphenols were 2.02%. The values of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamin profiles reflect a desirable nutritional balance.

Polyphenolic content and antioxidant properties of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts and enzymatic activity of liver from goats supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaves/sunflower seed cake

The study investigated antioxidant potency of Moringa oleifera leaves in different in vitro systems using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidative effect on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were investigated in goats supplemented with M. oleifera (MOL) or sunflower seed cake (SC). The acetone extract had higher concentrations of total flavonoids (295.01 ± 1.89 QE/g) followed by flavonols (132.74 ± 0.83 QE/g), phenolics (120.33 ± 0.76 TE/g) and then proanthocyanidins (32.59 ± 0.50 CE/g) than the aqueous extract. The reducing power of both solvent extracts showed strong antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The acetone extract depicted higher percentage inhibition against DPPH, ABTS and nitric oxide radicals which were comparable with reference standard antioxidants (vitamin C and BHT). MOL increased the antioxidant activity of GSH (186%), SOD (97.8%) and catalase (0.177%). Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by MOL. The present study suggests that M. oleifera could be a potential source of compounds with strong antioxidant potential.

Tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers and the effect of ticks on cattle in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted by interviewing 59 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires and general conversation. Information collected was on external parasites of cattle, their effects and their control methods. Ticks were reported to be a major problem causing diseases like anaplasmosis (89.8%), babesiosis (55.9%) and ehrlichiosis (16.9%), as well as wounds that predispose to screwworm infestation, tick worry and teat damage to cows troubling farmers in their farming enterprises. The main tick control methods were; acaricides provided by government, however 94.9% of the farmers interviewed were of the opinion that the dip wash is not effective in killing the ticks. As a result, farmers complement the government dipping service with their own initiatives like spraying with conventional acaricides (22%), household disinfectants such as Jeyes fluid (18.6%), used engine oil (10.2%), chickens (5.1%), manual removal (5.1%), and pouricides (1.7%). In addition, some farmers also use plants (6.8%), mainly the leaf of Aloe ferox and the bark of Ptaeroxylon obliquum. The study revealed ticks to be a major problem in the study area.

Communal area grazing strategies: institutions and traditional practices

Grazing strategies found in communal areas are a result of interactions between social, ecological and institutional factors. To understand the processes in operation, and help in improving management, the perceptions of communal people on institutional structures, utilisation patterns and possible intervention for improving their grazing lands were studied. A more comprehensive understanding of communal rangeland grazing strategies is important as the mere transplanting of large-scale commercial farming management strategies would be met with viability and acceptability constraints. In addition to participatory rural appraisals, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample of 553 households in Amathole, Chris Hani and Ukhahlamba districts of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Although the need for fences and paddocks was highlighted as the best intervention to improve range management in communal areas, lack of strong local-level institutions, little or no knowledge of veld management, absence of rules and lack of seasonal restrictions on rangeland resource use are additional constraints that would minimise the impact of fencing. It is concluded that communal range management remains complex and there is a need to consider socioeconomic and ecological factors, as well as institutional factors, in any planned grazing management intervention. Strengthening of local-level institutions and helping in ways to effectively utilise stockposts and abandoned fields will improve the management of communal rangelands.

An in-vivo study of the efficacy and safety of ethno-veterinary remedies used to control cattle ticks by rural farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tick-borne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to livestock. They are commonly controlled using commercial acaricides, which are expensive to the rural farmers, causing them to resort to alternative tick control methods. The objective of this study was to assess the acaricidal properties and safety of some materials (Ptaeroxylon obliquum, Aloe ferox, Lantana camara, Tagetes minuta, Used engine oil and Jeyes fluid, used by rural farmers to control cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 52 cattle were divided into 13 experimental groups with 4 cattle in each. Jeyes fluid at 76.8% concentration and Used engine oil had an efficacy that was almost similar to that of the positive control Ektoban® (Cymiazol 17.5 and cypermethrin 2.5%). Extracts of L. camara at 40% concentration had an efficacy of 57% while A. ferox, P. obliquum and T. minuta were not effective. The test materials had no irritation effect on rats. The study revealed that the materials rural farmers use as acaricides vary in their efficacy in controlling ticks.

Toxicity evaluation of the aqueous extract of the rhizome of Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels. (Fabaceae), in rats.

Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range of ailments both in humans and livestock. As part of the safety assessment of the extract, acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted by the oral route in rats. Male and female rats were divided into four groups consisting of five rats each and given doses of 200-1600 mg/kg bwt, 200-800 mg/kg bwt and 50-400mg/kg bwt in acute (1 day), sub-acute (14 days) and chronic toxicity (35 days), respectively. During the experiment, no deaths were observed in any groups and there were no remarkable changes in general appearance, as well as in food and water consumption. Significant (P<0.05) changes were however noted in body weights, haematological and serum biochemical parameters between the control and treated groups. Histopathological changes were also noted in kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen of rats receiving high doses. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that the plant has some potential toxicity at certain dose levels; therefore caution has to be taken when using E. elephantina for medicinal purposes.

Effect of dietary mixtures of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves, broiler finisher and crushed maize on anti- oxidative potential and physico-chemical characteristics of breast meat from broilers

This study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary mixtures of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves and broiler finisher (M-BF) [moringa leaves, broiler finisher and crushed maize (M-BF-CM); broiler finisher and crushed maize (BF-CM); and broiler finisher (BF)] on antioxidative potential and physico-chemical characteristics of breast meat from broilers. Antioxidant activity (AA), ultimate pH (pHu), lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and cooking loss (CL) were determined in breast meat samples from each group. The AA of the extract was evaluated using ferric reducing power and the radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic-acid) (ABTS). Total phenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins contents of breast meat were also determined. Similarly, the in vivo antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated in meat by determining the activity of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation. Moringa fed samples exhibited the highest phenolics (15.5 ± 0.22 mg/g tannic acid equivalent) and flavonoids (29.9 ± 0.32 mg/g tannic acid equivalent) content. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) observed on the broiler slaughter weight (SLW), pHu, CL, a* and b* in all the meat samples. The highest carcass weight (CW), and L* values were observed in breast samples of M-BF-CM and M-BF, respectively. These findings suggest that moringa supplementation could result in free radicals inhibition, thus enhancing the oxidative stability of meat without having effects on the physico-chemical characteristics of meat.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the aqueous extract of Leonotis leonurus leaves in rats

Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. BR. Lamiaceae is extensively for the treatment of various ailments and in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, it is used for the treatment of effects of gastrointestinal parasites in animals. There is, however, scanty information on the pharmacological activities of this plant. The aqueous extract from the leaf of L. leonurus was investigated for its analgesic and antiinflammatory properties. Carrageenan and histamine-induced rat paw oedema were conducted to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity, while acetic acid-induced writhing test was conducted to assess the analgesic activity of the plant. The extract was administered intraperitoneally (i.p) to rats at graded doses of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight (BWt). Indomethacin (10 mg/kg BWt) was used as reference drug, whereas the vehicle (2 mg/kg BWt of 0.9% normal saline in Tween-80) was used as negative control. Acute toxicity was tested in rats at doses of 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg BWt. Compared with the control, the plant extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg BWt significantly (P 0.05). In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the plant extract produced a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the number of writhes with all test doses and at 100 and 200 mg/kg BWt, the extract produced results that were similar to those of Indomethacin. This study revealed the potential of L. leonurus leaf aqueous extract in reducing pain and inflammation, suggesting that it has some antiinflammatory and analgesic activities, hence, justifying its ethno-veterinary uses. The acute toxicity test showed that the plant is relatively safe to use. Key words: Analgesic, anti-inflammation, indomethacin, Leonotis leonurus, rats.

Herbaceous biomass, species composition and soil properties of key grazing patches in coastal forest Thornveld and two grassland types of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

In spite of predictions of communal rangeland collapse due to continuous grazing and increased livestock populations, this grazing system remains prevalent in communal areas, suggesting animals utilise heterogeneity found in these areas. A study was conducted to compare biomass and herbaceous species composition in patches frequently grazed by cattle to randomly selected control sites in three communal areas located in Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland (Magwiji), Bhisho Thornveld (Mnyameni) and Tsomo Grassland (Cala). The relationship of vegetation parameters in frequently selected patches to the corresponding soil properties, topography and human impact was also examined. Biomass of frequently selected patches was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the dry season (June) at Magwiji (528 kg ha−1) than in less frequently selected patches (130 kg ha−1). There was an association between sites selected in winter and soil organic carbon, and these sites were dominated by Cynodon dactylon and Pennisetum clandestinum. The floristic patterns observed in Magwiji were associated with soil organic carbon content. Low-lying swampy patches had high soil pH in Cala, while mountain top soils in Magwiji had low electrical conductivity and these areas selected in winter were associated with grass species such as Eragrostis superba and Heteropogon contortus.

Physicochemical characteristics of communal rangeland soils along two defined toposequences in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

To proffer a sustainable solution to rangeland degradation, an understanding of the innate soil properties is vital. This study investigated the relative association of surface (0–20 cm) soil physicochemical properties, viz. electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, particle size composition, soil aggregate stability and microbial respiration, along a toposequence in two vegetation types. The study sites and vegetation types were Magwiji (Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland) and Upper Mnxe (Tsomo Grassland). In each site, we identified three experimental units along toposequence delineation, classified as crest, midslope and valley bottom. Vegetation type significantly (p < 0.05) affected sand fraction, aggregate stability under fast wetting, and mechanical disaggregation and CEC. Toposequence delineation significantly (p < 0.05) affected fast wetting, slow wetting, mechanical disaggregation, microbial respiration and CEC. There was significant variation and relationship between vegetation types, toposequence delineation and soil properties. The results suggest that toposequence delineation more than vegetation type influences soil property rangelands; therefore, in determining site-specific management techniques for communal rangelands it is important to consider the direction and magnitude of these relationships.