C. O. Ujowundu

Chemical Analysis of an Edible African Termite, Macrotermes nigeriensis;a Potential Antidote to Food Security Problem

Macrotermes nigeriensis is a gregarious termite that is eaten as a delicacy in different parts of Nigeria and several other African countries. The concentrations of proximate, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids of the termite were determined using standard methods. The following major nutrients were identified: proteins (20.94 ± 0.08%), carbohydrates (20.74 ± 0.00%) and lipids (34.23 ± 0.83%); the minerals included potassium (3360.00 mg/kg), sodium (1120.00 mg/kg), iron (9.56 mg/kg) and zinc (0.97 mg/kg); the vitamins were ascorbic acid (17.76 ± 1.60 mg/100g), niacin (2.74 ± 0.02 mg/100g) and riboflavin (1.56 ± 0.02 mg/100g); and the fatty acids were oleic acid (52.45 ± 0.58%), palmitic acid (31.39 ± 0.92%) and linoleic acid (7.57 ± 0.16%). The high fat content of the termite was made up mainly of unsaturated fatty acids (60.64%), consisting of 53.07% monounsaturated and 7.57% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results indicate that this delicacy is a potentially rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids that may be necessary for combating protein energy related disease conditions prevalent in developing countries of the world.

Effect of Sublethal Concentration of Heavy Metal Contamination on Soil Physicochemical Properties, Catalase and Dehydrogenase Activities

The effect of sublethal contaminations (100 μg/dm 3 ) of heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) on soil enzyme and physicochemical properties was investigated after one hundred and twenty days. Soil sample without heavy metal contamination served as the control. Results indicate that Hg, Pb and Cd at 100 μg/dm 3

Procarcinogens: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metal Content in Some Locally Processed Foods in South Eastern Nigeria

This study investigated the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in commonly consumed roasted meats and smoked fish in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The processed foods were grouped as; freshly processed6 to 12 hours heat/flame/smoke exposure and long processed7 days heat/flame/smoke exposure. Freshly processed (FP) and long processed (LP) beef, fatty beef, chicken, fish and pork samples were purchased from road-side food vendors, wrapped in clean labelled paper foil and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used for the evaluation of PAH and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to determine heavy metals. Our result showed that the total concentration of PAHs in LP food samples were higher when compared to FP samples. Benzo(a)pyrene and other PAHs which are probable human carcinogen, were present in varying concentrations in the samples. Toxic heavy metals such as lead and cadmium were present at varying concentrations in the samples, while mercury was not detected in any of the samples. This study have added to the numerous evidences that processing of food by Research Article British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 4(1): 249-260, 2014 250 exposure to heat, flame and smoke encourages the generation of toxic compounds and the nature of the food chain and certain environmental activities can impact negatively on their nutritional content. This therefore places consumers at potential health risk.

Total amino acid profiles of heat-processed fresh Elaeis guineensis and Raphia hookeri wines.

Total amino acid (AA) profiles of heat-processed fresh Elaeis guineensis and Raphia hookeri wines were studied. Heating their fresh wines to 85°C, cooling and diluting to original volumes distilled off ethanol, but did not change their moisture and nitrogen contents. R. hookeri wine contained more (p<0.05) Phe, Val, Ala, Gly, Pro, Asp, Asn, His and Lys than E. guineensis wine which contained more (p<0.05) Met, Cys, Glu, Gln, Ser and Arg. Tyrosine, Leu, Ile and Thr contents did not vary (p>0.05). Glycine and Pro contents were low suggesting high globular protein concentrations. ∑basic AA/∑acidic AA ratios were >1 suggesting high basic protein contents. The E. guineensis and R. hookeri wines contained 58.25 ± 0.56% and 56.79 ± 0.4% essential AAs, respectively. Essential AA scores suggested Leu as their limiting AA. In conclusion, the wines can adequately meet daily nitrogen and essential AA needs when a 70 kg adult drinks 1425.45 ml.

Quantitative assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and heavy metals in fish roasted with firewood, waste tyres and polyethylene materials.

The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of PAHs along successive trophic levels is an important means of exposure to human and animal life. This study evaluated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in fresh fish and fish samples processed/ roasted with smoke/heat/flame generated from firewood, waste tyre and polyethylene materials. PAHs and heavy metals were determined with Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) respectively. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals in the heat-processed fish when compared to fresh fish. Appreciable amount of carcinogenic PAHs; benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene benz(a)anthracene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene and heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) were detected in processed/roasted fish samples.

Effects of Potassium Iodate Application on the Biomass and Iodine concentration of Selected Indigenous Nigerian Vegetables

Although the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reaction to tuberculin is used worldwide for tuberculosis (TB) detection, it has poor diagnostic specificity due to the presence of common antigens in tuberculin shared by many mycobacterial species. The problem is noticed, especially in countries where the Bacillus Calmette-Gue´rin (BCG) vaccination is widely practiced. Thus, a new skin test antigen specific for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is urgently needed. CFP-10, a mycobacterial secretary protein that is absent in Mycobacterium bovis BCG and most other mycobacterial species including Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, has been shown to elicit cellular immune responses in MTB infected individuals and can be a good candidate for MTB specific diagnosis. We prepared recombinant MTB CFP-10, rCFP-10, and its utility as specific antigen for TB diagnosis was evaluated by skin testing in guinea pigs sensitized with M . tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. bovis BCG. Our results show that the purified MTB rCFP-10 antigen elicits a positive skin response only in the guinea pigs sensitized with M. tuberculosis and M. bovis , and not in the animals sensitized with M. bovis BCG vaccine. The data presented in this study supports further testing of the use rCFP-10 as the specific antigen in the skin test for the diagnosis of MTB infection in humans. Key words : Recombinant CFP-10 protein, skin test, delayed-type hypersensitivity, tuberculosis infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Bacillus Calmette-Gue´rin.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Crude Extracts of Tomato and Onion in Rats Exposed to Locally Processed Beef

This study was carried out to examine the hepatoprotective effect of ethylacetate extract of tomatoes and methanol extract of onions on the biochemical changes induced by feed formulated with 15% roasted beefand 85% rats pellets. Doses of 500 mg/kg body weight of both extracts were administered orally. The hepatic activities of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino -transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were examined, alsoconcentrations o f total protein, albumin and globulin wer e monitored in the animals. The effects of feeding and treatment on oxidative stress parameters (CAT, SOD, GPx, Glutathioneand MDA) were determined. The changes observed were discussed.

Biochemical and Haematological Studies on the Ethanol Leaf Extract of Spondias mombin Linn

Spondias mombin Linn (Anacardiaceae) is an edible plant that is ethnopharmacologically used for induction of labour, expulsion of afterbirth, and stabilization of women after childbirth. The effects of ethanol extract of the leaf of S. mombin on hepatic, renal and haematologic function indices of albino rabbits were studied using standard methods. Acute toxicity studies of the extract showed the lethal dose (LD 50 ) to be indeterminate, while the effective (abortifacient) dose (ED 50 ) was 753.96 ±0.10 mg/kg body weight. Intraperitoneal administration of 750 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as the serum concentrations of total bilirubin, urea and creatinine, but increased the serum concentrations of total protein, albumin and haemoglobin, as well as the values of white blood cell count, platelet count, and the calculated red cell indices. The results of the study showed that the extract does not have detrimental toxicological effects on the studied organs/tissue function indices. However, it’s observed effect on platelet count calls for further studies.

Detoxification potentials of an alcoholic bitter on carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in wistar albino rats

The increased demand for herbal remedies and natural quest for alcohol consumption has positioned alcoholic herbal preparations (bitters) as ideal drink. Bitters are acclaimed to have blood detoxifying and liver cleansing potentials. This study investigated the acclaimed detoxifying potentials of an alcoholic bitter (AB) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity. Twenty five male Wistar albino rats were grouped and treated, thus: group I served as normal control, groups II, IV and V were given single dose of 1.2 ml CCl4/kg body weight (bwt). Groups IV and V were administered 1.4 and 2.8 ml AB/kg bwt, respectively, while group III animals were administered 1.4 ml AB/kg bwt. Results obtained showed significant (p<0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation and in activities of liver function enzymes, reductions in glutathione concentration and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase in groups administered AB and CCl4 only as well as in groups treated with AB after CCl4 exposure. These observations indicate manifestation of oxidative stress induced by excessive consumption of high percentage alcoholic content of the bitter. Similarly, the result trends of other antioxidant parameters studied indicated significant oxidative damage and thus the inability of the alcoholic bitter to ameliorate xenobiotics induced damage. Key words: Alcohol, bitters, toxicants, oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity, xenobiotics.

Biochemical and histological evaluation of benzo[a]pyrene induced nephrotoxicity and therapeutic potentials of Combretum zenkeri leaf extract

This study determined the therapeutic effect of ethanol leaf extract of Combretum zenkeri on kidney function of rats exposed to benzo[a]pyrene. Male Wistar albino rats were treated with ethanol leaf extract of C. zenkeri (400 mg/kg) in the presence or absence of BaP (200 mg/kg) for four weeks. The blood obtained at the end of the treatment was processed into serum and used for biochemical analyses and kidney tissues for histology. The serum creatinine, urea, sodium ion and potassium ion concentrations of the group exposed to benzo[a]pyrene without treatment with C. zenkeri extracts were significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to the normal control group. The kidney histology indicated severely damaged glomeruli. The groups treated with the leaf extract preor postbenzo[a]pyrene exposure showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum concentration of urea, creatinine and sodium ion, while the pre-treated group showed no significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum potassium ion concentration. The biochemical and histological studies indicated that, C. zenkeri can ameliorate benzo[a]pyrene induced oxidative kidney damage.