Water is one of the indispensable resources for the continued existence of all living things including man and adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human beings [1]. In nature, all water contain impurities; as water flows in streams, accumulates in lakes and filters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs substances it come in contact with, which may be harmful or harmless [2].One of the major and critical problems in most developing countries today is the provision of an adequate and safe drinking water to its populace [3]. Drinking water that is safe and aesthetically acceptable is a matter of high priority to Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON),
Background: In 2003, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the agency responsible for regulating drugs, foods and chemicals in Nigeria, banned the use of potassium bromate in bread on account of its deleterious effect and carcinogenicity in humans. Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the level of compliance to the use of potassium bromate in bread fifteen years after ban. Study Design: This study was made to fit a one way Analysis of Variance. Place and Duration of Study: This research was carried out in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital of Nigeria between July and December, 2018. Methodology: Thirty loaves of bread were purchased in Ibadan metropolis. They were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively for the presence of potassium bromate in them. Quantitative determination was done using spectrophotometric method that is based on the redox reaction between bromate and promethazine hydrochloride in an acidic medium. The absorbance of the product was read at 620 nm. The qualitative test was performed directly on a portion of each bread sample using 2 ml of 0.01 M promethazine and 0.6 ml of 12 M hydrochloric acid. The change in colour of each bread sample to purple indicates the presence of potassium bromate. Results: All the 30 bread samples analyzed contain potassium bromate. The concentration of KBrO3 in the sampled bread ranged between 1.24 µg/g and 9.31 µg/g. The quantity of KBrO3 in each bread sample correlates with the degree of purple colour obtained in the qualitative test. Conclusion: Since all the sampled bread had potassium bromate in concentration above safe level for human consumption, bread consumers and bakers are at risk of exposure to potassium bromate with health implications. The need for continuous surveillance and enforcement of the ban on use of potassium bromate in baking industry in Nigeria is recommended.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of garri processed by traditional and instant mechanical methods. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Achara, Uturu and analyses were done at the Biochemistry and Central Laboratories of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State between March and July, 2017. Methods: Cassava was harvested and processed in Achara area of Uturu, Abia State. For garri processed by instant mechanical method, cassava was grated and dewatered using hydraulic press and were roasted (fried) within 24 hours of harvest. For garri processed by traditional method, the grated garri was allowed to stay for 24 hours in the sack before dewatering using sticks. The dewatering process took 3 days before roasting. The nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of raw cassava mash, garri processed by traditional and instant mechanical methods were evaluated using standard methods. Results: The result of the analysis showed that garri processed by traditional method was higher in most of the nutritional factors but lower in all of the anti-nutritional factors investigated when compared with those of garri processed by instant mechanical method and raw cassava mash. Garri processed by traditional method was significantly higher in vitamin A but lower in vitamin C when compared with garri processed by instant mechanical method at p<0.05. Garri with palm oil has its cyanogenic glucoside significantly reduced when compared with garri without palm oil at p<0.05. Conclusion: Long period of fermentation (3 – 5 days) of cassava product is recommended as garri processed by traditional method was nutritionally better than that processed by instant mechanical method due to the longer period of fermentation.
Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the ameliorative efficacy of methanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves against acute ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Methods: Fresh plants of C. olitorius were harvested from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan. The leaves were dried and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. The methanol was evaporated in a rotary evaporator at 35°C with a yield of 2.17 g which represents a percentage yield of 8.68%. Twenty adult male Wistar rats with body weight between 120 and 150 g were used for this study. They were randomly divided into four groups of five rats each. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were administered saline solution while those in groups 3 and 4 were administered C. olitorius extract for twenty-one days. The animals were administered the extract and saline solution at a dose of 4 mL per 100 g body weight 12 hourly via oral route of administration. At the end of the treatment, they were fasted overnight and animals in groups 2 and 4 were exposed to a single dose of 70% ethanol at 12 ml/kg body weight to induce oxidative stress. After 12 hours of ethanol administration, the animals were anaesthetized using diethyl ether and were sacrificed. Liver was excised, weighed and homogenized in 50 mmol/L Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.4) and then centrifuged at 5000 × g for 15 minutes for biochemical analysis. Supernatants were immediately kept frozen for further analysis. Results: Ethanol-induced oxidative stress significantly increased the activities of AST, ALT, LDH, LPO, CAT, SOD and GPX but decrease GSH. These effects were regulated by C. olitorius administration. Conclusion: C. olitorius was able to remedy the effect of ethanol by regulating the oxidative stress biomarkers, thus possesses ameliorative efficacy against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and can protect the body against free radicals arising from oxidative stress.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Archachatina marginata mucin on the aggressive factors of gastric ulcer challenged rat stomach tissue. Thirty adult male wistar rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group I (normal control) was administered with 2 ml/kg b.w distilled water; Group II was administered with 120 mg/kg b.w indomethacin only. However, Groups III, IV and V were administered with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w mucin respectively, while Group VI was administered with the standard drug (mistoprostol) daily for 10 days. After the 10 th day of pretreatment, Groups III-VI were administered with 120 mg/kg b.w indomethacin. Gastric juice was collected, after animals had been anaesthetized. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation seven hours after indomethacin administration. Free acidity, total acidity, pepsin activity, gastric juice volume and acid output were determined using standard methods. There was a significant increase in the level of free and total acidy as well as pepsin activity with a concomitant increase in gastric juice volume as well as acid output (59.00±5.43 mEq/L), (85.20±7.49mEq/L), (1.39±0.62μg/ml), (4.40±0.77ml) and (0.26±0.04 μEq/L/4hrs) in Group II compared to Group I (normal control) (40.60±6.39mEq/L), (71.00±9.30mEq/L), (1.18±0.41μg/ml), (2.58±0.87 ml) and (0.11±0.03μEq/L/4hrs) respectively. However, there was a significant reduction in the level of free and total acidity as well as pepsin activity with a concomitant decrease in gastric juice volume and acid output in Groups III, IV and V administered with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w. While values recorded with 800 mg/kg b.w mucin was not significantly different from those obtained with the 20 μg/kg b.w standard drug (mistoprostol). In conclusion, It can be deduced from this work that mucin from A. marginata can be considered suitable candidate for the development of a gastric ulcer drug.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.