The extraction of oil from African locust bean seeds was carried out in this work. Standard procedures were followed to determine the yield present in the oil feed stocks using n-hexane in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Analyses were carried out to determine their proximate compositions and physicochemical characteristics. The determination of the functional groups and fatty acid compositions present in the extracted oils was also carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS) respectively. The results revealed that African locust bean seed has higher oil yield, crude fat, crude protein, ash content, crude fibre, moisture content than some other seeds such as Date palm seed with the exception of the carbohydrates content. Similarly, African locust bean seed oil which was yellowish brown in colour contained higher acid value, iodine value, peroxide value, free fatty acid with the exception of saponification value and specific gravity in comparism. Result from the FTIR analysis shows that 15 peaks were noticed in African locust bean seed oil, indicating the presence of various functional groups such as OH, C-H, C=C, C=O, C≡ C and C — N. Similarly, the GC-MS result also reveals that there are 6 dominating fatty acid compounds present in locust beans seed oil in relation to their relative weight composition abundance. In locust bean seed oil, linoleic acid stood out as the fatty acid compound with the highest weight composition of 31.9% having a relatively high degree of unsaturation. Furthermore, capric acid and lauric acid were found in this oil.  Judging from all the results in this work, it can be deduced that African locust bean seed oil may serve as better alternative oil for consumption and in large-scale production of lubricants, cosmetics, paints, and hydraulic brake fluid.

The removal of Pb ions by activated carbons prepared from velvet tamarind (Dialium indum) shells was studied to investigate its uptake potentials using column sorption at different operating conditions (flow rates, initial concentrations and bed height). The prepared adsorbent was characterized by determining the physicochemical properties, proximate analysis, carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulpur analysis, Fourier Transform-Infra Red, Potentiometric titration. Different dynamic models were used to describe the sorption processes. The FTIR analysis results suggested the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amine which could bind the metals and remove them from the solution. The values of moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash content as obtained from % proximate analysis are 3.43, 27.07, 65.05, 4.45 for activated carbons prepared from velvet tamarind shells. Ultimate analysis revealed that activated carbons prepared from velvet tamarind shells contained 75% carbon. The surface area and Iodine number of activated carbon from velvet tamarind shell are 570 m2g-1 and 614.7 mgg-1 respectively. The column experimental data revealed that an increase in bed height and initial metal concentration or a decrease of flow rate enhances the longevity of column performance by increasing both breakthrough time and exhaustion time thereby delaying bed saturation. Low ash content and high surface areas are indication of good mechanical strength and microporosity of the activated carbons prepared from this precursor.  The activated carbons are inexpensive and appeared to be effective and can be explore for future commercial application for environmental sustainability.

Background A series of known Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved anticancer drugs were collected from the literature and docked against mTOR receptor which has been identified in present time as a target for therapeutic anticancer agents. The compounds binding affinity were calculated after minimising the interaction within the binding pockets’ of the mTOR (4JT6) receptor. Results The result shows that PF-04691502 ligand best inhibited mTOR while occupying the Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding site on the receptor. PF-04691502 had the best binding affinity with a reported value of − 39.261 kcal/mol, and a hydrogen bond energy contribution of − 8.326 kcal/mol. Polamid529 is also found to have a good binding affinity of − 36.75 kcal/mol with the receptor, but was less significant than that calculated for the reference or standard inhibitor (X6K) used (− 37.862 kcal/mol). Further analysis revealed that Palomid529 formed a more stable complex with the receptor than torin2 and X6K due to the significant hydrogen bond contributions it adds to its overall binding score. Conclusion PF-04691502 ligand was identified as the best inhibitor due to its high binding affinity for mTOR and should be considered as the best alternative to the reference inhibitor X6K.

This study was carried out to investigate the Proximate Analysis and Elemental Composition of some Spiced(Spiced millet powder, Spiced dried okra, Spiced Swallow made from unripe plantain and wheat powder, Spiced bean powder) and Unspiced(Millet powder, dried okra, Bean powder and Swallow made from unripe plantain and wheat powder) Food Products from Bwari Area Council Abuja Using AOAC standard methods for the determination of Moisture content, Ash content; crude protein, Crude fibre, Carbohydrate e.t.c. Mineral composition and some trace element were also determined using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric method and Inductive Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP AES). The average value of the moisture content, the protein content, the fat content, the ash content, the crude fibre, and carbohydrate of all the analysed spiced samples ranged as follows; (7.50-12.00%), (2.19-14.70%), (0.13 -4.36 %), (0.49 – 16.16%), (3.36- 6.64%), (69.92 % – 87.72 %) respectively. Also, the average elemental composition of the samples are in the range of; Fe(11.62 – 27.99 mg/kg), Mg(26.29 – 82.18 mg/kg), Zn(4.20 – 20.45 mg/kg), Ca(45.97-103.23 mg/kg), Mn(1.729 – 18.734) respectively. The moisture contents of the samples were found to be low thus making them to have a longer shelf life and less open to degeneration and spoilage by the action of mold and other microorganism which flourish well at higher moisture contents. The protein and carbohydrate contents were relatively high compared to other food samples. The mineral and trace metals composition were within the acceptable standards required by the body. This food samples have enough nutritional value to contribute to our health and solve the problem of malnutrition in Nigeria.

No abstract