Fresh Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) was investigated for its proximate and mineral composition using the various methods described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC), 2010. Vitamin A and C contents were determined by the methods described by Rutkowsi et al and Rahman et al., respectively. The proximate analysis of 100 g of fresh tigernut revealed that moisture content has the highest value followed by carbohydrate, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein, and lowest ash content. The outcome of the mineral analysis showed the highest value of potassium (K), followed by phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) sodium (Na), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and lowest copper (Cu) content. The result also showed that tigernut contains high levels of vitamin C than A. This result implies that this edible tuber which has been underutilized in the world can go a long way in providing most of the nutrients needed for life and can be used as supplement in the treatment of diseases that are caused primarily by deficiencies of minerals and vitamins.
ABSTRACT. Repellency of Euphorbia balsamifera, Lawsonia inermis, Mitracarpus hirtus andSenna obtusifolia along with permethrin powder against Sitophilus zeamais was evaluated in the laboratory at 28-32 o C and 60-75% RH. The botanicals were applied as powders, methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts at the rate of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 x 10 4 ppm per 20 g of sorghum grains, while the permethrin powder was applied at 0.056 x 10 4 ppm. Percentage repellency was recorded at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after exposure (HAE). All the botanicals were found to have a repellent effect against Sitopholus zeamais at all three concentrations. The highest (82.22 ± 2.22%) repellency among the botanical powders was exhibited by 10.0 x 10 4 ppm of Euphorbia balsamifera within 24 HAE. Methanolic leaf extracts were found to be more effective than the other formulations, causing total repellency against the weevils at 10.0 x 10 4 ppm of all the botanicals, while the activities of the aqueous extracts were the least repellent (41.37 ± 7.39 to 60.14 ± 1.64%) after 24 hours of exposure. The repellent activities of the botanicals decreased with increasing exposure periods for powders and aqueous extracts, and increased with increasing duration for methanolic and ethanolic extracts. The results showed that the botanicals were good repellents against Sitopholus zeamais and could serve as stored sorghum protectants against maize weevil infestation. Grains protected with these botanicals could be used as seeds for planting. Meanwhile, studies on the toxicity of these botanicals against higher animals are recommended.
Plant powders prepared from five plant species were tested under constant conditions at 30 ± 2℃ and 60-65% r. h. for their ability to protect sorghum grains against Sitophilus zeamais in storage. Doses at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g and 0.12g of the check (permethrin (0.6%) were applied for assessments of adult mortality, emergence and damage. Leaf powders of E. balsamifera, J. curcas and L. inermis gave the highest adult mortality (60.0-100%), while peel powder of C. sinensis and leaf powder of L. hastata recorded 47.50-82.50% adult mortality. Least adult emergence (0.00%) was observed when 2.0g of J. curcas was applied, while the highest (57.82%) was obtained from 0.5g L. hastata. All the plant powders showed significant (p < 0.05) adult mortality against S. zeamais with weevil perforation index (WPI) of < 50.00. This study was designed to observe the possibility of using plants parts to reduce grain damage caused by insect pests during storage.
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