The consumption and encouragement of indigenous diets could help alleviate malnutrition and mitigate food insecurity in developing countries. In this regard, three Nigerian traditional diets: Akidi (Vigna unguiculata), Akara-Igboro (manihot esculenta), and Ofe-achara (Pennisetum purpureum soup) mixed with Mgbam (baked melon seed) and Garri (Cassva flakes) were evaluated for sensory characteristics, proximate composition, anti-nutrient composition, as well as vitamins, and mineral content using standard methods. Data from the sensory characteristics indicated that Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri (7.67 ± 0.89) was the most acceptable diet. The proximate analysis also revealed that Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri was highest in carbohydrate, (55.08 ± 4.66%), Ash (6.67 ± 2.89%) and moisture content (8.41 ± 0.89%) while Akidi was highest in protein (5.91 ± 0.05%) and crude fibre (12.31 ± 0.01%). The anti-nutritional analysis of the diets revealed that Akara-Igboro had the highest phytate (0.40 ± 0.01%), Alkaloid (50.00 ± 1.33%), oxalate (27.28 ± 0.88%) and Cyanogenic glycosides content (1.62 ± 0.12%) when compared to other diets. The vitamin content also showed that Akara-Igboro had the highest concentrations of vitamin B 2 and C (21.67 ± 0.02g/100g and 17.01 ± 0.01g/100g) respectively. The highest level of calcium was found in Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri (0.08 ± 0.01mg/100g). This study revealed that these traditional diets are crucial sources of important nutrients. Increased consumption of these nutrient-rich diets will mitigate nutrition-related disorders.
This study was carried out to investigate the combined toxicological effects of ten pesticides: Paraquat, Termicot (Chlorpyrifos), Sniper (Dichlorvos (Ddvp), Best (Cypermethrin), Delta Force (Deltamethrin), Vitoate 40 EC (Dimethoate), Force Up (Glyphosate), Attacke and Karto (Lambda Cyhalothrin) on some selected hematological and biochemical profile of male Wistar rats. Thirty six male Wistar rats weighing 152-198g were divided into three groups on weight basis. Groups' 1 and 2 containing 12 rats each were exposed to the pesticides by inhalation for 8 hours daily while the rats in group 3 received normal feed and water and constituted the male control for comparison. The Wistar rats were used to simulate the interminate exposure of farmers and retailers who use and sell these pesticides regularly. In comparison to male control animals alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of the male rats exposed to these pesticides fumes increased significantly (p<0.05). The hematological parameters revealed an insignificant decrease in red blood cell count (RBC) indices after 2 weeks and a further insignificant decrease in RBC after 4 weeks in the male rats, hemoglobin (HB) and packed cell volume (PCV) levels also decreased significantly (P<0.05) after 2 weeks with more significant decrease after 4 weeks in the male rats when compared to the male control respectively. While white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils (N) and lymphocytes (L) increased insignificantly (P>0.05) after 2 nd and 4 th week in the male rats respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of urea and creatinine as well as other serum electrolytes of the male rats after the 2 nd and 4 th week as compared to the male control. The results suggest that exposure to pesticides by inhalation leads to hepatotoxicity and anemia and continuous exposure to pesticides fumes may be toxic and capable of causing multiple organ toxicity, if results of this present study can be extrapolated to man.
Anti-sickling activity of Elaeis guineensis jacq flowers was investigated to determine the capability of the plant to inhibit the polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin, maintain membrane osmotic fragility and recover the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio. Spectrophotometric technique was employed to determine the rate of sodium metabisulphite provoked HbSS erythrocytes polymerization. The profile for HbSS erythrocytes polymerization of test and control specimens demonstrated growing level of polymerization at three investigational concentrations (20mg/ml, 40mg/ml and 60mg/ml) while (80mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 120mg/ml) concentrations of the extracts showed pronounced anti-sickling activity through inhibition of HbSS gelation. The estimation of mean corpuscular fragility (MCF), which is the concentration of saline causing 50% hemolysis of the erythrocytes, revealed that the plant extract decreased the MCF values of the HbSS erythrocytes at all concentrations in comparison to the control. The Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ investigation revealed an increase in the test groups when compared to the control. The aqueous extracts of Elaeis guineensis jacq flowers demonstrated towering potency in altering the polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin at increased concentration, enhancement in Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio and maintaining erythrocyte membrane integrity.
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