Polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in our diet that have been credited with chemoprevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the whole ripened fruit of Dacryodes edulis (G.Don) H.J Lam, a multipurpose tree growing in West and Central Africa and other countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, for polyphenol content as well as its antioxidant/radical scavenging capacity. Analysis of the methanol extract of the fruit by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ultraviolet dual-array detector and mass-selective detector revealed the presence of catechol (9.27 mg/kg), gallate (10.40 mg/kg), methylgallate (0.88 mg/kg), ellagic acid (3.10 mg/kg), quercetin (0.21 mg/kg), and quercetin rhamnoside (0.76 mg/kg). The extract showed very high antioxidant potential (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] = 14 microL), but a rather weak radical scavenging activity (IC(50) = 357 microL), when tested in vitro with the xanthine oxidase and 2-deoxyguanosine assay model systems, respectively. These results suggest that consumption of D. edulis could contribute to prevention of diseases that are related to oxidative stress.

Field experiments were conducted between April and November 2016 at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (Latitude 09 0 02 " N and Longitude 06 0 34 " E) and Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Mokwa (Latitude 09 08''N and Longitude 05 0 04''E) to examine the effects of poultry manure time of application on the growth and yield of water melon varieties. The experiment was a 4 x 3 factorial laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. The treatments consisted of four (4) varieties of water melon and three (3) different times of application of poultry manure; a week before planting, during planting and a week after planting. The poultry manure was applied to all the treatments at the rate of 10 tonnes per hectare. Parameters evaluated were vine length per plant (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plant (kg) and fruit yield (t/ha). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), significant means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD 0.05 ). The results indicated that, out of the four varieties evaluated, variety Koloss F 1 , and Kaolak significantly produced longest vine, higher number of leaves and branches, higher number of fruits per plant, heavier fruits weight per plant and higher yield (t/ha). Also the application of poultry manure at a week before planting significantly supported higher growth rate and yield in all the four water melon varieties evaluated. Based on the outcome of this research, Koloss F 1 and Kaolak varieties planted in the plots with the application of poultry manure a week before planting showed appreciable growth responses at the two locations considered.

No abstract

The study was aimed at establishing storage stability indices of a traditional smoke dried product kamsa, produced from beef. The sample was produced using a standardized method and stored over a period of six months. Data for sorption studies was generated between the temperature ranges of 33.8oC to 50oC for adsorption and desorption using the gravimetric method. The data was analyzed using the Guggeinheim Anderson de Boer (GAB) and the Brunaeur Emmett Teller (BET) model equations. A nonlinear regression analysis method was used to evaluate the constants of the sorption equations. From the results using the GAB model, the monolayer moisture content (Mo) decreased from 0.021 to 0.008gH2O/g solids; the value of the constant K, increased from 0.587 to 1.052; and the value of CG decreased from 2.481 to 2.154. For desorption, the value of Mo decreased from 0.021 to 0.004g H2O/g solids; K increased from 0.587 to 1.035; CG increased from 2.173 to 2.646. The model gave low percent standard error values. The correlation coefficient (R) values obtained for both adsorption and desorption ranged from 0.998 to 0.999, and 0.991 to 1.000, respectively. The Mo values using the BET model at 33.8oC for both adsorption and desorption were 0.055, 0.055, 0.052, 0.049, 0.058, 0.055g H2O/g solid; and 0.057, 0.057, 0.052, 0049, 0.052, 0.057g H2O/g solid, respectively. At 50oC, the adsorption and desorption monolayer moisture values were 0.039, 0.047, 0.049, 0.049, 0.052, 0.058 gH2O/g solids; and 0.054, 0.047, 0.052, 0.052, 0.039, 0.052 gH2O/g solids, respectively. The study concluded that, the GAB model was more suitable in describing the sorption characteristics of Kamsa within the prescribed water activity and temperature ranges.

Multi-parameter extrusion cooking conditions for the extrusion of composite flours of rice and soybean were modeled using response surface methodology (RSM). A five-level-three-factors central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed to optimize three process variables including barrel temperature (BRT)(X 1 ), feed moisture (FMC)(X 2 ) and feed soybean composition (FSC)(X 3 ) for the achievement of satisfactory hydration characteristics and proximate composition. The fitted polynomial models indicated significant coefficients, satisfactory coefficients of determination (R 2 and R 2 adjusted ) and non-significant lack-of-fit test. Optimum X 1 , X 2 and X 3 were 120˚C, 20%, and 23% for rice-soybean based extrudates. At these optimum combinations, optimum responses were 97.10% for dispersibility, 6.11 water absorption index and 8.42 water solubility index, while proximate composition of 1.02% moisture content, 3.62% lipid, 26.26% protein, 0.48% ash content, 2.14% fibre, 70.13% and 412.14 kcal/100g of energy were obtained. Under the optimized conditions, the responses are well matched with the predicted values and therefore the models could be used to predict the extrusion system in its natural state.