The proximate, minerals and amino acids contents of wild melon (Citrullus ecirrhosus) seeds were determined. The results for proximate analysis (% DW) showed a composition of 3.73 +/- 0.25 moisture, 2.12 +/- 0.08 ash 26.36 +/- 0.10 crude protein, 50.67 +/- 10.76 crude lipid, 2.17 +/- 0.29 crude fibre, 18.69 +/- 0.82 available carbohydrate and energy value of 601.7 +/- 8.75 kcal/100 g. The seeds amino acids profile revealed that for adults but leucine, lysine and threonine are below the requirement value for children. The overall result implies that seed of the wild melon possessed the potential to be used as a source of nutrition.

The study is aimed at evaluating nutritional composition, antinutritional factors and elemental analysis of three parts (roots sample RS, seed sample SS and leave sample LS) of Nymphaea lotus (water lily) using standard methods. The plant parts were analyzed for the content of crude lipid, crude fiber, crude proteins, ash, moisture and carbohydrate was estimated by difference. Crude lipids and carbohydrate were higher in seeds, while crude protein was exceptionally higher in the leaves. There are moderate amount of both antinutritional factors and heavy metals. The vitamin E content was high in the seeds sample while other vitamins determined were present in all plant parts respectively. Considering the potential nutritive and health benefits of the underutilized water lily, it is suggested that utilization of water lily should be encouraged so as to ameliorate the problem of malnutrition, since it is rich in nutrients.

Proximate, mineral and antioxidant composition of the leaf and root samples of Pistia stratiotes were estimated using standard methods. The samples show appreciable levels of moisture (4.50±0.50%and 4.50±0.10%), crude fibre (17.50±0.87% and 20.50±1.80%), crude lipid (2.17±0.29% and 1.83±0.29%), crude protein (6.96±0.13% and 3.18±0.14%), ash (35.20±1.56% and 44.50±0.50%) and carbohydrate (38.20±2.08% and 30.00±1.46%) respectively. The minerals determined were sodium (373.00±0.50mg/100g and 113.00±0.06mg100/g), potassium (3283.00±0.76mg100/g and 1750.00±0.50mg100/g), phosphorus (336.00±0.10mg/100g and 313.00±0.03mg/100g), calcium (230.00±0.01mg/100g and 230.00±0.03mg/100g) and magnesium (370.00±0.03mg/100g and 230.00±0.03mg/100g) respectively. The antioxidant estimated are vitamin A (480.0±1.50mg/100g and 1050.00±1.50mg/100g), vitamin C (560.00±0.20mg/100g and 3130.00±0.31mg/100g) and vitamin E (8260.00±3.00mg/100g and 3060±1.83mg100/g) respectively. The results show that the leaf and root portions of P.stratiotes have potential nutritional uses and the leaf parts have significant (P<0.05) high values of mineral element and antioxidant than that of the root samples.

ABSTRACT:The spectra of amide I region (1700-1600cm -1 ) of horse heart ferricytochrome c at 20 o C are reported at low ionic strength at of pH values between 7.0 and 11.5 encompassing the alkaline transition. The mid-infrared spectra can probe the protein secondary structures. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique is used to investigate the changes in the conformationally sensitive amide I band of cytochrome c with pH and ionic strength. Analysis of these results supports the hypothesis that an increase in the non-repetitive secondary structure during alkaline transition is at the expense of regular secondary structures. These strongly suggest that structural switching and ligand exchange behaviour of ferricytochrome c is accompanied by conformational change in the protein backbone.

The effect of melamine adulteration on body weight, liver and kidney histology and liver function using feed containing 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 mg of melamine per kg diet administered ad labium to wistar rats were studied. Kidney histology was affected at concentrations $8 mg kgG 1 by the onset of mild interstitial chronic inflammation while the liver histology of all test animals appeared normal. Results of body weight change showed significant (p<0.05) increase at the highest dosed group though, body weight increase was observed in all animals. The subchronic toxicity study on liver function parameters showed significant (p<0.05) increase in ALT activity at all doses while, total protein concentration was significantly affected (p<0.05) in the highest dosed group. Melamine should therefore, be absent from feed especially at concentrations approaching milligram quantity in order to safe guard health.