Table of Contents

Evaluations of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Litter for Production of Biogas in

Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria

Y.M. Ngulde and D. Abubakar  …………………………………………………………….…………….…………..…        1- 12

Studies on the Morphology and Taxonomy of some Species of Tricholomataceae

in Zaria, Kaduna State — Nigeria.

Ali, B. D; Khan, A.U and Musa,……………………..………………………………………………            13-25

Antiplasmodial Activity of the Methanol Extract of the Roots of Aristolochia

Albida in Albino Swiss Mice

M. E. Khan, I. Toma, D. Y. Shingu and C..H. Wazis………………………………………………………               26-38

Health Risks of Environmental Pollution by Solid/Liquid Waste, And Cows

Droplets in Nigeria 

 Francis Enifo Oronsaye and Iyoha Osa………………………………………………………….…………               39-42     

Purification and Quality Evaluation of Linamarase (β-Glucosidase) Genetically

¹Ikya, J.K,  ¹Ariahu, C.C.   ²Ayatse,  J.O.I…………………………………………………………………….              43-54

PURIFICATION AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF LINAMARASE

(Β-GLUCOSIDASE) GENETICALLY

¹Ikya, J.K,  ¹Ariahu, C.C.   ²Ayatse,  J.O.I

¹ Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

²Federal university Dutsin-Ma

Email: aveyina@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Linamarase  (β-glucosidase)  was genetically engineered from genes (chromosomal DNA) and plasmids (circular DNA) isolated from bitter cassava and yeast respectively. Both genes  were restricted and ligated to produce recombinant gene (r-DNA) which was introduced into the nucleus of CaCl₂ induced competent Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells which transformed into strains capable of producing genetically engineered linamarase (GELIN). Recombinant otherwise genetically modified yeast ( S. cerevisiae) cells at the stationary phase of growth were harvested, homogenized and centrifuged to obtain crude extracts designated as GELIN₀. Carboxy methyl cellulose, diethyl amino-ethyl-sephadex and diethyl amino-ethyl-cellulose were used to purify the crude extracts resulting in GELIN₁, GELIN₂ and GELIN₃, respectively and stored under refrigerated conditions before further study and commercial native linamarase (CNLIN) was used as control.  The physico-chemical characteristics of genetically engineered linamarase  from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as influenced severally by degree of purification, pH and temperature were investigated. The parameters on physico-chemical characteristics of the enzyme extracts such as impurity levels, molecular weights (M_wt), number of isoenzyme, sulphur amino acids (methionine and cysteine), purity fold, yield and the electrical charges were evaluated using standard methods. The ability of the enzyme extracts and a commercial native linamarase (CNLIN) to hydrolyse cyanogenic glucosides was challenged to evaluate optimum pH (pH_opt), temperature (T_opt), total activity, specific activity and enzyme efficiency.

HEALTH RISKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BY SOLID/LIQUID WASTE, AND COWS DROPLETS IN NIGERIA

 Francis Enifo Oronsaye¹ and Iyoha Osa²

Department Of Medical lab. Science, University Of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Department Of Medical Microbiology, University Of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City

Email- esayfrankon@yahoo.com, nigeria.emaildrosaiyoha@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Introduction; The problem of environmental pollution is a huge health burden on developing countries of which Africa forms the major group the purpose of this study therefore, was to determine- the environmental health risks posed by cows that are allowed to traffick across Nigeria without adequate control, for the purpose of grazing and commercialization, discharging their droplets indiscriminately where ever they go. The pathogenic microbial contents of the cow. Droplets put the inhabitants of the area where these droplets are deposited at high risk of microbial infections. The analysis of the microbial contents of these droplets will be a useful index in putting up control and intervention measures to check the overall environmental health hazards, to which people in these areas are exposed.  Materials and  methods ;One hundred cows from the field among those trafficking along the majors high ways  were randomly selected for this study., their droplets we collected using sterile cotton wool  swabs and delivered to the laboratory with minimum delay for processing. and were examined bacteriological using routine methods in Medical Microbiology department of University of Benin Benin City Nigeria.  Results; Twenty-six enter virulent Escherichia coli strains belong to serotypes 01,026,015,044,0126,0127,00157,08,0159,044,0148,0159,08,0158 were isolated from the samples. Conclusion; this study shows a high health risks posed by cow droplets which constitute major solid waste in Nigeria among others.

Keywords: Droplets, Solid Waste, Environmental Pollution.

ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE ROOTS OF ARISTOLOCHIA ALBIDA IN ALBINO SWISS MICE

^*1M. E. Khan, ¹I. Toma, ¹D. Y. Shingu and ²C.H. Wazis

¹ Department of Chemistry Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

e-mail: emamulu@yahoo.com 

ABSTRACT

 Biological investigation of the efficacy of the methanol extract of the roots of Aristolochia albida, locally used in forms of decoction / concoction for the treatment of malaria, diarrhea and other related diseases  in kaltungo LGA of Gombe State and Gwoza LGA of Borno State, both in North Eastern Nigeria.  Here, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the methanol extract of the roots of Aristolochia albida was evaluated in plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Oral acute infection, prophylactic effect against residual infection and the mean survival time using chloroquine sensitive plasmodium berghei berghei NK65 infected mice. The Oral median lethal dose of the extract in mice was determined to be about 5000mg kg^-1 body weight. The extract at doses of (100, 200 and 400mg kg^-1b.w.) used, produced significant (P< 0.05), dose dependent activity against the parasites in the suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests. The results suggest that the methanol fraction of Aristolochia albida possesses antiplasmodial activity and thus lends credence to its ethno medical, folkloric, and its tropical African indigenous usage for the cure of malaria.

Keywords: Aristolochia albida, Plasmodium berghei berghei, in vitro, prophylactic-test, Swiss Mice

STUDIES ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF SOME SPECIES OF TRICHOLOMATACEAE IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE — NIGERIA.

Ali, B. D*¹; Khan, A.U² and Musa, H²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Adamawa  

²Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna

E-mail: lammababs@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A detail morphologocal description of six taxa belonging to the family Tricholomataceae was carried out. The taxa were described and identified using conventional keys, as Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, Pleurotus sp, Ompholatus olivascens, Cantharellus infundibuliformis,Cantharocybe gruberi (A. H. Sm) H. E. Bigelow & A. H Sm. and Clitocybe alexandri. This is the first report on Tricholomataceae from Northern Nigeria. The species were deposited in the herbarium of the Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Keywords: Morphology, Taxa, Tricholomataceae, Nigerian Agaricales.

EVALUATIONS OF NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA) LITTER FOR PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS IN MAIDUGURI, NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

¹Y.M. Ngulde and ²D. Abubakar

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

²Department Pre-ND, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail: yunusanguldemaina@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Energy has been an important aspect of man’s needs in his daily life. As the demand for energy is excessively increasing, there has been a relentless search for the different forms of energy that will meet up with his needs. Biogas from biomass source is currently being recognized globally as renewable energy source help militate against climate change while providing a renewable cheaper source of domestic energy/lighting source. The study evaluated the availability and viability of Neem litter as a raw material for biogas production within the study area (Maiduguri city).Three study sites were delineated for this study, namely University of Maiduguri campus, Ngaranam and Umarari ward. Neem litter were collected from a quadrats with a dimension of 50 x 100 meters in replicates of three within each of the study sites over a period of three months from January to march, 2012 and was packed in sacks and weighted. The total volume of neem litter collected for University of Maiduguri campus, Ngaranam, and Umarari ward were, 10238kg, 841.9kg, and 845.3kg respectively. The study also determined the proximate composition of the Neem litter to ascertain their organic element status in mg/l and it was found that Neem litter from Unimaid campus has the higher concentration of organic elements. Furthermore, 328.2 kg of Neem litter collected from each of the study sites were fed into the biogas generating set in batches to determine the volume of cumulative biogas that could be generated for each of the study sites. The study showed that neem litter from university of Maiduguri campus produce (8.08×10^-6m³) of biogas, Ngaranam (2.89×10⁶) and Umarari (1.25×10^-6M³) respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also computed and it was found that there was a significant difference among the volume of biogas produced from the three study sites. The present investigation revealed that Neem litter is not rich enough to produced substantial amount of biogas unless it is blended with a supportive medium like animal dung’s due to its high lignin and wax content; coupled with its acidic nature which tends to suppress the viability of anaerobes within the anaerobic digester. Biogas technology can be used as an effective way of wastes treatment/management strategy in recycling organic wastes into energy.

Keywords: Neemlitter, Cumulative Biogas, energy search and organic elements.