Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria

FREE RADICAL SCAVAGING ACTIVITY AND ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTY OF ETHANOL STEM BARK EXTRACT OF Uapaca togoensis IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

M. M. Idris — 2023-02-28

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of worldwide significance and increasing prevalence. This places a demand on researchers to find a solution to it through ethnomedicine. This study investigated the toxicological, antioxidant, anti-diabetic property and hyperlipidemic effect of Uapaca togoensis stem bark extract in alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats. Thirty (30) albino rats were assigned into six groups (A-F) of five rats each. Group A was not induced and used as positive control/nondiabetic group, while groups B-F were induced with alloxan at 150mg/kg administered via intraperitoneally (i.p). Group B used as diabetic control was not treated but allowed access to feed and water. C, D and E were treated with 300mg/kg, 700mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of Uapaca togoensis stem bark extract respectively; while group F was treated with standard drug (glibenclimide) at a dose of 5mg/kg. The doses were administered orally and the treatment lasted for 7 days. Results indicated that the extract have hypoglycemic activity on the diabetic rats. Modified method of Lorke was employed to ascertain the extract toxicity and the result however indicated that the extract was safe for the test rats up to 5000mg per body weight dose. DPPH, FRAP and Hydrogen peroxide assays were used to assess the antioxidant activities of the extract. The results were significant at p<0.05 at all concentrations compared with the standard (vitamin C) and the % inhibitory activities were almost the same with Vitamin C in hydrogen peroxide method. This was an indication that Uapacatogeonsis extractpossess antioxidant properties.

SOLVENT-FREE PREPARATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF METAL (II) COMPLEXES DERIVED FROM CLOXACILLIN

S. Jibril — 2023-02-28

The authors use an environmental friendly, solvent-free method to prepare metal (II) complexes of cloxacillin and to determine the activity of the complexes. The complexes are more active against the bacteria isolates than the free cloxacillin. The spectral studies showed the cloxacillin (ligand) as monobasic bidentate material that form a complex with metal ion through the carbonyl of amide and carboxylate groups of carboxylic acid, microanalysis results prove that the ligand to metal ratio is 2:1. The researchers recommend the use of solvent-free drugs in the manufacture of metal (II) complexes of active pharmaceutical ingredients to avoid the excessive use of solvents that cause global problems.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND FTIR CHARACTERISATION OF THE OIL EXTRACTED FROM AVOCADO SEED

S. Girigisu — 2023-03-01

Oil from avocado seed was extracted via the AOAC standard method using n-hexane as the extracting agent. The main physico-chemical properties evaluated for includes saponification value, free fatty acid, iodine value, peroxide value, acid value and refractive index. The results revealed that the saponification value (mg KOH/g), acid value (mg KOH/g), iodine value (mg iodine/100g), peroxide value (mg/peroxide/kg), Free fatty acid(%), specific gravity and refractive index were found to be 150.348; 0.366; 3.81g/100g; 14 Meq/kg , 0.1833, 0.88g/cm3 and 1.447 respectively. The low acid value obtained of the oils shows the oil is an edible one. High saponification value obtained revealed that the oil has great potential in industrial applications such as cosmetics and soap making. The iodine values obtained from this research indicates that it is a non-drying oil and also suggest that the oil contain few unsaturated bonds while low peroxide value is an indication that the oil will have low susceptibility to rancidity and deterioration. The FTIR analysis also reveal the oil to contain basic functional group which include the CH2 asymmetric stretching of (2855.1 cm-1 -2922.2 cm-1), C=O stretching of carbonyl group (1744.4 cm-1) and C-H scissor stretching of alkane (1162.9 cm-1- 1461.1 cm-1)

LUPEOL AND LAURIC ACID ISOLATED FROM ETHYL ACETATE STEM EXTRACT OF Justicia secunda AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

B. Bako — 2023-03-01

The method of cold maceration was used in the extraction of Justicia secunda starting with a non-polar (hexane) to a more polar solvent. The crude extracts of hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol from the stem of were obtained using the polarity guided cold extraction method. Lupeol and Lauric acid are two well-known compounds that were discovered when a portion of the ethyl acetate extract of J. secunda was subjected to spectroscopic (1H NMR) structural elucidation. Based on the presence of Lupeol and Lauric acid in J. secunda stem, the plant could be a viable source of antimicrobial agents in the near future. The results of the antimicrobial activity obtained from the fractions of the Stem inhibited or exhibited activity against Methicillin resist Staph aureus, Vancomycin resistant enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter fetus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. The plant J. secunda traditionally employed in the treatment of anemic circumstance, blood boost, wound healing, abdominal pain and fertility issues. The overall results confirm the significance of the use of the plant in traditional medicinal treatment of anamic circumstances, blood boost, wound healing etc, in line with reported claims because of the presence of isolated compounds.

ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS OF BRIDGED BINUCLEAR IRON(III)- COMPLEXES: A REVIEW

P. O. Ukoha — 2023-03-04

Binuclear iron (III) complexes comprising of the -oxo-bridged form, [Fe2O]4+ or [Fe(OH)2]4+, and the dicarboxylic bridged chains incorporating salen or saloph ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their close resemblance to some haeme and non-haeme iron-based enzymes has elicited a lot of interest in studying them. Biological studies have shown some of them to be good mimics of superoxide dismutase. The saloph and salen analogues also showed physiological actions very close to the porphyrins. The study of their electron transfer reactions, with a view of understanding their potential as electron transfer enzymes, has generated interesting results and some unusual kinetic behaviours. Reactions of [(FeHEDTA)2O]2+ with ascorbic acid and some thiols were second order and followed outer-sphere path mediated by ion-pairs formation. However, reaction of [Fe2(bipy)O]4+ with some reductants were zero order with respect to the oxidant and also followed outer-sphere path. Reduction of the adipato-bridged dimer, [Fe(saloph)2µ-adi], by SO32- and SO42-, S2O52-, benzyl mercaptan, mercaptobenzothiazole and thioglycolic acid followed inner-sphere paths. However, all the reactions were acid-catalysed and were mediated by intervening protonated oxidant precursor complexes.

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATION IN SOME SELECTED VEGETABLES FROM MAMUDO, POTISKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, YOBE STATE

A. G. Abdulkadir — 2023-02-28

Soil is a vital environmental, ecological and agricultural resource that has to be protected from further degradation as an adequate supply of healthy food is needed for the world’s increasing population. Heavy metals’ accumulation in the soil is of great concern in agricultural production due to the adverse effects on food quality, crop growth and environmental health. The concentration of heavy metals [Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr)] in vegetables (Tomato fruit and Spinach leaves) and soils (Tomato and Spinach soils) were collected from different farmlands in Mamudo, Potiskum L.G.A of Yobe State and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The results revealed all the heavy metals were detected in all the samples with Zn (7.2), Fe (7.5), Pb (4.0), Cu (113.9), Cd (29.1), Cr (4.7) mg/kg respectively for the tomatoes samples and Zn (7.1), Fe (18.3), Pb (21.8), Cu (95.7), Cd (50.8), and Cr (2.7) mg/kg respectively for the spinach. The concentration of the heavy metals were within the normal range World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) safe limits of 20 – 100, 400 – 500 and 0.5 – 30 for Zn, Fe and Pb respectively in plants samples. But the concentration of the heavy metals were above the normal range WHO/FAO safe limits of 2.5 < 2.4 and < 0.1 – 1 for Cu, Cd, and Cr respectively in plants samples. The high concentration level of Cu, Cd and Cr could be attributed to the high level of metal work, vehicular emissions, addition of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals to the soil to enhance the agricultural crops. Therefore, the vegetables samples are not safe for consumption with regards to Cu, Cd and Cr.

ISOLATION OF STIGMASTEROL AND GASTROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE ETHYL ACETATE PORTION FROM ACACIA NILOTICA LINN (FABACEAE) SEEDS

M. J. Muhammad — 2023-02-28

Acacia nilotica Linn is used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases, such as diarrhea, ulcer, dysentery, asthma, inflammation and cancer. The present study aimed at isolation and characterization of a steroidal compound and evaluating the gastroprotective activity of the ethyl acetate portion of A. nilotica seeds in indomethacin-induced ulcer model. Fractionation of the ethyl acetate portion using standard chromatographic techniques led to the isolation of a compound (B2-I) which on further purification and characterisation using physical, chemical and spectral analysis, and by comparison with literature values was identified as stigmasterol. The effect of ethyl acetate portion of A. nilotica on experimentally induced ulcer was dose-dependent with curative ratios of 40%, 60% and 75% at concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weights respectively. It significantly (P<0.05) decreased free and total acidity and increased the pH of gastric juice with respect to the indomethacin treated group. This justifies the ethnomedicinal use of A. nilotica seed as an antiulcer agent. The study recommends that A. nilotica seeds be evaluated against other ulcer models such as ethanol and stress induced ulcers.

APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND TOOLS IN GREEN CHEMISTRY TO EDUCATION USING ROSE FLOWER EXTRACT AS ACID-BASE INDICATOR.

A. O. OLANREWAJU — 2023-02-28

Currently, there is increasing awareness in global sustainability. To make sure that prospective generations of chemists are fortified with appropriate knowledge on how to safeguard the earth for future generations, substantial efforts and variations in educational programs/curriculum at our various institutions will be needed. Green Chemistry is considered as significant tool to control the rise of hazardous chemicals, encourages revolution of product that are eco-friendly and economically stable. Synthetic chemical used in the laboratory as indicator for acid- base titrations can be switched to using the natural indicators from various flower extract and as well gives accurate results. This study therefore applied the concept of green chemistry principles and tools into chemistry learning to produce acid-base indicator from Rose flower (Rosa sp.) extract by extraction method, then macerated and extracted again in ethanol, n-hexane and chloroform respectively, It was tested in solution of pH 1-12 and found out that Rosa sp is a good replacement for phenolphthalein, methyl red, etc. indicators for different acid and bases. It is then concluded that natural indicators are substitute to synthetic indicator. This therefore reflects green chemistry principles 1, 4, 5, 7, and 12, respectively. The flower is eco-friendly, simple to prepare, pollution free, harmless to health and inert. It was then recommended that institutions should (1) Create awareness of green chemistry principles and tools to their Chemistry students (2) Enforce their Chemistry lecturers to imbibe the use of natural indicators for their various titrations carried out in the institution laboratory to promote sustainable development.

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE STEM BARK OF Mitragyna inermis

M. Mukhtar — 2023-03-01

Mitragynainermis is a tree species in the Rubiaceae family that is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat malaria. The plant's extract was obtained by macerating the powdered leaves in methanol. The extracts of the stem of Mitragynainermis were investigated for phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, and acute toxicity. The results show the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac glycoside, anthraquinone, tannins, and saponins, and the extract was also found to be effective against the clinical isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. However, the extracts showed strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH for all three extracts. The LD50 of 158 mg/kg was calculated for the extracts, and the values were found to be within the practically slightly toxic range, so care should be taken when using the plants in traditional medicine healing.

EVALUATION OF LEVEL OF RANCIDITY OF EDIBLE OIL IN SOME FRIED SNACKS FOOD

R. O. A. Adelagun — 2023-03-04

This work evaluated the level of rancidity of edible oil in six (6) fried snacks food, namely, beans cake (Akara), groundnut cake (Kuli-kuli), bread buns, fried fish, fried yam chips and fried potatoes chips, purchased from hawkers in Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.. The rancidity indicators and their ranges in the samples obtained, include, Acid Value (4.10 – 6.90 mgKOH/g), Free Fatty Acid (2.05 – 3.45 mgKOH/g), Peroxide Value (12 – 46.60 mEq/kg), Moisture Content (4.00 – 44.30 %), Conductivity (0.14 – 1.58 µS/cm) and Viscosity (26.20 – 56.50 mm2/S). The results obtained suggested that the fried snacks foods contain hazardous secondary oxidative products, an implication that the oil in the food sample has become rancid and as such, unsafe for human consumption. The reason given for this is that the oil has been used for frying for too many times instead of the recommended two times. The values obtained in this study far exceeded the stipulated standard acceptable ranges given by WHO, FAO and INSO. It is therefore recommended that the public should be advised and educated that oil that has been used for frying twice should be discarded and not used again. Also, Policy makers and relevant authorities should develop a device for in-situ determination for checking of the quality of oil used for fried snacks food in restaurants without going to the laboratory.

COMPARATIVE CHAINS DYNAMICS OF TRIOSEPHOSPHATE ISOMERASE INVESTIGATED BY MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION

O. K. Yusuff — 2023-03-04

Triosephosphate isomerase is an enzyme which catalyzes the inter-conversion between glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate in the fifth step of the glycolytic pathway. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation technique was employed to investigate the dynamics of the two monomer chains of triosephosphate isomerase of trypanosoma brucei brucei (TbTIM) using GROMACS 2016.04 software. The MD simulation of the x-ray structure of TbTIM was performed using the GROMOS 9643a1 force field and simple point charge water model under isothermal-isobaric condition with periodic boundary conditions imposed on x, y, z directions. The Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) Root Mean Square fluctuation (RMSF), Radius of Gyration (ROG), Solvent accessible surface area (SASA) and hydrogen bonds were computed. The RMSD values indicate that chain-B shows transition between two conformational states with higher RMSD value of 0.45 nm when compared to chain-A with RMSD of 0.27 nm. The RMSF values indicates that residues of loop 6 (residues 166 to 177) have the highest fluctuations in both chains compared to other residues with chain-A having higher fluctuations peak. The ROG values of chain-A varies from 1.675 nm to 1.761 nm while that of chain-B varies from 2.480 nm to 2.590 nm implying that chain-A is more compact during the simulation than chain-B. The SASA values indicates that chain-B has more contact with solvent than chain-A. 160 hydrogen bonds were found which indicates the stability of the protein during the simulation. From the RMSD, ROG, SASA values, it is evident that chain-B of triosephosphate isomerase of trypanosoma bruceibrucei displayed greater structural dynamics than chain-A during the MD simulation.

THERMAL MODIFICATION OF NEW SORGHUM AND MILLET CULTIVARS: EFFECTS ON COMPOSITION, PROTEIN QUALITY AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF FLOURS

S. Y. Bagirei — 2023-02-28

Driven by consumers’ need to limit gluten intake in their diets, the demand for gluten‐free products continues to grow in the foodservice industry. Two newly released sorghum and millet cultivars were thermally modified and their responses to the pre-gelatinization (PG) determined by evaluating their chemical compositions, amino acids profile and functional properties using standard procedures. Protein efficiency ratio, essential amino acid index, biological value, nutritional index and amino acid score were calculated from the amino acid profile. PG increased the total carbohydrate by 7% and 3.7% in sorghum and millet respectively. The millet showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values of fat, carbohydrate and energy than did the sorghum, whereas the latter exhibited higher ash and protein content. PG significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the ash, fat and protein contents of both sorghum and millet flours. Of the essential amino acids (EAA) of the raw flours, millet exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher values of histidine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine, with no significant difference in leucine and lysine between the two grains. While PG induced increase in all the EAA in sorghum except phenylalanine, millet showed decrease in histidine, lysine and threonine. PG increased the EAA millet in valine by 11% followed by isoleucine (8%), threonine (7.3%), methionine (4.4%), phenylalanine (4.3%) and leucine (2.6%). significant (p < 0.05) increase of 82% and 12% in isoleucine and threonine. The WAC of raw millet flour (192.2%) was significantly higher than that of sorghum flour (189.7%), but PG reduced the WAC of both sorghum and millet flours by 11.9% and 12.5%, respectively. Results from the study indicated that pregelatinized sorghum and millet flours are good replacement as source of gluten-free products to meet varied consumers choices and changing dietary habits.

COMPARATIVE SYNTHESIS, SPECTRAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF METAL (II) COMPLEXES DERIVED FROM ASPIRIN

S. Jibril — 2023-02-28

The objective of this research work is to compare the findings of the two techniques of synthesis (solid state and solution based synthesis) in order to know whether the two results are similar or not and also to determine if the introduction of the metal ion increase or decrease the activity of the drug. From the spectral studies, it revealed that the ligand act as bidentate which coordinated to the central metal through the carbonyl of acid and ester. The elemental analysis data agreed with the proposed structure of the complexes and revealed the ratio of 2:1. Bacterial activity test shows the increase in activity from the complexes compared with the free ligand. The authors recommend the application of solid state synthesis as the method also provide the same or better result than the solution based synthesis and also the solid state method is more effective and greener synthesis.

EFFECT OF DAYS OF FERMENTATION AND PALM OIL ON THE LEVELS OF CYANIDE IN GARRI SAMPLES

N. J. Maduelosi — 2023-03-01

Investigation of the levels of cyanide in garri samples, a widely consumed food from cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) was carried out. Ground cassava roots from where the garri was prepared were allowed to ferment for different days (interval of 1-5 days). The effect of palm oil on the samples was also investigated. The levels of cyanide on the different garri samples were measured using UV Spectrophotometer. Results showed that the cyanide levels in the garri samples were 0.054, 0.044, 0.037, 0.031, 0.025 for the samples without palm oil and fermentation days 1 to 5 respectively, and 0.052, 0.042, 0.035, 0.029, 0.023 for the samples with palm oil and 1 to 5 fermentation days respectively. The results show that cyanide levels reduce with increase in the number of days of fermentation of the cassava and vice versa. Addition of palm oil reduced the level of cyanide in the garri samples studied but the effect was little.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AJALI RIVER STRETCH IN ENUGU, ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

J. O. Nwerem — 2023-03-01

This work studied the physiochemical properties of Ajali River polluted with Industrial effluent at different sampling points from -250m upstream before the pollution to 2250m downstream. Statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) was used for the statistical analysis. Post ANOVA test was used to determine if there is any significant difference between the means and at which distance the difference occurred. A measuring wheel and Global Positioning System (GPS) were used for the exact locations studied. The azide-Winkler method was used for DO determination, while the five-day incubation method was used for BOD. It was observed that there was a significant difference (p˂0.005) between the means of the properties across the sampling points. Dissolve Oxygen was found to be higher in the rainy season with a range of 3.82±0.47 to 7.70±0.40. Biochemical Oxygen demand was equally higher in the rainy season with a range of 2.05±0.02 to 5.02±0.41. Chemical Oxygen demand was higher in the rainy season with a range of 6.20±0.12 to 15.04±0.03. It was observed that the effect of the pollution decreased along the sampling points away from the point of discharge to the stream suggesting that the river has a natural tendency to purify itself.

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF EXTRACTS FROM THE LEAVES OF Andrographis paniculata, Tithonia diversifolia and Macrosphyra Longistyla

A. D. Adesina — 2023-03-04

Alkaloids, Saponins, Flavonoids, Tannins, Glycosides, Terpenoids and Steroids distribution in Andrographis paniculata, Tithonia diversifolia and Macrosphyra longistyla were assessed in a non-polar solvent. All the plants were found to contain these phytochemicals except for the absence of flavonoids in A. paniculata and alkaloids in M. longistyla. The presence of these phytochemicals showing potential disease-preventive properties indicates that the leaves of A. paniculata, T. diversifolia and M. longistyla could serve as basic ingredients in drug making for use in treatment of various ailments.

ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF COMPOST EXTRACTS CONTAINING N,N,N',N'-TETRAMETHYLPHENYLENEDIAMINE (TMPD)

S.E. Elaigwu — 2023-03-04

Composting is a well-known practice for valorizing organic waste materials into useful product. Its use in the management of soils, which are contaminated with organic compounds has been widely studied and reported. Nevertheless, the present approach of analysing the organic compounds and its degradation products using GC-MS is costly. Hence, the need for an alternative analytical screening technique which is less expensive and fast, when compared with the GC-MS analysis. As a probable alternative approach, the cyclic voltammetry of compost extracts containing N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD) is described in this study. The result of the study, however revealed that cyclic voltammetry could neither detect the presence of the TMPD nor its degradation products in any of the compost extract. This might have resulted from the strong and complex matrix of the compost which prevented the oxidation of the TMPD in the compost extract.