MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Evaluation of nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of Obeche (Triplochition scleroxylon scleroxylon) and several Mulberry (Morus alba) leaves

Full Length Research Paper

Abstract: The biochemical composition of some selected varieties of White Mulberry and Obeche leaves were investigated to ascertain their nutritional and antinutritional values. Three varieties of white Mulberry leaves (S36, S54 and K2) were harvested from Ondo State sericulture centre while Obeche leaves were harvested from Aponmu Forest Reserve located in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria, for analysis. Proximate chemical composition, minerals and anti-nutritional contents were determined on dry matter basis for the samples. The percentage of crude protein in all the samples was significantly higher (P 0.05) with 34.31, 21.66, 21.585 and 21.24% in Obeche, S36, S54 and K2, respectively. Similarly, crude fibre follow the same trend with 20.753, 13.70, 10.81, 10.81, 13.70 and 8.74%, respectively, while the percentage water content were 73.70, 71.35, 72.16 and 76.00%, in Obeche , S36, S54 and K2, respectively. The results further show that the samples contain zinc in the range of 34.4 - 57.5, sodium 1069 – 1526, manganese, 14.83 – 24.37, calcium 944 – 1467, potassium 1684 – 2170, iron, 129.70 – 238.00 and magnesium, 1450 – 2196 (mg/kg). The mineral composition was generally comparable with what is obtained with other leafy vegetables. Phytate was significantly higher (P 0.05) in Obeche. Likewise, cyanide and tannin were significantly higher (P 0.05) in S36 than other treatments (Obeche, K 2 and S34). However, these antinutrients (phytate, cyanide and tannin) are much lower than the pemitted values in fruits and any other food items. The result of the chemical analysis showed that all the selected Mulberry varieties and Obeche leaves contained adequate level of food nutrients required for normal body functioning.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Mulberry leaves, nutritional characteristics, Obeche leaves, proximate composition.

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Metabolic engineering of an ethanol-tolerant Escherichia coli MG1655 for enhanced ethanol production from xylose and glucose

Ruiqiang Ma, Ying Zhang, Haozhou Hong, Wei Lu, Wei Zhang Min Lin and Ming Chen*

Abstract: Efficient ethanol production will require a recombinant to able to ferment a variety of sugars (pentoses, and hexoses), less formation of by- products, as well as to tolerate high ethanol stress. In this study, a mutant (MGE) that can grow in 60 g ethanol/l was selected from Escherichia coli MG1655 by enrichment method with increasing concentrations of ethanol. The ethanol-tolerant mutant was used as the host to develop the ethanologenic recombinant by knockout of pyruvate formate lyase (pflB) and lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) genes, and expression of Zymomonas mobilis alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase genes in plasmid pZY507bc. The resultant recombinant (GMEPLbc) showed the genetic stability of Z. mobilis genes in glucose medium without antibiotics under anaerobic conditions, and generated little acetic acid (3.6 mM), no formic acid and lactic acid. The ethanol production by GMEPLbc were 41.6 and 35.8 g ethanol/l from 100 g/L glucose and 100 g/L xylose during fermentation in M9 mineral medium, 37.0 and 36.5% more than that of the ethanol-sensitive strain carrying pZY507bc alone, respectively. Our results indicated that enhancement of ethanol tolerance and inactivation of pflB and ldhA are advantageous in the production of ethanol.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, ethanol production, ethanol-tolerance, Gene knockout, metabolic engineering.

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Corncob is the optimum carbon resource for the growth of Tremella aurantialba

Zhi-Cai Zhang*, Mingxia Chen, Xin Li and Wangli Shen

Abstract: The minimum medium without carbon source was used to investigate the effects of five kinds of hexoses, four kinds of pentose, four kinds of bi-saccharide and three kinds of polysaccharides on Tremella aurantialba growth. The result demonstrated that (1) The fittest carbon source of T. aurantialba was the five-carbon aldose in all the tested monosaccharides; (2) Polysaccharides linked with -1,4-glycosyl bond is fitter for the growth of T. aurantialba than that linked with -1,4-glycosyl bond (3) Corncob, which contained abundant poly-xyloses linked with -1,4-glycosyl bond, is the fittest for growth of T. aurantialba. The reaction system of -1,4-glycosidase was employed to study the reason that the polysaccharides linked in -1,4-glycosyl bond is fitter for growth of T. aurantialba. The result showed that T. aurantialba broth can inhibit the activity of -1,4-glycosidase produced by T. aurantialba.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Tremella aurantialba, glycosyl bond, carbon source, aldose, ketose.

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Expression of chitosanase gene from Aspergillus fumigatus JXSD-97 in Pichia pastoris

Yang Li, Yang Ping and Wang Manying*

Abstract: In this study, the plasmid pPIC9K-CSN was transformed into Pichia pastoris strain GS115 by electroporation and the high expression transformants with G418 resistance were obtained. The expression conditions for CSN in P. pastoris, such as the expression time, pH value and methanol concentration in the BMMY were optimized. The maximum activity of CSN is about 100 mg/L under optimized condition (96 h of 0.5% methanol induction). The Chitosanase exhibited a molecular mass of approximately 25 kDa on 12% SDS–PAGE. The results showed that the coding sequence of CSN was successfully obtained and inserted into P. pastoris GS115 vector. This study would provide a new opportunity for large-scale expression and purification of CSN, which might facilitate studies on the biological activity of CSN.[...] Read More.

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In vitro and in vivo evaluation of free radical scavenging potential of ethanolic extract of Podophyllum hexandrum

Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Mohmmad Afzal Zargar, Akbar Masood and Ehtishamul Haq*

Abstract: The study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum under in vitro and in vivo situations. The extract was found to contain a large amount of polyphenols and also exhibit an immense reducing ability. At a concentration of 250 µg/ml, 48% of H2O2 radicals could be scavenged by the extract. The extract also inhibited hydroxyl radical ( OH) induced oxidation of protein (BSA). The ethanolic rhizome extract of P. hexandrum also exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in acute oxidative tissue injury animal model constituted by CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. Oral administration of the extract at a dose of 20 and 50 mg/kg bw significantly protected from CCl4 induced elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum, depletion of hepatic protein and GSH content, decrease in the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Podophyllum hexandrum, CCl4, antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging.

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Adsorption, metabolism and degradation of erythromycin in giant freshwater prawn and tilapia aquaculture in Mekong River Delta

N. P. Minh*, T. B. Lam and T. T. D. Trang

Abstract: Adsorption, metabolism and degradation of erythromycin in freshwater prawn and tilapia aquaculture in Mekong River Delta were monitored and evaluated. They were fed practical diets medicated with erythromycin (50 and 100 mg. kg-1 body weight for 7 days). Erythromycin residues in their muscle were determined by the liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry/ mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Our study provided preliminary data for a more prudent use of erythromycin in giant freshwater prawn and tilapia, suggesting a possible withdrawal time after treatment as well as clearing away the awareness of forming and accumulating a harmful over-threshold level of derived products from parental drug during veterinary usage in aqua culture.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Giant freshwater prawn, tilapia, erythromycin, metabolism, degradation, LC-MS/MS.

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Influence of sub-chronic oral exposure to high monosodium glutamate on some serum markers of the renal functions in male Wistar rats

Egbuonu Anthony C. Cemaluk*, Ejikeme P. Madus and Obasi L. Nnamdi

Abstract: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancing food additive that may be present in packaged food without appearing on the label. This could increase the possibility of its inadvertent consumption in high concentration. The study investigated the effects of MSG on some serum markers of renal functions in adult male Wistar rats by daily oral exposure to 3 ml kg-1 dose distilled water (DW) and 15 mg kg-1 MSG for 4 weeks. In the serum, MSG treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased urea and creatinine concentrations, whereas it markedly increased the computed urea to creatinine (Urea: Creatinine) ratio. The results appear to suggest that exposure to MSG (15 mg kg-1) significantly altered the renal functions in rats by way of compromised urea and creatinine metabolism. The nutritional and health implications of the results may be significant in animals and therefore warrant further and better controlled investigation in humans.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Monosodium glutamate, Wistar rats, renal functions, urea, creatinine.

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Alpha-amylase inhibitor of amadumbe (Colocasia esculenta): Isolation, purification and selectivity toward - amylases from various sources

R. McEwan*, R. P. Madivha, T. Djarova, O. A. Oyedeji and A. R. Opoku

Abstract: Two proteins (A-1 and B-2) with a-amylase inhibitor activity were extracted and partially purified from Colocasia esculenta tubers through 80% ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE -Sephacel and gel-chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The molecular weight of A-1 and B-2 were estimated to be about 17000 and 19000 daltons, respectively. The inhibitors inactivated a-amylases of animal origin, but had no effect on fungal amylase. Inhibitor A-1 also exhibited activity towards plant amylases, while inhibitor B-2 has no activity on plant amylases. Inhibitor A-1 was the most active against human salivary amylase at pH 6. Inhibitor A-1 was completely destroyed at temperatures above 50°C; while inhibitor B-2 was stable up to 70°C.[...] Read More.

Keywords: a-amylase inhibitor, amadumbe, Colocasia esculenta, diabetes, obesity.

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Effects of vitamin E and folic acid on some antioxidant enzymes activities of female Wistar rats administered combined oral contraceptives

Akinsanya, Mushafau A., Adeniyi, Taiwo T.*, Ajayi, Gabriel O and Oyedele, Musbau A.

Abstract: In this study, the effects of vitamin E and folic acid on the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) production and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities in female Wistar rats treated with combined oral contraceptives (COC) containing ethinyl estradiol in combination with levonorgestrel were determined. Twenty female rats were divided into four groups: Group A (control) received distilled water; Group B received combined oral contraceptives (COC) for 15 days with a dosage of 0.667 mg/kg body weight/day; Group C received combined oral contraceptive and vitamin E (0.667 mg/kg body weight COC + 15 mg/kg body weight of vitamin E/day) for 15 days and Group D received combined oral contraceptives and folic acid (0.667 mg/kg body weight of COC + 1 mg/kg body weight/day) for 15 days. Administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase levels by 90 and 69% respectively. In catalase, administration of vitamin E significantly decrease (p < 0.05) catalase level by 47% while administration of folic acid has no significant difference (p > 0.05) in catalase level. In addition, administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by 21 and 11% respectively. Administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in glutathione-S-transferase by 39 and 23%, respectively.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Combined oral contraceptives, vitamin E, folic acid, antioxidant enzymes.

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Biochemical markers in semen and their correlation with fertility hormones and semen quality among Sudanese infertile patients

Abdelmula M. Abdella*, Al-Fadhil E. Omer and Badruldeen H. Al-Aabed

Abstract: Several biochemicals in semen are secreted by the accessory glands in the reproductive tract. These biochemicals can be used as diagnostic predictors for the disorders in the male reproductive system. To assess the level of biochemical markers in semen, their relation to fertility hormones and spermogram among Sudanese infertile patients were studied. The biochemical markers studied were fructose, citric acid, zinc and neutral -glucosidase. Their levels in semen were estimated using analytical photometry, spectrophotometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Estimation covered 500 infertile males (150 azoospermic, 150 oligospermic, 100 asthenozoospermic and 100 with abnormal sperm morphology), as well as 100 normospermic control males. Fertility hormones were assayed in patients and controls by ELISA. Seminal neutral -glucosidase and citric acid levels were found significantly reduced in azoospermic and oligospermic patients, while zinc levels was reduced in all infertile patients (p < 0.05). Semen fructose level was found within the normal range. Significant negative correlation was noticed between neutral -glucosidase and both follicle stimulating and luteinising hormones (in azoospermic patients), and prolactin hormone in oligospermic patients (r < 0.05). 2.7% of azoospermic patients had Sertoli cell syndrome only. 13% of the infertile patients had varicocele, and this was associated with a significant increase in FSH and LH and a decrease in seminal neutral -glucosidase, citric acid and zinc (p < 0.05). 9.6% of the patients studied had dysfunctional sexual problems and was associated with a significant increase in prolactin. On the other hand, 7.2% of these patients were smokers and this was associated with a significant reduction in semen volume and levels of neutral - glucosidase and zinc (p < 0.05). There was conflicting association between biochemical markers in semen with both reproductive hormones level and semen quality in the infertile patients, but neutral -glucosidase level was the only biochemical markers in semen that correlated well with both gonadotropins hormones (negatively/inversely) and the semen quality.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Biochemical markers, reproductive hormones, male infertility, seminal plasma, -glucosidase.

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