Papers by Ikenna Nwachukwu
Contamination of agricultural soils by quarry activities is posing serious challenges food securi... more Contamination of agricultural soils by quarry activities is posing serious challenges food security in greater parts of the Sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the heavy metals in soils and cassava (Manihot esculentum) tubers obtained from three different quarry sites in Umunneochi, Abia State Nigeria. Samples of soil and cassava tubers were collected in replicates following the direction of natural drainage, while control samples were obtained against the direction of natural drainage from the quarry pits. Soil and cassava tuber samples were collected and subjected to standard physicochemical analyses. Heavy metal concentration in the quarry soil and cassava tubers varied significantly from the control except for Cd (mg/kg) at P<0.05. All heavy metals identified in the soil were also present in the cassava tuber samples, with Al concentration in the quarry soils correlating positively (0.977**) with that of cassava tubers. The quarry activities contributed to the heavy met...
Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 2010
Helicobacter pylori is the major agent in the etiology of chronic active gastritis, duodenal and ... more Helicobacter pylori is the major agent in the etiology of chronic active gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcers and has been linked to gastric carcinoma. The increasing antibiotic resistance of this organism and other bacteria has led to increased treatment failures, especially in therapies involving commonly used antibiotics. Malaysia has an unexplored potential of medicinal plants. This study evaluates the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of 32 selected medicinal plants used in Malaysian traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders and wounds. Extracts were tested against H. pylori by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. Toxicity of the most potent extracts was also investigated. Organic solvent extracts of Derris trifoliata Lour. selectively inhibited H. pylori, and thus was further studied. Petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (CHL) and methanol (MET) extracts were tested against 13 other bacterial isolates representing eight genera. Petroleum ether and chloroform extract...
This study investigated probable effects of a geophagic material Calabash chalk on the haematolog... more This study investigated probable effects of a geophagic material Calabash chalk on the haematology and liver enzyme activities of the mammalian modelRattus norvegicus. Twenty four albino rats were acclimatised and exposed to 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 % (w/w) toxicant-feed mixture. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and their blood as well as liver enzyme function activities were assessed. The higher toxicant concentrations induced lower body weights in the mammals [F(4618.5)>Fcrit(4.30)] at p<0.05. Mean maximum white blood cell (15.0±8.84x10 3 /μl), red blood cell (6.67±0.03x10 6 /μl) and haemoglobin counts (13.4±0.49g/dl) were recorded in the 12.5% toxicant concentration and least counts (5.2±1.05x10 3 /μl, 6.08±0.57x10 6 /μl & 11.5±1.23g/dl respectively) were recorded in the 50% toxicant concentration. Highest (85.1±2.63%) and least (75.7±2.13%) mean lymphocyte counts were recorded in the control and 50.0% toxicant concentrations respectively. In the 25.0% toxicant concent...
Background : “Aju Mbaise” is a combination of plant leaves decocted and administered to women aft... more Background : “Aju Mbaise” is a combination of plant leaves decocted and administered to women after childbirth. The bioactive compounds are not known and claims associated with the use have not been scientifically substantiated. Objective : The study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity, phytochemical properties and mineral composition of “Aju Mbaise” decoction. Methods : Leaves making up Aju Mbaise” were obtained from the Botanical Garden, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Their antibacterial activity was determined using the disc-diffusion method with Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as test isolates. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration were determined to establish its antimicrobial potentials. The mineral content was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer while phytochemical analysis was conducted using stan...
In this study, the kinetics of anaerobic digestion (AD) of goat manure (GM) with poultry dropping... more In this study, the kinetics of anaerobic digestion (AD) of goat manure (GM) with poultry dropping (PD) and plantain peels (PP) for biogas production was evaluated. The digestion was carried out for a period of 47 days at pH range of 6.80-7.80 under an ambient temperature of 25-36OC. Seven (7) bio-digesters of ten (10L) capacity labeled A-G were used. Reactors A C contained 520g final weight of GM and PD blended in the percentage combinations (GM/PD): 50/50, 75/25 and 85/15. Similarly, reactors D F contained GM/PP while G contained only GM. Cow rumen liquor served as the inoculum source and daily biogas production was monitored by the water displacement method. The biogas production was described with Modified Gompertz model (MGM). Post Hoc Duncan test (ANOVA) was used to compare means of cumulative gas yield in the different treatments. The biogas produced was flammable in all the bio-digesters and burnt with a deep blue flame. The maximum cumulative biogas yield from the different ...
Tel. +234-8037406002 This study evaluated the effects of Ni(II) and Co(II) on the anaerobic diges... more Tel. +234-8037406002 This study evaluated the effects of Ni(II) and Co(II) on the anaerobic digestion of livestock manure, and bi-logistic function model-prediction of biogas production. The characteristics of the cow dung (CD) and poultry manure (PM) were estimated by standard methods. Batch system anaerobic digesters were operated for 50 days under mesophilic conditions, both with and without Co(II) and Ni(II) supplementation at concentration ranges of 0.02-0.1 mM. The CD and PM possess characteristics suitable for biogas production. Co(II) was found to exhibit a stimulatory effect at all the concentrations tested, the highest biogas yield being at 0.5mM (19.91%). Ni(II) was stimulatory at 0.02 and 0.05mM, with 5.60 and 13.51% increase in gas production respectively, whereas 0.1mM inhibited biogas yield. The result indicates that Co(II) is more effective in improving biogas yield than Ni(II). The Kinetic study also revealed that the bi-logistic function equation suitably fitted th...
JPVB, Mar 31, 2010
There have been a number of recent studies regarding the use of engineered insect symbiont bacter... more There have been a number of recent studies regarding the use of engineered insect symbiont bacteria for control of insect-borne diseases. However, searches for cultivable bacteria residing in the mosquito midgut have met with little success. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the human non-pathogenic lactobacilli on midgut protein synthesis in the dengue vector Aedes albopictus, taking into account the ease of infection and its persistence. It was showed that antibiotic treatment of mosquitoes did not prevent experimental infection, and readily reduced undesired infection, but did not prevent re-infection by Lactobacillus spp. It suggests a high potential of colonization of a target vector population under field conditions. Ingested lactobacilli remained in the female midgut for five days. Lactobacillus reuteri (Lactobacillales: Lactobacillaceae) showed more specific proteins than Lactobacillus brevis (Lactobacillales: Lactobacillaceae). Some proteins identified in L. brevis were present at much higher levels in L. reuteri, while other proteins found in the latter were found at higher levels in the former. Infection by L. brevis resulted in the absence of many proteins. In contrast, L. reuteri infection resulted in increased levels of synthesis of a set of proteins present in the healthy midguts. Both bacteria triggered changes in midgut protein synthesis, but activation was seen to a greater extent with L. reuteri. These results are discussed in the context of paratransgenesis.
African Journal of Biotechnology
The study was conducted to evaluate the preservative potentials of essential oils (EOs) of Piper ... more The study was conducted to evaluate the preservative potentials of essential oils (EOs) of Piper guineense, Xylopica aethiopica and Tetrapleura tetraptera in mixed fruit juice and determine their antioxidant capacity. The preservative effect at varying concentrations was evaluated using S. cerevisiae, S. aureus and B. cereus as test isolates. The antioxidant properties were determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric ion reducing power assay (FRPA) methods. Concentrations (10 and 5%) of P. guineense and X. aethiopica EOs reduced the number of S. cerevisiae by one log cycle on the 10th day of storage, while 3.3% reduced it by one log cycle after 14 days. The 10% concentration produced a log cycle reduction in the growth of S. aureus and B. cereus on the 12th day. However, 5% concentration reduced the growth of B. cereus by one log cycle on the 14th day. T. tetraptera had the largest amounts of vitamin A (544.41 iu/100 mL), phenol (1.81%) and flavonoids (0.45%). P. guineense had the highest value for vitamin E (37.03 iu/100 mL). X. aethiopica EO produced the highest scavenging activity (46.04%), while P. guineense EO produced the strongest reducing power activity (38.64%). The EOs can act as natural preservative in mixed fruit juice. Their inclusion in such products can improve the products thereby serving as functional foods/beverages, and thus can reduce the risks of cancer formation and chronic diseases in humans.
International Journal of Engineering and Technologies
The effects of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride-graft-polyethylene) on the mechanical properties ... more The effects of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride-graft-polyethylene) on the mechanical properties of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were studied. HDPE and PALP composites in the presence, or absence of the compatibilizer, maleic anhydride -graft- polyethylene (MA-g-PE) were prepared by injection moulding technique. The filler (PALP) contents investigated were 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%, while the MA-g-PE content was 3 wt% of the filler content for each formulation. The result of the mechanical tests carried out on the HDPE/PALP composites showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, abrasion resistance, and hardness of the composites increased as the filler content increases both in the presence, or absence of the compatibilizer (MA-g-PE) for all the filler contents investigated, while the elongation at break (EB) for PALP/HDPE composites was found to decrease as the filler content increases both in the presence, or absence of MA-g-P...
International Journal of Engineering and Technologies, 2016
The effects of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) on the mechanical properties of high density polyethy... more The effects of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) on the mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were studied. HDPE and PALP composites were prepared by injection moulding technique. The filler (PALP) contents investigated were 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt% for each formulation. Results of the mechanical tests carried out on the HDPE/PALP composites showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, abrasion resistance, and hardness of the composites increased with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated while the elongation at break (EB) for PALP/HDPE composites was found to decrease with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated. The tensile strength of PALP/HDPE composites was increased by 6.49% at 2 wt% filler content, and 30.39% at 10 wt% filler content. It was also observed, from the results, that the elongation at break of PALP/HDPE composites was decreased by 2.40% at 2 wt% filler cont...
Uploads
Papers by Ikenna Nwachukwu