International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 14

Abstract: Abrus precatorius L. is a leguminous plant of family fabaceae. Plant parts are widely used for medicinal purpose in different region of the world. Seed behavior and phytochemical evaluation of different solvent extracts (i.e. Petroleum ether, Ethyl acetate, Methanol & Water) of leaf and seed of red, white and black varieties of Abrus precatorius L. is carried out in the present study. This study indicates presence of different phytoconstituents i.e. alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, proteins, etc. the present study concludes that the plant parts can be used as very good natural remedy to diagnosed variety of dieses.

Abstract: Nigeria has greater challenges when it comes to water development and management. The current water resources development and supply status is unacceptably low and needs a major transformation. With the rapid growth in population, urbanization, industrialization and competition for economic development, water resource has become vulnerable to depletion and degradation. Management of this valuable resource is determined by its acceptability and utilization in terms of quantity and quality. Due to imbalance between demand and availability, management approaches are facing various ethical dilemas. This paper therefore considers the water supply and sanitation situation in the country and the challenges facing the sector. The paper calls for institutional reforms and review of policy targets, define key elements for the development of action and investment plans as well as provide some guidelines in order to minimize duplication and maximize effectiveness. The paper also suggested strategies and viable framework/agenda for sustainable water supply and emphasizes that the machinery of water resources development and management needs an urgent overhauling with the aim of streamlining the overlapping functions of the various agencies that have operated the system up till now. More importantly, the paper suggested integrated approaches/strategies for sustainable management as well as offers relevant policy recommendations for water resources management in Nigeria.

Abstract: The soil sample was collected from the paddy field of Sriperumbudur, Tamilnadu which is having a history of repeated pesticide applications. The isolation of efficient pesticide degrading bacteria was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The growth of the three pesticide degrading isolates was assessed in Minimal salt broth containing 25 ppm of pesticides. Two popularly used pesticides Metribuzin and Profenofos were selected for this study. Among the three bacterial isolates, the bacteria Bacillus subtilis utilized the pesticides effectively and showed maximum growth. The growth of the three pesticides degrading isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was assessed in Minimal salt broth containing 25 ppm of pesticides at different temperature levels (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C, 50 °C & 55 °C) and pH levels (pH 4, pH 5, pH 6, pH 7 & pH 8) and carbon sources (Lactose, Dextrose, Fructose, Mannose & Galactose) and nitrogen sources Peptone, Yeast extract, Beef extract, Malt extract and Casein respectively. The maximum growth rate of bacteria was recorded at 35 °C and pH 6. The maximum growth of bacteria was in the presence of Dextrose followed by Fructose, Galactose and Mannose. The least growth was recorded in Lactose broth culture. The maximum growth of bacteria was in the presence of Malt extract followed by Peptone, Yeast extract and Casein. The least growth was recorded in Beef extract broth culture. The bacterial isolates showed maximum growth in the Minimal salt broth containing Profenofos followed by Metribuzin

Abstract: The present study deals with the estimation of antioxidant levels in blood of sewage and garage workers exposed to sewage water, washing water and vehicular air pollution compared with control group of population. The study areas were selected on the basis of drainage clearance and wards where workers are active as sewage workers. For garage workers, the garage selected was a large and busy one where continuous vehicles washing, repairing etc are carried out. These two exposed groups were compared to non-exposed group of population as control. The blood samples were collected from two groups of exposed population as well as control population and the antioxidant levels were estimated in blood. The present results clearly indicate that there was decreasing trend of the antioxidant level in blood for sewage and garage workers. In the control groups of population the antioxidant levels were found to be within normal range, but for sewage workers (0.14-0.36 mM) and garage workers (0.12-0.36 mM) the antioxidant levels were significantly lower. The range of antioxidant level in human blood is 0.5 to 2.0 mM. It was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.001 or 0.05) in addicted sewage and garage workers when compared with non-addicted groups. All the exposed groups were showed to be having significantly lower antioxidant level when compared to control groups. This study is a preliminary assessment to know the potent biomarkers for oxidative stress and estimation of antioxidant level in blood due to occupational exposure. This study shows a way for easy screening of biomarker assessment but further work is needed in relation to biochemical, enzymological and genetic damage study.

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted at faculty of Agriculture teaching and research farm, university of Maiduguri in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. The aim was to investigate the impact of intercropping sorghum with okra on the incidence of flea beetle of okra (Podagrica spp) in the semi-Arid zone of Nigeria. The results showed that sole crop okra suffered flea beetle attack which affected its growth, fruit formation, fruit weights and fruit yield. Intercropping okra with sorghum significantly reduced the flea beetle populations, leaf damage caused by Podagrica spp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). While increasing number of leaves for photosynthetic activities, plant height, fruit formation, fresh fruit weight and total fruit yield. The study concluded that okra intercropping at 1:1, 1:2 and 2:2 are the most efficient and productive intercrop systems in flea beetle management. Okra intercropping with cereal sorghum was found to be good for sustainable agriculture and organic farming in Nigeria due to its numerous advantages, particularly with respect to insect pests’ control.

Abstract: Leaf beetles and fruitfly infestation greatly limits water melon (Citrullus lanatus) production throughout the tropics. The efficacy of aqueous plant extracts applied at 5 % w/v concentration of two botanicals (neems seed oil and garlic bulb) and 1.5 melt of one synthetic insecticide (karate 2.5 EC) against their infestation were evaluated. The effects of these treatments including control on the number of the insects, number of leaves, vines, length of vines, number of fruits, fruit weight, fruit damaged and undamaged were assessed during 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons in Lawanti, Gombe state, Northern Guinea Savannah region of Nigeria. Result of the study showed that neem seed oil and garlic bulb treatments at 5 % w/v were effective against the leaf beetles and water melon fruitfly as the synthetic insecticide karate 2.5 EC in managing the water melon insect pests. Karate 2.5 EC significantly reduced the infestation of the insect pests of water melon and increased number of leaves, vines, length of vines, number of fruits, fruit weight and number of undamaged fruits/plot followed closely by neem seed oil (A. indica) and garlic bulb (A. sativum) extracts. Water melon a growth and fruit yields were appreciably improved in these treatment while untreated control water melon crops had more leafs beetles and fruitfly infestations, poor plant growth and lower fruit yields. Both botanicals can thus serve as alternatives to synthetic insecticides for managing water melon leaf beetles and fruitfly attack.

Abstract: The mangrove fungi, morphologically and physiologically adapted in a different habitat, were isolated from mangrove habitat of Jharkhali, Sundarban, India. The physico-chemical properties like temperature, pH, soil colour, moisture content, carbon and nitrogen content of soil determines the load of microbial population. The soil sample was serially diluted and plated on potato dextrose agar plate with ampicillin to obtain fungal isolates. Total of six isolates were characterized microscopically by lacto phenol cotton blue staining. Two of them were identified as Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. and are subjected to biodegradation of fish scale, the major waste of fish processing industries. Aspergillus niger was found to be the best for degradation of fish scale powder by producing zone of clearance. Moreover, media without fish scale didn’t show any zone of clearance indicates the mangrove fungi are capable of degrading the fish scale component

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the use of alkaline proteases as industrial catalysts. The aim of this work was to isolate potent fungal strain from the agricultural field of Gulbarga region of India, for the production of alkaline protease by utilizing the agricultural by products viz, red and green gram and Bengal gram as substrate under submerged fermentation process. Optimization of fermentation process parameters such as substrate (Red gram husk, green gram husk and Bengal gram husk) utilization, utilization, temperature, pH and incubation period for alkaline protease production was carried out. The maximum production of alkaline protease by Trichoderma VPG 12 was found at pH 8, temperature 35 °C, incubated for 120 h. But the activity of the enzyme could also be seen in a wide range of pH (5-9) and temperature (20-40 °C). With all these properties, the strain can be considered for industrial grade production of alkaline protease.

Abstract: The objectives of present work focuses to check the acute and sub acute toxicity studies for the Achyranthes aspera L methanol extract as per OECD guideline in Swiss mice. The dose of 100, 200, 250 gm/kg body weight methanol extract by administering drug intraperitoneally and recorded the growth, body weight, organ weight, general symptoms, morphological and physiological behavior, mortality. These parameters on various organs system in mice were studied. It was considered necessary to assess its potential health hazard in man and to find the safe and effective dose. The observations of changes in body weight, food and water intake as well as cage side observations were reported. There was no abnormality observed in all groups. The whole plant powder methanol extract of Achyranthes Aspera L were found to be nontoxic.

Abstract: The effect of administration of Methanolic extract of Achyranthsu asper on biochemical parameter of mice were investigated. This drug induced significant reduction in the cholesterol level and amount of RNA. But significant increase in the amount of glycogen at 25 mg/kg and no significant reduction in the amount of glycogen at 50 mg/kg. This drug also induced increase in the level of alkaline phospatese and decrease in the level of acid phosphatase, protein and DNA, but these changes are statistically not significant. Protein 25 mg shows 4.22 ±0.112 and 50 mg shows 4.05 ±0.085. Cholesterol 25mg shows 0.5 ±0.04 and 50 mg shows 0.39 ±0.038. Glycogen 25mg shows 0.288 ±0.011 and 50mg shows 0.248 ±0.177. DNA 25mg shows 0.109 ±0.039 and 50 mg shows 0.085 ±0.035, RNA 25mg shows 0.38 ±0.036 and 50 mg shows 0.25 ±0.031