ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Analysis of phenolic compounds in Ugandan sweet potato varieties (NSP, SPK AND TZ)
Agnes M. Nandutu1, Mike Clifford2* and Nazlin K. Howell3
1Makerere University, Science Faculty, Biochemistry Department, P. O. Box, 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
2&3University of Surrey, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
Accepted 17 July 2007
Abstract
Sweet potato varieties: Nsp, Tz and Spk obtained from Uganda were used in this study. Several phenolic compounds were identified on the basis of their mass spectra in full scan mode and the pattern of their fragmentation. The major compounds found were caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid, coumaroylquinic acid, feruloylquinic acid and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids. This is the first time that caffeoylferuloylquinic isomers have been identified in sweet potato samples.
Key words: Sweet potato, phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acids
Mike Clifford* and Nazlin K. Howell, Agnes M. Nandutu
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Sickle-cell anaemia in Nigeria: dermatoglyphic analysis of 90 cases
Oladipo GS*1, Olabiyi O2, Oremosu AA2, Noronha CC2, Okanlawon AO2 and Paul CU1.
1Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt , Rivers State, Nigeria
2Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Idi-Araba, Lagos - Nigeria.
Accepted 26 July, 2007
Abstract
Dermatoglyphic analysis of 90 Sickle-cell Anaemia cases and 90 normal subjects was carried out in this study. It involved the digital patterns, ATD angle, A – B ridge count, axial triradius, digital triradius and palmar crease on the hands. 58.44% of the digital patterns in sickle-cell cases were ulnar loop as against 60.14% in the normals. The percentage of Whorl, arch and radial loop in Sickle-Cell group were 31.64%, 8.23% and 2.98% respectively as against 27.47%, 10.43% and 1.98% in the normals. The mean ATD values were 41o and 40o for the normal and sickle-cell groups respectively. The mean A – B ridge counts was 33.1 in sickle-cell group and 33.5 in the normals. No axial triradius was found in t iii (along the distal transverse crease) position in both groups. Most of the triradii were found in position ti (along or close to the thenar crease) in both groups. Only 3.6% of normals and 2.9% sickle-cell cases were found in tii (along the proximal transverse crease) position. The mode of the frequency distribution of digital triradii of normals was 13 while they were 11, 14 and 15 for sickle-cell group. The means were 11.89 and 12.32 respectively. No Simean crease was found in both groups; however, 2.2% of the 90 sickle-cell cases had Sidney creases. The above-mentioned values were not statistically different when the two groups were subjected to appropriate statistical tests.
Key words: Dermatoglyphics, sickle-cell anaemia, Nigeria.
Oremosu AA, Oladipo GS*, Olabiyi O, Noronha CC, Okanlawon AO and Paul CU
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Molecular studies on the immobility of genomic construction in the random mating population
A.E.Elkomy1, Hanan.H.Ghanem2 and Elsayed E. Hafez1
1Arid Lands Cultivation and Development Research Institute, Mubark City for Scientific Research and Biotechnology Application, Egypt.
2Animal Prod. Inst. Agric. Res. Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt.
Accepted 12 March, 2007
Abstract
Random population studies are very important to estimate the environmental factors in nutritional, physiological and breeding experiments. Studying the quantitative traits, consisting of genetic, environmental factors and interaction between them is very important as well. In a random population study, the genetic variation for 50 chicken individuals (Mandarah strain) of three successive generations was examined using differential display technique. The difference between the generations was measured by the change of DNA frequencies for the random population. Age at sexual maturity was changed during the three generations, but these differences were not significant. The body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM) of the 2nd and the 3rd generations was decreased significantly compared with the 1st generation. Whenever this decrease was not frequent, although, the egg number (EN), egg mass (EM) and rate of laying (RL) were not constant over generations, differences between the generations were highly significant for EN and EM only. In addition, comparative analysis based on the molecular levels and genotype stability clarified the genetic variations between the examined groups (females or males). Eleven bands with different molecular weights were observed in case of females in comparison to only 9 bands in case of the males. Phylogenetic studies revealed that, there was a genetic variability between females of the 1st generation. Furthermore, low level of similarity was observed between the 2nd generation in respect to the 1st and 3rd generations. Genetic similarity between females and males of the 2nd and the 3rd generations was 55%. It could be concluded that the differences in egg production trait, which was found among generations, may be due to indirect or natural selection.
Key words: Differential display, random mating, chicken and random population.
A.E.Elkomy , Hanan.H.Ghanem and Elsayed E. Hafez
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Status of the levels of lead and selected trace elements in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Babalola O. O1*, Ojo L. O2 and Akinleye A.O2
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife Nigeria.
2Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Accepted 03 April, 2007
Abstract
The study investigated the status of lead and selected mineral elements (copper, zinc and chromium) in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients, so as to establish the possible interactive connections of these metals with the disease and with each other in diabetic patients. Thirty-one patients (15 male and 16 female), clinically diagnosed for type-2 Diabetes mellitus at Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria, participated in the study. Twenty-six apparently healthy individuals (14 male and 12 female) served as control group. Blood samples of all the subjects were collected after an overnight fasting for the determination of blood glucose, lead, zinc, copper and chromium. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was determined by glucose oxidase-peroxidase assay to confirm the status of the patients and the controls while metals’ concentrations were measured with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The mean FBS concentrations of the diabetic group were significantly higher (p<0.05, p<0.05 respectively) than those of the control group. Similarly, the mean blood lead levels of the diabetic male and female patients were 49.40 ± 14.36 and 46.30 ± 15.22 µg/dL respectively and significantly higher (p<0.05, p<0.05respectivelly) than those of control males and females (38.07 ± 14.00 and 35.51 ± 13.00 µg/dL respectively). Additionally, a positive relationship was observed between the concentrations of FBS and lead (r = 0.393; p<0.01). These findings in this study revealed that lead has an interactive connection with type 2 diabetes mellitus while zinc, copper and chromium have no such significant relationships with the disease.
Key words: Diabetes mellitus, lead, fasting blood sugar, trace elements.
Ojo L. O and Akinleye A.O, Babalola O. O*
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Biochemical characterization of two -mannosidases from breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds
Amedée Pascal Ahi1, Jean Tia Gonnety1, Betty Meuwiah Faulet1, Lucien Patrice Kouamé1 and Sébastien Niamké2*.
1Laboratoire de Biochimie et Technologie des Aliments de l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie des Aliments de l’Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
2Laboratoire de Biotechnologies, Filière Biochimie-Microbiologie de l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Biosciences de l’Université de Cocody-Abidjan, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.
Accepted 02 April, 2007
Abstract
The importance of -mannosidases in glycoproteins processing and their application in food and pharmaceutical industry led us to further explore plant -mannosidases. Thus, two -mannosidases were purified from matured breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds, by successive chromatography on Diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephacryl S-200 HR to apparent homogeneity. The two isoenzymes named Ma and Mb had native molecular weights of approximately 75 and 60 kDa, respectively. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these -mannosidases resolved a single protein band with molecular weights estimated to be 75 kDa for isoform Ma and 61 kDa for Mb. Breadfruit -mannosidases had optima pH (5.6) and temperature (60°C), and appeared to be stable in presence of some detergents such as Hexansulfonic acid sodium salt, Polyoxyethylen-9-lauryl ether, Nonidet P40, Triton X-100 as well as Ca2+ and Zn2+. The effect of -mannosidase inhibitors on the two isoenzymes showed that swainsonine and 1,4- dideoxy-1,4-imino mannitol at 0.01 mM totally inhibited their hydrolytic activity, while kifunensine and deoxymannojirimycin at the same concentration had no effect on these enzymes. Substrate specificity tests revealed that the enzymes exerted only -mannosidase activity and cleaved - (1,2); -(1,3) and -(1,6) linked mannobiose. Since breadfruit seed -mannosidases were sensitive to furanose transition state analogs such as swainsonine and 1,4- dideoxy- 1,4- imino mannitol and showed broad substrate specificity, these enzymes would belong to class II -mannosidases.
Key words: -mannosidases, Artocarpus communis, breadfruit, purification, characterization.
Betty Meuwiah Faulet, Amedée Pascal Ahi, Jean Tia Gonnety, Lucien Patrice Kouamé and Sébastien Niamké*.
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2007 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Determination of the glycemic index of steamed cakes using two different legumes 'bambara nut (Vigna subterranean) and cowpea (Vigina unguiculata)'
Onimawo I. A.*, Ijeh I., Ukoha U. and Nwachukwu G. T.
Human Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Biochemistry Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Accepted 11 May, 2007
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the blood glucose response and glycemic index of food for diabetics and non-diabetics. The subjects comprised of 10 diabetics and 7 non-diabetics. The results of the physical characteristics showed that the diabetic subjects were on the average older (age bracket between 51 and 70years) than the non-diabetics (18 and 23years) . The Body mass index (BMI) values indicated that over 90% of the diabetics were obese while the non-diabetics were on the average normal. Results also showed that the blood glucose response of the diabetics were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the non- diabetics. When fed on the test diets (“okpa” and “moin–moin”), the blood glucose response was significantly reduced when compared to bread diet for both diabetics and non-diabetics. The results further indicated that the blood glucose response was better with “okpa” than with “moin–moin”, suggesting that “okpa” is a better diet for diabetic patients. The glycemic index values for “okpa” and “moin–moin” were 78 and 38 respectively for the non-diabetics while the values were 59 and 66 respectively, for the diabetics indicating that “okpa” is a better diet for the diabetics.
Key words: Glycemic index, diabetics, blood glucose response, bread, okpa and moin - moin
Ukoha U. and Nwachukwu G. T., Onimawo I. A.*, Ijeh I.
Page: 1 - 10