M.Sc

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M.Sc (Theses and Dissertations)

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Open Access
Academic stress and selected associated factors among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduate students
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2016) Ojeleye, Olubunmi Adetoun
This study determined the level of academic stress among the undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University. It also ascertained the relationship between religiosity, mental factors (anxiety and depression), coping styles (active coping and passive coping), locus of control and academic stress among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduate students. These were with the view to providing information on factors that account for failure in undergraduate education. The study was a descriptive survey study carried out in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Three hundred and thirty three students were selected for the study using a multistage sampling technique. Students level of academic stress was measured using Higher Education Stress Inventory (HESI), level of religiosity was assessed using Religiosity Orientation Test (ROT) and the Locus of Control scale (LOC) was used to assess the generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement among the students. The Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) was used to assess the coping style and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate the level of depression and anxiety symptoms. Data collected were analyzed using proportions, frequency counts, one way ANOVA, independent t-test, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r) statistics. The level of statistical significance was determined at p< 0.05. The results showed that the prevalence rate of academic stress was 13.9%. The result of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis between academic stress and religiosity revealed a non-statistically significant relationship (r = -0.077, p >0.05). In addition, the results of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis also revealed a non-statistically significant relationship between stress and locus of control(r = 0.025, p >0.05). The result of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis showed no statistically significant relationship between academic stress and mental factors (anxiety r = -0.025, p >0.05 and depression r = -0.067, p >0.05). There was a significant relationship between stress and coping styles (active coping: r = 0.366, p < 0.01 and passive coping: r = 0.416, p < 0.001). The study showed that as academic stress is increasing, active and passive coping styles adopted were also increasing among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduate students. The male undergraduate students had a significant higher mean stress score (84.17) when compared with the female mean stress score (78.59); [t=-4.038 p <0.01]. The study concluded that student's coping style was the only factor that was significantly associated with academic stress among the undergraduate students.
Open Access
Accounting information, profitability and sustainability of small scale businesses in Osun State
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2016) Ajewole, Olaniyi Olowu
This study identified accounting records and practices by small scale businesses in Osun State, examined the effect of accounting record keeping on the profitability on the of small scale businesses and investigated challenges confronting small scale business accounting practices in the state. The study sampled a total number of 400 small scale businesses in four major towns of the state namely: Ilesa, Osogbo, Iwo and Ikirun using questionnaire as research instrument. These were with a view of providing information on the effect of accounting record keeping on the profitability of small scale businesses in Osun state. Data collated were analyzed using percentage and frequency analysis, chart analysis and ANOVA multiple regression analysis. From the results of analyses conducted, it was discovered that the sampled small scale businesses keep records such as sales day book (often-64.5%), sales ledger(often-48.3%) and cash book (often-54%) while they seldom keep records such as purchases day book (seldom-51.5%), purchases ledger (seldom-46%) and debtors ledger (seldom-60%). The result showed that accounting record keeping (t=25.863, p=0.000), accounting framework (t=6.474, p=0.000), level of adoption of accounting principles (t=3.550, p=0.000) and availability of functional accounting department (t=5.145, p=0.000) exert significant positive impact of the profitability and of small scale businesses in Osun state. Also result revealed that accounting practices of small scale businesses in Osun State is been confronted by challenges such as lack of knowledge of accounting record keeping (56.8%) , cost of setting up accounting system (50.3%), low level of trust and honesty in the society (64.8%) and low working capital (45.8%). The study concluded that accounting record keeping and practices has significant impact on both the profitability and sustainability of small scale businesses in Osun State.
Open Access
Adaptation of Malaysian palm fruit bunch harvester to Nigerian palms
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2015) Aramide, Basiru Philip
In this study, a motorized oil palm fruit bunch harvester (MT) was first tested on some plantations. The palm trees and climbers on some of the plantations were characterized. A support mechanism for the harvester was designed, fabricated and tested on a plantation. This was with a view to assessing the suitability of the harvester for harvesting the average Nigerian palms. The MT was tested on Nigerian plantations for the palm trees it could reach, the average time taken to harvest a bunch and the time taken per hectare of plantation were determined. The best orientation and the cutting angle for the harvester were also determined. The exact height which the harvester could reach was also determined on each of the plantations. The harvester was later used in comparison with bamboo pole and knife (BK) method on palms of moderate height. Time study (TS) of the two methods was also carried out. The height of some randomly selected palm trees were measured and recorded. Also the weights of some climbers on the plantations were determined. The data on the characteristic features of palm trees and climbers were used to design the components of a support mechanism. The support mechanism (SP) was designed to make the harvester suitable for the taller trees. The design concept for the support mechanism is a pyramid structure. It comprises of three different segments namely: the wheels which facilitate easy movement within the plantation; the lower segment which comprises the stands and the platform upon which the operator (climber) stands; and the upper segment which comprises the chamber in which the operator stands. The support mechanism was fabricated and tested with the harvester on some plantations in comparison with existing method, namely the rope-and-knife (RK) method. The study determined the effect of some harvesting parameters on the harvesting methods. The harvesting parameters used are time to climb up the palm (TU); time to cut (TC); time to come down from the palm (TD); number of bunches harvested (NB) and total time of harvest (T). The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) package. The result showed that MT could harvest between the height of 2.5 m and 4.5 m of palm conveniently. The average time of harvest per tree and speed of harvest for MT and BK were 98.86 sec. and 66 bunches/h; and 166.93 sec. and 40 bunches/h, respectively. This shows that time of harvest for motorized harvester is over 60% lower, and the speed of harvest is over 50% higher than bamboo pole and knife. The time of harvest per hectare for both MT and BK are approximately 4 h/ha and 7h/ha, respectively. Statistical analysis of the effect of time of harvest on methods indicated that the effect was significant (p < 0.05). Using the support mechanism for the MT it was much easier than rope and knife. The average time of harvest, TU, TD, and TC per tree, for both SP and RK are 189.64 and 391.20; 21.28 and 151.82; 21.08 and 103.42; and 147.28 and 134, respectively. The total time of harvest for RK is over 100% more than the time of harvest for SP. The time of harvest per hectare for both SP and RK are approximately 9 h/ha and 20 h/ha, respectively. The comparison of SP and RK shows that there is a significant difference in TU, TD, NB, T, but there was no difference in TC, (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the support mechanism shows promise in enhancing the use of the motorized harvester for tall palms and hence should be adopted.
Open Access
Adapting agricultural practices to climate change and variability in Southwestern Nigeria.
(Geography,Obafemi Awolowo University, 2014) Sanni, David Olabanjo
This study examined the past and present climate in Southwestern Nigeria; the agricultural practices adopted in the past and currently in the region; the best agricultural practices suitable for the present and future climate in Southwestern Nigeria; and developed future projections for the climatic characteristics (mainly rainfall and temperature) influencing Agriculture in Southwestern Nigeria. This was with the view to assessing the coping strategies of farmers to significant climate conditions in the study area. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting respondents for the study in the agro-zones within the four important (with long-term data) metrological stations in southwestern Nigeria (Ibadan, Ondo, Osogbo and Ikeja). The agro-zones are Ibadan, Ondo, Ede and Ijebu. First, five communities were randomly selected from each of the agro-zone with population ranging between 100 and 500. Second, ten farmers were selected for interview using a systematic random sampling procedure (every 10th adult on the farm) in each of the selected communities. Two hundred questionnaires was administered in all the communities selected, as source of primary data. Fifty years (1962 – 2012) daily rainfall and monthly temperature data from the metrological stations at Ibadan, Ondo, Osogbo and Ikeja constituted the secondary data. The secondary data were sourced from the archives of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Oshodi, Lagos. Temperature and rainfall variability were mapped using the Inverse Distance Weight interpolation statistic in ArcGIS (version 10.1) software for 1962 -2012. Climate dataset were grouped into 1962 -1983 and 1984 – 2012 as the past and present climate respectively. The best agricultural practices suitable for different climate (past, present and predicted) as examined using percentages votes from the questionnaire responses while future climate was modelled using Bivariate linear regression in the template and rainfall data with years (from 1962). The study showed that annual rainfall total exhibited a non significant trend between 1962 and 1983 but significantly increased between 1984 and 2012. Mean temperature increased significantly in both climate (1962 – 1983 and 1984 – 2012) periods (r ˃ 0.51; p ≤ 0.05). The investigated stations exhibited different dates for rainfall onset and retreat between the two climate periods and the length of the growing season decreased from 215 days to 190 days from the coast towards the mainland. Agricultural practices in the study area were the conventional methods of land preparation and crop cultivation and were similar to previous agricultural practices. Planting of high yield and fast germinating seeds was voted as the best agricultural practices (99%), in the study. This was followed by mulching (91.5%), use of chemical and organic fertilizer (85%) and practice of mixed farming (76.5%). Projection results for the period between 2012 and 2062 indicated that future rainfall in Ikeja would decrease by 2.2mm per annum while that of Osogbo, Ondo and Ibadan will increase by 1.4mm, 0.6mm and 4.6 mm respectively. Projected temperature indicated about an increase of 0.16 º C per decade at Ondo, Ikeja and Osogbo while Ibadan is expected to experience more increase (0.23ºC) per decade. The study concluded that the climate of the Southwestern Nigeria exhibited significant changes within the study period, and that the change in climate exerts significant influence on the agricultural practices in the study area.
Open Access
Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and The Disclosure Practices by Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria
(2016) Dairo, Ibukunoluwa Olatomi
The study determined the extent of disclosure practices of the selected listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria; examined the relationship between the company characteristics and the extent of disclosure compliance and analyzed the difference in the quantity and quality of disclosure compliance among the listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria. These were with a view to providing information on the level of disclosure compliance after the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards by the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. This study employed secondary data. The data were sourced from the financial statement of listed manufacturing firms on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) and NSE Factsbook covering a period between 2012 and 2014. The choice of the base year is based on the fact that IFRS was introduced into the financial system in Nigeria in 2012. 40 out of 91 manufacturing firms that are existing in Nigeria during the sample period and with complete data were selected for this study using purposive sampling technique. Data collected on the company characteristics of the manufacturing firms in Nigeria were variables such as Company’s Size (Total Asset), Return on Asset and Audit Firm Size. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and econometric techniques. The result showed 88% disclosure compliance level by listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria and this suggests that the disclosure compliance level is relatively high. The result also revealed that company’s size (t=1.4699; p>0.05) has a positive but insignificant relationship, audit firm size (t= 2.9354; p<0.05) is positive with significant relationship, while profitability (t= -1.5606; p<0.05) has a negative but significant relationship with the extent of disclosure compliance. The result further showed that there are significant differences between the quality of disclosure of the firms audited by the big- 4 audit firms and the ones audited by the non-big 4 audit firms, with a mean value of (89.88:83.46), median value of (89.02:84.15),maximum value of (100:93.09) and minimum value of (73.98:72.36). The study concluded that listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria comply with the minimum disclosure requirement of International Financial Reporting Standards.
Open Access
Allelopathic Effect of Aqueous extracts of Tithonia rotundifolia (P.M. Blake) and Murraya koenigii L. on the growth and biochemical constituents of Capsicum annuum L. and Corchorus olitorius L.
(Botany,Obafemi Awolowo University, 2012) Tijani, Musa Oyebamiji
The study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of fresh shoot aqueous extracts of Murraya koenigii L. and Tithonia rotundifolia P.M. Blake on the growth and biochemical constituents of Capsicum annuum L. and Corchorus olitorius L. plants. Germination experiment was carried out by raising the seedlings of the two target crops in Petri-dishes lined with Whatman No 1 filter paper and moistened with 10 ml of different concentrations (50% and 100% representing half and full strength) of the aqueous extracts of M. koenigii and T. rotundifolia. For the growth parameters (shoot height, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area ratio ), yield parameters (fresh shoot and root weight, dry shoot and root weight) and quality parameters (chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and crude protein) analyses, potted plants were separated into the control and two other regimes namely: fresh shoot aqueous extract of T. rotundifolia (FSET) and fresh shoot aqueous extract of M. koenigii (FSEM). The pots were arranged in a completely randomized design. The control plants were supplied with 600 ml of tap water while the extract-treated plants were supplied with 600 ml of the appropriate aqueous extracts daily. Harvesting started at two weeks and continued thereafter on a weekly basis for six weeks. Chlorophyll accumulation, ascorbic acid, percentage nitrogen and crude protein content were determined using standard methods. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significance Difference (LSD p < 0.05). The extracts significantly inhibited the germination of the seeds and the plumule and radicle lengths of both target crops. This effect was extract concentration dependent (100% > 50% > Control). The applied extracts of M. koenigii plants significantly promoted virtually all the growth parameters such as shoot height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area ratio, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight, dry root weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and protein accumulation of the two target crops. The aqueous extract of T. rotundifolia enhanced only the shoot height, leaf area, root fresh weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and protein accumulation in the shoot of C. annuum. The root length was however, significantly inhibited by both aqueous extracts. In the case of the potted plants, the effects of the extracts on the various parameters studied followed the order: FSEM > FSET > CONTROL and was target species dependent. The results presented in this work showed that FSEM had more pronounced stimulatory effects on the studied parameters than the FSET. It was evident that while the level of the allelochemicals in the extracts of the two donor plants was phytotoxic to and inhibited the germination and growth of the juvenile seedlings in the Petri-dishes, they, however, had a stimulatory effect on the growth of the matured potted plants as well as on the accumulation of the biochemical constituents studied.
Open Access
Allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of Tithonia Rotundifolia P.M. Blake And Murraya Koenigii L. on the growth and biochemical constituents of capsicum annuum L. and corchorus olitorius L.
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2012) Tijani, Musa Oyebamiji
The study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of fresh shoot aqueous extracts of Murraya koenigii L. and Tithonia rotundifolia P.M. Blake on the growth and biochemical constituents of Capsicum annuum L. and Corchorus olitorius L. plants. Germination experiment was carried out by raising the seedlings of the two target crops in Petri-dishes lined with Whatman No 1 filter paper and moistened with 10 ml of different concentrations (50% and 100% representing half and full strength) of the aqueous extracts of M. koenigii and T. rotundifolia. For the growth parameters (shoot height, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area ratio ), yield parameters (fresh shoot and root weight, dry shoot and root weight) and quality parameters (chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and crude protein) analyses, potted plants were separated into the control and two other regimes namely: fresh shoot aqueous extract of T. rotundifolia (FSET) and fresh shoot aqueous extract of M. koenigii (FSEM). The pots were arranged in a completely randomized design. The control plants were supplied with 600 ml of tap water while the extract-treated plants were supplied with 600 ml of the appropriate aqueous extracts daily. Harvesting started at two weeks and continued thereafter on a weekly basis for six weeks. Chlorophyll accumulation, ascorbic acid, percentage nitrogen and crude protein content were determined using standard methods. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significance Difference (LSD p < 0.05). The extracts significantly inhibited the germination of the seeds and the plumule and radicle lengths of both target crops. This effect was extract concentration dependent (100% > 50% > Control). The applied extracts of M. koenigii plants significantly promoted virtually all the growth parameters such as shoot height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area ratio, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight, dry root weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and protein accumulation of the two target crops. The aqueous extract of T. rotundifolia enhanced only the shoot height, leaf area, root fresh weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and protein accumulation in the shoot of C. annuum. The root length was however, significantly inhibited by both aqueous extracts. In the case of the potted plants, the effects of the extracts on the various parameters studied followed the order: FSEM > FSET > CONTROL and was target species dependent. The results presented in this work showed that FSEM had more pronounced stimulatory effects on the studied parameters than the FSET. It was evident that while the level of the allelochemicals in the extracts of the two donor plants was phytotoxic to and inhibited the germination and growth of the juvenile seedlings in the Petri-dishes, they, however, had a stimulatory effect on the growth of the matured potted plants as well as on the accumulation of the biochemical constituents studied.
Open Access
Analysis of communication about pubertal changes between school nurse and adolescent girls in selected private secondary schools in Ile-Ife
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2015) Salau, Omowumi.R
School nurses play significant role in communicating reproductive health information to adolescent girls especially during pubertal period which could help make the period less confusing. However, the role of school nurses in such capacity in Nigeria has received limited attention which this study set out to achieve.The study explored the communication process on pubertal changes that occurred between the school nurses and school adolescent girls with a view to investigate the content, methods and media of communication as well as identified the challenges encountered by the nurses in the course of communicating with school adolescent girls on pubertal changes. A descriptive sequential mixed method was adopted for the study. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 420 adolescent girls from five purposively selected private secondary schools in three local government areas of Ile-Ife. All ten (10) school nurses working in the selected private secondary schools were selected for the qualitative aspect of the study. Inclusion criteria include adolescent girls aged 10-18 years schooling in the selected schools with school clinics and school nurses. A self-developed and validated questionnaire and interview guide were used for data collection. Reliability co-efficient of the instrument was found to be 0.97.Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Spearman rho correlation and chi square), while qualitative data was subjected to content analysis using software Alpha 7 ti. Results revealed that the school nurses and school adolescent girls has a mean age of 31.4±6.0 and 13.6±1.7 years respectively. The result showed that communication on pubertal changes is not regular and frequent as 46.4% of the school adolescent girls were educated about physical body changes once in a session by the school nurses,16.2% were taught about menstrual hygiene once a month while,47.6% and 44.3% were never informed about sexual abstinence and teenage pregnancy prevention respectively. Frequency of school nurses’ communication was found to significantly influence the school adolescent girls’ knowledge of pubertal changes (r=-0.099; p=0.043).Group teaching was used to teach 40.5% menstrual hygiene while 40% were taught physical body changes using classroom teaching. Body odour (84.8%), vaginal itching (81.7%), emotional counseling (77.9%) and dysmenorrhoea (65.9%) were the major pubertal health complaints. Good knowledge of pubertal changes was observed among 80.7% of the school girls. Significant association was found between the adolescent girls’ knowledge of pubertal changes and maternal educational level (p=0.008) and paternal educational level (p=0.001). Content analysis of the interviews revealed major challenges encountered by school nurses to be time constraint, topic censorship by the school management, and non availability of teaching/visual aids. The study concluded that efforts should be made to promote school nurses involvement in pubertal education through the full implementation of the national policy on school health in order to promote the sexual and reproductive health of school adolescents.
Open Access
Analysis of consumer preferences for cowpea varieties in Osun State using Hedonic pricing approach
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2016) Oyewale, Abayomi Yusuf
The study described the socio-economic characteristics of consumers, identified cowpea varieties, their attributes and willingness to pay (WTP) for each variety and determined the factors that influence WTP for cowpea varieties in the Osun State Analysis of consumer preferences for cowpea varieties in Osun State with a view to identifying attributes that determine price variation among cowpea varieties in the study area. Multi stage sampling technique was used to randomly select 210 respondents from the study area: 180 consumers and 30 retailers.In the first stage, six Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected due to their high population density. Second stage, three towns were randomly selected in each of the LGAs. At the third stage,a random selection of 10 households in each town was done. A total of 180 households were sampled. In addition, 5 cowpea retailers were randomly selected from each LGA making a total of 210 respondents. This sample size was used for the study because of the time and financial constraint. Primary data were collected on socio-economic characteristics, household income, awareness and perception of consumers about cowpea varieties and willingness to pay and attributes of cowpea varieties with the use of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and regression analysis. The results of the descriptive analysis showed that majority (97.8%) of household are male headed and fall between the ages of 31 and 50. The consumers had an average of five household members and household average monthly income of ₦86,642 (US$ 275 at $1 = ₦315). Most of the respondents (85%) acquired formal basic education. Thirteen varieties of cowpea were found. The varieties are Gombe, Drum, Olo, Oloka, Sokoto, Milk, Wuwo, Oloyin, Jibia, Otili, Ife brown, Ife bimpe and Feregede but only the first nine varieties were common in the market. The quality of each variety differs which explained variation in their price. Majority of consumers (85.6%) purchased 5kg of cowpea and below per week while many of them (63%) made dishes from cowpea three to four times per week. Majority (80%) are aware of more than five varieties of cowpea. The Oloyin variety was mostly preferred by 78% of the consumers. Weevil tolerance was the highest ranked among the cowpea attributes with the score of 2139. Oloyin had the highest WTP followed by Milk and Drum with ₦303.40, ₦237.70 and ₦213.74 per kg respectively. Hedonic pricing method which provides a statistical estimate of premiums and discounts for cowpea attributes. Results indicated that weevil resistance was the most important attribute. Cowpeas with weevil damage tolerance, brown colour, large grain size and short cooking time command price premium for almost all the varieties. The consumers discount prices for insect damage, small size, white colour, smooth skin and grain colour mixed together. The study concluded that consumers preferred cowpea varieties with weevil damage resistance, brown colour, large grain size and short cooking time.
Open Access
Analysis of risk management strategies among commercial egg producers in Osun State, Nigeria
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2016) Jegede, Busayo Banke
This study described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, profiled the risk management strategies adopted by the farmers and determined the effects of risk management strategies adopted on the profitability of egg production in Osun State with a view to providing information on the various risk management strategies employed by poultry farmers in the face of uncertainties. A multistage sampling method was adopted for the study. In the first stage, two Local Government areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from each of the three Agricultural zones of Osun State as classified by Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). At the second stage, two communities were randomly selected from each of the six LGAs making a total of 12 communities. At the third stage, using a list of registered poultry farmers, 15 respondents were randomly selected from each of the communities. In all, 180 respondents were sampled for the study. Data were collected on socio-economic characteristics of respondents such as age, sex, and household size, mitigation practice adopted including medication, security and insurance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques and Ordinary Least Square Regression model. The findings revealed that the respondents were faced with different types of risks including the death of birds, outbreak of diseases, high cost of feed and inputs. The risk of high cost of feed ranked highest at 95 percent, closely followed by outbreak of diseases with 91.1 percent. The risk management strategies adopted by the respondents were restocking, sales of assets, insurance, extension visits and diversification. The least strategy adopted was formal borrowing (22.2 percent) and consumptions of infected birds (9.4 percent). The study revealed that 65 percent of the respondents were none risk aversed indicating their readiness to increase their investment in spite of the challenges confronting the enterprise. The cost of feed averaging ₦2,465,987.00 and cost of building averaging ₦74988.82 ranked highest in the variable cost and fixed cost components respectively. It also revealed that the enterprise was profitable with a net income of ₦1,290,620.39. The benefit cost ratio of 1.41 showed that for every ₦1 invested in the business, there was a return of 41kobo. The business operating cash ratio of 0.67 which showed that the liabilities of the company were covered by 67 percent of its cash. The regression analysis revealed that extension visits, membership of cooperative society, restocking of the birds, quantity of feed (kg) and insurance had positive I mpacts on profitability. The study concluded that diversification of livelihood should be encouraged to enable farm families augment proceeds from the poultry business, and provide additional another source of income to the family.
Open Access
Analysis of the effect of climate variability on food security of rural farming households in Osun State, Nigeria
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2015) Ilori, Leke Olakunle
This study examined rainfall and temperature trends inOsun State from meteorological data; and investigated the perceptions and understanding of the rural farmers on local climate variability. It also assessed the food security status of the rural farming households and analyzed the relationship between climate variability and the food security of the rural farming households in the State with a view to examining the effects of climate variability on their food security. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data were obtained from a total of one hundred and fifty rural farmers in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State with the aid of well-structured and pre-tested questionnaires using multistage sampling technique. Annual time series data on temperature and rainfall inOsun State obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were used as the secondary data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, trend analysis, food security index and multiple linear regression analysis. Findings from this study showed that majority of the respondents were male (88.7%), married (84%), and with a mean age of 40±12.83 years. On the average, farm size was 4.53±2.80 hectares; household size was 8±3.48; years spent in school was 7.65±4.87 years; farming experience was 30±16.19 years while annual income was N674564.667±1390607.93. The average minimum temperature was 21.210±0.610C with the lowest being 19.160C which was recorded in 1997. The highest was 21.940C and was recorded in 2008. This followed an increasing pattern of 1.03% per year. The maximum temperature was 31.350±1.860C on the average, 30.480C being the lowest recorded in 1986, 32.210C the highest recorded in 1987 and also followed a similar increasing pattern of 2.02% per year. Total annual rainfall however followed a decreasing pattern (reducing at 5.4% per year) with a peak of 1865mm in 1984, lowest rainfall of 838.10mm was recorded in 1977 given an average of 933±294.84mm. Descriptive analysis revealed that all the respondents came to be aware of climate variability as they first noticed it 9±5.35 years ago and through personal observation. Majority (50.7%)noticed a decrease in annual rainfall, an increase in temperature (68.7%), an increase in prolong frequency of drought (32%) and an increase in the intensity of rainfall (52.7%). The food security index analysis indicated that majority of the respondents (74.7%) were food insecure with the mean food security index and average daily per capita calorie consumption of 0.944±0.383 and 2123.38±860.76kcal respectively. This signified that the rural population was food insecure. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that while sex and age negatively influenced food security, farming experience and total income had positive effects. Of the three climatic factors analysed, only frequency of drought was significant and had negative effect on food security. The study concluded that food insecurity persists among rural farming households in Osun State and is being affected negatively by increase in the frequency of droughts.
Open Access
The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of a formulated diet containing Tetrapleura tetraptera fruits and Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves in adult wistar rats
(Biochemistry,Obafemi Awolowo University, 2016) Odejide, Iyanuoluwa Timileyhin
This study investigated the hypolipidemic effect, singly and combined, of enriched diet containing Tetrapleura tetraptera fruits extract and Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves and also their influence on the liver function. This was with a view to exploiting these plants in the development of antihyperlipidemic agents. Dry fruits of Tetrapleura tetraptera and Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves were collected from Obafemi Awolowo University campus, Ile-Ife. Tetrapleura tetraptera fruits were pulverized and ethanolic extract was obtained using 70% ethanol. The extract was the freeze-dried. Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves were washed, sun-dried and powdered. The experimental feeds were enriched with 0.5% T. tetraptera ethanolic extract (TTE) powder and 2% X. sagittifolium leaf (XSL) powder. Forty-two male albino rats (average weight; 144.04 g) were obtained and allotted into seven groups of six animals each and subjected to treatment regimen for a period of forty-two days as follows: Groups A, B and G were fed standard chow, Group C was fed 0.5% T. tetraptera diet, Group D, 2% X. sagittifolium, Groups E and F received diet containing 0.5% T. tetraptera and 2% X. sagittifolium. Group G received oral administration of rosuvastatin (a standard drug of choice used for the management of hyperlipidemia) daily. At the end of the treatment period, hyperlipidemia was induced in groups B, F and G by a single dose of 250mg/kg body weight of Tyloxapol administered intraperitoneally. Animals were then sacrificed. The serum and the liver were collected and assayed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Differences between mean values were analysed using the Student t-Test and differences were considered to be significance when p < 0.05. The results showed that the combination of T. tetraptera and X. sagittifolium in diet produced an additive effect in the reduction of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels in Group E. Also, the significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum and hepatic TC, TG and LDL caused by the administration of tyloxapol was significantly nullified by the combined TTE and XSL diet. The combination of T. tetraptera and X. sagittifolium elicited a significant (p < 0.05) percentage reduction in serum TC, TG and LDL by 44.28%, 40.25% and 43.34% respectively and increased the level of HDL by 34.47% in Group F compared to Group B. The enriched diet also showed reduction in the TC/HDL ratio (1.453 ± 0.26) in Group F compared to hyperlipidemic rats. The study concluded that the combined use of dietary T. tetraptera extract and X. sagittifolium leaves in normal and hyperlipidemic rats showed anti-hyperlipidemic effect.
Open Access
Antibacteria activties of methanolic extract of Erythrina Senegalensis DC Root Bark
(Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, 2013) Ejelonu, Anthony
This study investigated the antimicrobial activities of methanolic extract of Erythrina senegalensis root bark (ESRE). E. senegalensis root bark was subjected to methanolic extraction and it yielded 4.94% of crude extract. The antibacterial sensitivity test showed that the extract was effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, indicating the broad-spectrum antibiotic activity of the extract. The extract was effective against 4 Gram-positive bacterial isolates and 3 Gram-negative bacterial isolates, a total of 7 bacterial isolates out of 12 isolates studied. The Gram-positive bacteria were Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes and Micrococcus luteus. The Gram-negative bacteria which were sensitive to the plant extract were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescence. The plant extract was not effective against Staphylococcus aureu, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. at the concentration used (25 mg/ml). Also, methanol (5%) did not show growth inhibitory effect on the bacterial isolates. The lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value (0.781 mg/ml) of the plant extract was observed in Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus while the highest MIC value (12.5 mg/ml) was observed in E. coli and Pseudomonas fluorescence. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the plant extract was higher than the MIC for each organism, the lowest value being 1.562 mg/ml (for Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus) and the highest MBC value being 25 mg/ml (for E. coli and Pseudomonas fluorescence). The highest percentage of bacteria killed was 85% and it was observed in Micrococcus luteus treated with the plant extract at a concentration of 3.124 mg/ml at 240 min. The lowest percentage of bacteria killed was 38% and was observed in E. coli treated with 12.5 mg/ml of the extract at 240 min.
Open Access
The antibacterial activities of some organotin compounds
(Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, 1985) Iyoha, Dele. E.
Nine derivatives of the organotin compound, tribenzyl tin-phenoxy acetate and an antibiotic standard, ampicillin, were tested for antibacterial potency against seven bacterial species, made up of two Gram-negative and five Gram-positive bacteria. At the screening concentration of 20mg/ml, one of the compounds, TBPA4 (Solid) - tribenzyl tin L-bromophenoxy acetale-showed no activity against any of the test organisms, while compound TBPA3-tribenzyl L-chloro phenoxy acetate-showed activity against only three of the organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the active compounds were determined and one of them, compound TBPA7-tribenzyl tin 2-nitro phenoxy acetate-showed considerable inhibitory activity against five of the organisms at a low concentration of 1ug/ml. Of the five active compounds that were subsequently used in the rate of killing experiments, TBPA7 again showed the greatest activity and it compared favourably with the antibiotic standard (ampicillin). The possibility of incorporating some of these compounds into drugs and chemotherapeutic agents, pending further tests, is discussed
Open Access
The Antibiotic Profile of Bacteria Isolated from cases of Urinary Tract Infections in Ile- Ife and the Characterisation of the Predominant Escherichia Coli
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2006) Olorunmola, Felix Oluwasola
The primary objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the various uropathogenic isolates from both in-patient and out-patient cases, and to investigate the virulence factors exhibited by the predominant E. coli isolates in order to determine their level of pathogenicity. Clean voided midstream urine samples were collected daily from patients at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (SDAH), Ile-Ife, between May 2002 and December 2004. Urine samples were obtained from 215 in-patients and 181 outpatients. There were 168 male (42.42%) and 228 female (57.58%) patients. The samples were cultured on McConkey Agar (Oxoid) or Cysteine Lactose Erythrocyte Deficient (CLED) medium for isolation of the organism with bacterial counts of 105 colony forming unit per milliliter (CFU/ml.) and above were considered as being indicative of urinary tract infection (UTI). Bacterial isolates were identified based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Their antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined by the agar disc diffusion method, using standard antibiotic discs. Production of virulence factors such as haemaglutinatinin, haemolysin, colicin and capsule by the E. coli isolates were also determined using standard methods. . The samples yielded a total of 412 isolates, made up of 33.25% E. coli, 19.42% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9.47% Staphylococcus aureus, 8.50% Pseudomonas aeruginosa and, Proteus species (7.04%). Other organisms occurred to less than 5% of the total and these are: Serratia marcescens (4.13%), Coagulase negative staphylococci (3.88%), Providencia species (3.15%), unspeciated cocci (3.64%), Enterobacter aerogenes (2.66%), Salmonella species (1.46%), Pantoa aglomerans (1.21%), Morganella morganii (0.98%) and Citrobacter species (1.21%). The major organisms were more than 50% resistant to amoxicillin, trimethoprim/sulphamethaxole. gentamycin, nalidixic acid, augmentin tetracycline and erythromycin. The result also highlighted a high level of resistance to the fluoroquinolones; norfloxacin, (76.3% and 86.9%), ciprofloxacin (50.0%, and 65.7) and ofloxacin (42.5% and 51.1%) by the predominant E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae respectively. There was not much difference in the antibiotic resistance patterns of inpatient and outpatient isolates. Gram-positive isolates generally demonstrated lower antibiotic resistance than the Gram-negative ones. Nitrofurantoin was highly effective against all the Gram-negative isolates except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Twenty-one (63.64%) of the 33 trimethoprim resistant E. coli were able to transfer their resistance traits into plasmidless E. coli K12 C600. Furthermore, the results revealed for the first time in this environment, that most of these multiple and highly antibiotic resistant E. coli isolates possess virulence factors such as haemolysin (7.3%), mannose resistant haemagglutinin (13.87%), colicin (9.49%) and capsule (37.23%), thus confirming that they are truly uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains. In conclusion, this study shows that the resistance of isolates from both the inpatient and outpatient cases of UTI is high and widespread in this environment.
Open Access
ANTIBIOTICRESISTANCE IN FAECAL ESCHERICHIA COLI AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE
(2017) ADENIYI, JOSEPH ADEDOTUN
The study isolated and identified faecalEscherichia coli from undergraduate students, determined the resistance pattern of the isolates, ascertained the production of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase by the isolates and identified the possible risk factor that predispose to the carriage of drug- resistant organisms.These were with a view to determining burden of antibacterial resistance as a basis for resistance control. The cross-sectionalstudy was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Institute of Public Health,ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife,and the study was conducted at the Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, ObafemiAwolowoUniversity. Two hundred faecal samples were collected from volunteer fresh students who have not been on antibiotics within the 30 days prior to sample collection and inoculated onto eosin methylene blue agar plates(EMB). Up to five discrete colonies with green metallic sheen, typical of E. coli were picked and streaked onto nutrient agar plates and incubated at 37o C for 24 hours. Identification was carried out by microscopy and conventional biochemical tests. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test was used for the antimicrobial susceptibility testing for all the isolates using 11 antibiotics and interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines of 2014. All isolates resistant to third generation cephalosporin were tested for ESBL production by using the combined disc diffusion technique, involving the use of clavunate combinations of the third-generation cephalosporinscefotaxime and ceftazidimeaccording to the CLSI guidelines. All isolates resistant to meropenem were screened for bothKlebsiellapnuemoniaecarbapenemases and metallobeta-lactamases using modified Hodge test and combination synergy disk respectively. Molecular detection of ESBL encoding genes (bla TEM, bla SHV, and bla CTX-M)and carbapenemase encoding genes (bla NDM, bla KPCand bla VIM)weredone using polymerase chain reaction. Risk factors which include demographic details, self-medication behaviour, hygiene, previous exposure to antibiotics and source of drinking water were analysed for association with carriage of multidrug resistant organisms. Data generated was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 350 E. coli were isolated from 186 subjects, distributed as 100 females and 86 males. Rates of resistance in isolates ranged from 2.8% (n=10) for meropenem to 90.6% (n=317) for tetracycline. The percentage of isolates resistant to at least six drugs is 32.5%. Twenty (33%) of the 60 isolates resistant to third generation cephalosporinswere found to be ESBLs producersphenotypically and only 18 (30%) were positive to genotypic screening of the tested genes (bla TEM, bla SHV, and bla CTX-M). Phenotypically, five of 10 meropenem-resistant isolates were carbapenemase- producing. Self-treatment (χ2=4.505; p= 0.034), knowledge about causes of antibiotic resistance (χ2=4.791;p= 0.029) and previous exposure to antibiotics (χ2= 3.898;p= 0.048) were found to be associated with carriage of multidrug resistance.Self-treatment (χ2= 4.382; p= 0.036) and source of drinking water (χ2= 9.571; p= 0.008) were found to be associated with carriage of ESBL producing isolates. In conclusion, the rate of antibiotic resistance is high showing the unrelenting effort of microorganism at developing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
Open Access
Anticholinesterase,antioxidant and cognitive enhancing properties of essential oils from black pepper(pipernigrum,) and calabash nutmeg(monodoramyristica)(gaertn).) dunal)
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2014) Olawuni, Idowu Julius
This study determined the chemical composition of the essential oils of the seeds of Monodoramyristica and Piper nigrumand evaluated itsin vitro anticholinesterase, antioxidant and antiamnesic potentials. This was with a view to using these oils in the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Fifty grams (50 g) of the powdered seeds of M. myristica and P. nigrum were separately subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clavenger-type apparatus to isolate their essential oils. The oils were dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) and their compositional profiles were analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Radical scavenging activities were tested using 2,2΄-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH),2,2΄-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS˙+), nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, while the antioxidant capacities were investigated with the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacities (TAC). The inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) andbutyrylcholinesterase(BuChE) were investigated by standard method. In the in vivoantiamnesic studies, adult mice were used for the test in the cognitive behavioural paradigms. The animals were assessed for performance in the Passive Avoidance and Morris Water-Maze Tasks by measuring the Step-Through Latency Time (SLT) and Escape Latency Time (ELT) respectively. The animals were then sacrificed, whole brain excised, homogenized (10% weight/volume) and then assayed for brain acetylcholinesterase activity. The result showed that M. myristica and P.nigrum oils were characterised by the presence of 51 and 61 components, representing 94.76% and 90.65% respectively of the total oil. The oils were dominated by α-phellandrene (18.13%), 1-methyl-4-1(1-methylethyl) benzene (16.26%) and α-pinene (7.16%) in M.myristica while β-pinene (5.92%), 2,4-quinolinediol (4.74%) and caryophyllene (4.55%) were the major compounds in P.nigrum. M.myristica demonstrated free radical scavenging effects on DPPH (IC50 = 3.01 ± 0.04 mg/ml), NO inhibition (IC50 = 0.372 ± 0.013 mg/ml), ABTS˙+ (IC50 = 0.347 ± 0.019 mg/ml). In terms of antioxidant capacities, FRAP (11.66 ± 0.26 µg AAE/ml) and TAC (274.41 ± 14.40 µg AAE/ml). P. nigrum also elicited free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacity on DPPH (IC50 = 9.89 ± 0.66 mg/ml), NO inhibition (IC50 = 0.384 ± 0.013 mg/ml), ABTS˙+ (IC50 = 0.436 ± 0.012 mg/ml), FRAP (5.27 ± 0.06 µg AAE/ml) and TAC (266.90 ± 4.66 µg AAE/ml). Both oils at 416 µg/ml elicited remarkable and significant (p<0.05) inhibitory activity with M. myristica eliciting IC50 of 0. 205 ± 0.06 mg/ml and 0. 178 ± 0.016 mg/ml against AChE and BuChE respectively. P. nigrum inhibited AChE with IC50 = 272.66 ± 18.05 µg/ml and BuChE with IC50 = 223.75 ± 20.82 µg/ml. Kinetic studies revealed that the mode of inhibition exhibited by M. myristica oil against AChE and BuChE was competitive while P. nigrum on the other hand caused a competitive type of inhibition towards AChE and a mixed type towards BuChE. In the Morris Water-Maze Task, the Escape Latency Time (ELT) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased by both M.myristica and P.nigrum treated group compared to scopolamine treated group. Similarly, in the Passive Avoidance Task, the Step-Through Latency were significantly increased by the administration of the oils when compared to scopolamine treated group. The study concluded that the seeds of M. myristica and P. nigrum were potential sources of active metabolites with anticholinesterase and antioxidant properties with M. myristica showing a higher activity.
Open Access
Antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic root extract of mezoneuron benthamianum baill (Caesalpiniaceae)
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2014) Oladeji, Oladokun Layiwola
This study investigated the activities of the ethanolic root extract of Mezoneuron benthamianum Baill (Caesalpiniaceae) and its partitioned fractions on some microbial isolates from the oral cavity and determined the killing rate of the most active fraction. This was with a view to providing scientific basis for the use of the root in the treatment of oral infections. The root of M. benthamianum was air-dried, ground to powder and macerated using 70 % ethanol with constant shaking with a mechanical shaker for 72 hours. The extract was concentrated in-vacuo at 50 oC using a rotary evaporator and freeze dried. The in-vitro susceptibility test was done with the ethanolic root extract and its partitioned fractions (petroleum spirit, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous) on Staphylococcus aureus (NCIB 8588) and clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus salivarius, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans isolated from human oral cavity using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the fractions was determined using the two fold agar dilution method at a range of 0.39 to 25 mg/ml for each fraction. The time-kill-assay for the most active fraction i.e. the ethyl acetate fraction was carried out on all the organisms. Bio-autographic assay was also carried out to find out the component that is responsible for its antimicrobial activities. The values obtained were subjected to inferential statistical analysis. The result showed that the ethanolic root extract had appreciable activity against all the test organisms at varying concentrations of 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml with increasing zones of inhibition as the concentration increased. The rank order for the activity of the partitioned fractions at the test concentration of 25 mg/ml was observed as ethyl acetate (20.6 mm-23.7 mm) > chloroform (14.7 mm-18.7 mm) > aqueous (13.7 mm-18.3 mm) and > petroleum spirit (11.3 mm-13.3 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration gave a rank order of ethyl acetate (0.039 mg/ml) < chloroform (0.78 mg/ml-6.25 mg/ml) < aqueous (3.13 mg/ml-12.5 mg/ml) < petroleum spirit (6.25 mg/ml- 25 mg/ml). It was also observed that the activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was higher than the activity of the ethanolic extract at the same concentration of 25 mg/ml. The killing rate experiment showed that the ethyl acetate fraction had a rapid rate of action on the organisms at the test concentrations of 0.39 mg/ml (MIC concentration) and 0.78 mg/ml (MICx2). At concentration of 1.17 mg/ml (MICx3) the time of kill of all the organisms by the ethyl acetate fraction was ≤ 5 minutes, which was similar to the standard antibiotics used at their MIC values e.g. 0.039 mg/ml of Ampicillin and Tetracycline for the bacteria; and 0.078 mg/ml of Amphotericin B for the fungus used. The chromatographic result of the ethyl acetate fraction showed two distinct bands and the bio-autographic assay performed on the plate revealed that only one component (the upper band) proved effective in inhibiting all the test organisms. The study concluded that M. benthamianum ethanolic root extract was highly effective against oral isolates with its ethyl acetate fraction being the most active.
Open Access
Antisickling activities of selected Nigerian medicinal plants.
(Obafemi Awolowo University, 2014) Fadeyi, Mary Adeola
The study investigated and screened some plants used in ethnomedicine for the management of sickle cell disease (SCD). It further ranked and selected the plants with good antisickling activity and investigated their possible mechanism of action as well as rank andof selected Nigerian medicinal plants. This was with a view to providing scientific information on the antisickling activities of the plants. Ethno-medical survey was carried out in Ondo Local Government area of Ondo State with the aid of a structured questionnaire administered among traditional health practitioners. The plants were identified, collected, authenticated, processed and extracted separately with 70%v/v ethanol in water. The anti-sickling activities of the extracts were assessed usingin vitro inhibitory and reversal antisickling assay techniques with parahydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) and normal saline as controls. The extracts with good activities were further evaluated for acute toxicity study via oral route usingLorke’s method followed by assessment of their effects on certainheamatological parameters (packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb)) in Wistar rats. These were carried out over a period of 21 days using an automated haematological analyser with normal saline as negative control. The data were expressed as mean±standard error of the mean (SEM). The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The results were analysed using one–way ANOVA and Dunnet for post hoc testing. The results of the ethno-medicinal survey carried out showed that a large number of Nigerian plants are used traditionally in the management of SCD. Eleven plants out of the twenty- three that were most cited were screened for the antisickling activity.The aqueous extracts of the plants were observed to have better activities than the 70% ethanolic extracts of the same plants. The extracts with inhibitory and reversal activities in percentage areCarica papaya (89.65 ± 0.73, 73.00 ± 0.87), Parquetinanigrescence(82.50±0.21, 61.20±0.67),Alchornealaxiflora(78.20±0.14,69.45±0.67), Croton zambescius(74.45 ± 0.61, 70.35 ± 0.64),Morindalucida(72.20±0.77,67.30±0.54), and Mangiferaindica (62.50±0.49, 58.40±0.65). The lethal dose (LD50) of Parquetinanigrescence and Alchornealaxiflorawere found to be greater than 5000mg/kg. The effects of extracts of P. nigrescence on haematological parameters on day 7 are as follows: Packed cell volume (%) on day 7; 40.40±0.93, 42.40±0.40 and 41.40±0.45 at 250,500 and 1000mg/kg respectively, with normal saline being 36.80 ±0.58. Red blood cell count observed with P. nigrescense at day 7 was 4.34x106±0.07, 4.70x106±0.06 and 4.48x10±0.17at 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg respectively while 4.04 x 106 ± 0.07 was observed with the control. The haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) at day 7 with normal saline was 12.16±0.15, whileP. nigrescensegave 13.30± 0.19, 13.98 ± 0.10, 13.86±0.29 at 250, 500and 1000mg/kg respectively. A. laxifloraon day 7 gave a PCV (%) of 47.80± 0.92, 46.20±1.28 and 49.00±1.58 at 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg respectively; Red blood cell count of 5.30x106±0.13, 5.36x106±0.15 and 5.38x106±0.17 at 250, 500mg and 1000 mg/kg respectively; haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) of 15.92±0.35, 15.94±0.56 and 16.16±0.49 at 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg respectively. Their effects on haematinic parameters were observed not to be dose dependent. The study concluded that the aqueous extracts of the screened plants had higher antisickling activities than their ethanolic extracts.
Open Access
Antisickling Studies On Three Nigerian Medicinal Plants
(2015) CYRIL-OLUTAYO, Christian Mojisola
The study evaluated the antisickling properties of three plants: Telfairia occidentalis Hook, F. family Cucurbitaceae (TO), Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M. Johnst. family Euphorbiaceae (CA) and Moringa oleifera Lam. family Moringaceae (MO) individually and in combination. It also determined the most active chemical constituent of the combination. This was with a view to providing information on the antisickling properties of the three plants and their combination. The oven dried leaves were separately extracted by Soxhlet method using different solvents and maceration in 100 % ethanol. The individual plant extracts (TO, MO and CA) and various combinations (TMC, T2MC, TM2C and TMC2) were subjected to inhibitory and reversal antisickling assays. The T2MC, TO, MO and CA were subjected to different bioactivity test models such as red cell membrane stability, red cell density fractionation, HbSS polymerization and antioxidant assays to determine their effects on HbSS blood cells. The T2MC was then evaluated for acute toxicity in rats and furthermore fractionated into n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol using vacuum liquid chromatography. Bioactivity directed studies were carried out on all the fractions to determine the putative constituents. Different chromatographic techniques: column chromatography, preparative thin-layer chromatography, flash chromatography and HPLC were used for further purification and isolation of the active constituents. Proton, 13Carbon NMR and GC/MS were used for the characterization of the isolated compounds. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA at a p-value of 0.05. The results showed that the cold ethanolic extract of each of TO, MO and CA have antisickling activities. The MO gave a significantly higher inhibitory activity (95.61 ± 0.47 %) while TO gave a significantly higher reversal activity (95.35 ± 0.81 %) at p < 0.05 than others. However, T2MC gave reversal (95.60 ± 0.28 %) and inhibitory (95.40 ± 0.15 %) activities which were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the activities of Ciklavit® (76.88 ± 0.55 % inhibition and 64.20 ± 1.65 % reversal), respectively. The rate of decrease in polymerization (RDP) was directly proportional to concentration for TO, MO, CA and T2MC. However, T2MC gave 100 % RDP observed from 10 to 30 minutes at 4 mg/ml. The TO, MO, CA and T2MC showed dose dependent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities but significantly (p < 0.05) low inhibition of nitric oxide. The membrane stability activities of the extracts increased with increased concentration with TO and T2MC giving significantly (p < 0.05) higher activities than Ibuprofen® control. All the extracts significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the percentage of the most dense cells (F4) after incubation. Four compounds: methyl 9-cis 11- trans-octadecadienoate; 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Linoleic acid); 1, 4- benzenedicarboxylic acid and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (Palmitic acid) were identified from the methanolic fraction of TO using GC/MS while two pure compounds: kaempferol-3-rhamnosyl-1→4-rhamnosyl and kaempferol-3-rhamnosyl-1→4-glucoside were isolated from T2MC by HPLC. The two isolated pure compounds were the active antisickling agents. This is the first report of the antisickling properties of the isolated pure compounds kaempferol-3-rhamnosyl-1→4-rhamnosyl (79.50 ± 0.445 % inhibition, 85.85 ± 3.471 % reversal) and kaempferol-3-rhamnosyl-1→4-glucoside (68.47 ± 4.243 % inhibition, 78.52 ± 3.217 % reversal). The study concluded that the T2MC is a good candidate therapy for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia because it was not acutely toxic and had high antisickling properties