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Articles
by
H.A. Ogbunugafor |
Total Records (
3 ) for
H.A. Ogbunugafor |
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H.A. Ogbunugafor
,
V.I. Okochi
,
J. Okpuzor
,
O.S. Odesanmi
and
F.J. Ebigwe
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Bioassay guided-fractionation of Mitragyna ciliata
Aubrev and Pellegr (Rubiaceae) ethanolic root extract at 100
mg kg-1 in T. brucei infected rats indicated that the
bioactive constituent reside is present in the butanol fraction (inhibition
= 66.61%). In vitro investigation of the extract revealed that
it had low (25.55%) antioxidative property. Chemical analysis of the active
fraction showed that it consists of alkaloids. The extract`s fraction
had no effect on the heamatological profile of treated rats which remained
consistent with the major characteristics of trypanosomiasis-anaemia,
leucocytopaenia and thrombocytopaenia. Results of the in vivo evaluation
of calcium concentration showed a significant difference (p<0.05),
between the active butanol fraction (2.53 ± 0.036 mmol L-1)
and the untreated/infected (17.79 ± 0.034 mmol L-1).
A correlation existed between calcium concentration and parasiteamia in
the active fraction (r = 0.40, p = 0.488) and the infected/untreated (r
= -0.60, p = 0.29). These observations suggest that the active agent had
an effect on the calcium metabolism in the animals which was deleterious
to the parasites. |
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J. Okpuzor
,
V.I. Okochi
,
H.A. Ogbunugafor
,
S. Ogbonnia
,
T. Fagbayi
and
C. Obidiegwu
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An analysis of twenty one assorted brands of vegetable
oils in Lagos Metropolis Nigeria, reveals varying levels of cholesterol
content. Cholesterol was found to be present in most of the oil brands
sampled using three standard methods. Cholesterol was detected in seventeen
of the vegetable oil brands with concentration of less than 1 mg/ml while
seven of the oil brands had cholesterol concentrations ranging between
1-4 mg/ml. Low iodine values were obtained in four of the vegetable oil
brands and three of them had high acid values. High performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the presence of cholesterol at varying
concentrations in all the oil brands and gave the lowest detectable cholesterol
values in all the oil brands. The Laser brand made from rapeseed had the
highest cholesterol concentration of 3.2 mg/ml while Grand brand made
from groundnuts had the least concentration (0.12 mg/ml) of cholesterol
using HPLC analysis. Leibermann-Burchard method showed that Gino brand
from palm kernel had the least concentration of cholesterol (3.86 mg/ml
±0.032) and the highest concentration of 3.996 mg/ml ±0.0404
was obtained in Sesame seed oil brand. This report is important in view
of health implications of cholesterol in our diets. Consequently, we have
been able to show that there is no cholesterol free oil in the market
as shown on the vegetable oil brand labels. Therefore, companies producing
and marketing vegetable oils are enjoined to desist from misleading the
public by labeling their products as “cholesterol free”. They
should indicate the amount of cholesterol present in the vegetable oil,
no matter how small the quantity may be. |
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H.A. Ogbunugafor
,
F.U. Eneh
,
A.N. Ozumba
,
M.N. Igwo-Ezikpe
,
J. Okpuzor
,
I.O. Igwilo
,
S.O. Adenekan
and
O.A. Onyekwelu
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Oil was extracted from Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) seeds collected from Enugu, South-East Nigeria and evaluate its physico-chemical and antioxidant properties in comparism to palm oil. M. oleifera seeds gave oil yield of 41.47%. Refractive index, melting point (oC) and acid value (mg KOH g-1) of M. oleifera oil were 1.471±0.00, 28±0.00, 3.80±0.28 while palm oil had 1.473±0.00, 31±0.00, 6.20±0.35 respectively. Similarly, iodine (I2 100 g-1), saponification (mg KOH g-1) and peroxide (mMol kg-1) values obtained for M. oleifera oil were 85.30±0.25, 171.90±0.56 and 8.10±0.07 whereas palm oil had 34.70±0.13, 210.50±0.00 and 13.40±0.28 respectively. Total phenol (mg Gallic Acid Equivalent g-1), total flavonoids (mg Rutin Equivalent g-1) and total antioxidant capacity (mg Ascorbic Acid Equivalent g-1) were 40.17±0.01, 18.24±0.01, 37.94±0.02 for M. oleifera oil and 62.32±0.04, 33.13±0.03, 68.27±0.02 for palm oil respectively. M. oleifera oil and palm oil showed a concentration dependent DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power capabilities. This study has shown that Moringa Oleifera gave high oil yield, which has good antioxidant capacity with potential for industrial, nutritional and health applications, therefore large scale cultivation of this economic plant could be used as poverty alleviation strategy in Nigeria. |
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