Evaluation of Anti-diabetic Potential of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaf in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

The anti-diabetic potential of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The rats were grouped into five (5) groups of 10 animals each namely: the Control group, Tween 80-treated, Glibenclamidetreated and Moringa oleifera-treated orally at 700 and 900 mg/kg body weight respectively. The results revealed that the extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced the fasting blood sugar level as well as the postprandial rise in blood glucose after a heavy glucose meal in normoglycaemic rats.

Effect of Sclerotia Weight and Watering Regime on the Growth and Development of Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fr.) Singer

The study was carried out to determine the effect of sclerotia weight (10, 25, 50 and 100 g), watering regime and urea solution on the growth and development of P. tuber-regium. The experiment comprised four watering regimes with either water or urea solution (1g/litre) and four weights of sclerotia were replicated five times in a completely randomised design. The watering regime comprised watering once daily, twice daily, thrice daily and once alternate daily. The earliest time (6.00 ±0.63 days) of primordial emergence occurred in 100 g of sclerotia watered once daily.

Effect of Rice Cultivation Activities on Inorganic Ions Content of Ini River in Southern Nigeria

This research work assesses the effect of rice cultivation activities on the nutrient status of Ini River in Akwa Ibom State. Surface water was collected from three stations in the river and its nutrient status was analyzed using spectrophotometric method. The nutrient component viz: Phosphate (P04), Nitrate (NO3) and Sulphate (SO4) varied significantly p Station C >Station B. The result obtained for nutrients are low and are within the WHO standard for clean water. However, the values obtained shows significant impact of rice cultivation activities on the nutrient status of the river.

Bioaccumulation Profile of Selected Heavy Metals in Whole Tissue of Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii from Benin River in Delta State, Nigeria

Bioaccumulation of selected heavy metals in whole tissue of shrimps (Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii) inhabiting a stretch of Benin River in Delta State, Nigeria was studied. Water samples for heavy metal determination were also collected from three different locations within the sampled stretch from January to June, 2013. Heavy metal concentrations were quantified with Unicam Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (PG 550).

Comparative growth responses of field- and pot-grown open-pollinated maize varieties to N fertilizer application

Field and screen house experiments were conducted during the 1997 cropping season at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The experiments designed as 2 x 5 factorial and laid out in split-plot were to compare responses of field- and pot-grown maize varieties to N fertilizer application. Two open-pollinated maize varieties (DMRSR-Y and TZBP-W) were evaluated at five N levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1) in both the field and the controlled environment.

Problems and prospects of fish farming in Kwara State, Nigeria

A study of the problems and prospects of fish farming was conducted in Kwara State. Questionnaires were used to collect data from Fish farmers, Traders and Civil Servants. The response showed that the major constraints to fish farming were lack of funds to procure land, water supply to farmers, unstable prices of feeds and fingerlings and poor management of the ponds.  Fish farming has many prospects which include: enhancing the income of the farmer, nutritionally.

Seasonal variation in disease development in tomato under single and mixed infection with Potato X potexvirus and Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus

Both the initial, and long term symptom responses to single and mixed infections with potato x potexvirus (PVX) and the L (wild strain) and LIIA (attenuated strain) of tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV) were monitored in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), cultivar GCR 236 (+/+) which were raised under greenhouse conditions at different seasons of the year in Japan. Symptoms expression, both in rapidly as well as in severity varied with the seasons among the treatments.

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Antibacterial effect of leaf extract of Ricinus communis

The antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Ricinus communis were studied by the agar diffusion method. The ethanolic extract produced the greatest antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract the least. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive to the extracts while Bacteroides fragilis was the most resistant. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts ranged between 60% (w/v) and 100% (w/v). Thus the extracts of Ricinus communis could be useful as a source of antibiotics against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

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A review on diseases and management problems affecting reproductive performance in semi-intensive raised local guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Investigations based on field records and experiences at the Guinea Fowl Production Research Unit of the Kainji Lake Research Institute have shown that some diseases management conditions which include: yolksac, fungal infections, collibacillosis, helminthiasis, management problems in particular inbreeding, moulting, heatstroke and nutritional deficiencies affect significantly the reproductive organs, egg laying and hatchability.

Drug resistant enterobacteria in drinking water supplies of Kano State, Nigeria

Drinking water sources are epidemiologically suspected as one of the major transmission agents for pathogenic and perhaps drug resistant Enterobacteria. Accordingly, in the period October, 1995 – September, 1996, water samples as were available from tap, borehole, well, dams and rivers in randomly selected 19 Local Government areas of Kano State were screened for these bacteria. 1201 isolates comprising Citrobacter sp. (16.91%); Enterobacter aerogenes (14.99%); Klebsiella sp. (10.24%); Proteus sp. (9.58%); Shigella sp. (9.49%); Escherichia coli (8.24%); Salmonellae (7.99%) and Vibrio sp.

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