Ife Journal of Science and Technology

The Acceptability, Antioxidative, Linoleic inhibition and FTIR characterization of Chinchin and Peanut Burger Snacks Enriched with Cardaba Banana Flour

R.T. Babalola — 2025-03-07

The dependency of all classes of human beings on snacks coupled with the adverse health challenges associated with the frequent consumption of snacks had called for its improvement via enrichment with functional materials. Cardaba banana is an underutilized, non-seasonal, widely available, relatively cheap phytonutrients which can be preserved by processing into flour for use as functional material. This work focused on the production of composite flour from wheat and cardaba banana to produce chinchin and peanut burger snacks (100:0, 70:30, 60:40, and 0:100 of refined wheat flour: cardaba banana flour). The proximate composition, antioxidant activities, inhibition of linoleic acid, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and sensory acceptability of the samples were determined. The result showed that the values obtained for the chinchin and peanuts varied, even though these products were made using the same flour formulations. The snacks are well accepted with scores higher than 6.0 on a nine-point hedonic scale, also the linoleic acid inhibition showed the functional capability of the snacks in delaying oxidation. The moisture, fibre, ash, and protein contents of chinchin samples decrease with the incorporation of cardaba banana while the fat and carbohydrate contents, likewise the energy value increased. Peanut burgers exhibited an increase in moisture, carbohydrate and energy value but a decrease in fat, fibre, ash, and protein contents. Blends that contained 60 % cardaba banana flour had higher total phenolic contents and DPPH radical scavenging activity values, both in the chinchin and peanuts. Also, the presence of cardaba banana flour in the formulation enhanced the presence of alkene group in the chinchin while increasing the concentration of amides group in the peanut burgers. The study concluded that formulating blends of wheat flour and cardaba flour would enhance the functionality of the resulting flour blends while enhancing the nutritional status of the products.

Characterisation of three Capsicum species and their phylogenetic relationship

S.O. Azeez — 2025-03-07

Taxonomical confusion is known to exist in the genus Capsicum due to the considerable genetic variability among the members. The characterisation and understanding of the genetic relationship among the Capsicum species are therefore important in their breeding programme. This study employed morphological, anatomical, cytological and electrophoretic studies to characterise and elucidate the phylogenetic relationship that exists among the species studied namely: Capsicum annuum var annuum, C. frutescens and C. chinense. The cluster analysis of the coded morphological traits employed grouped C. frutescens and C. chinense on a clade and C. annuum on a separate clade. However, the analysis of seed protein profiles of the studied species revealed that C. annuum and C. frutescens were genetically closed while C. chinense was distantly related to the two species. All the species studied were annuals and facultatively self-fertilized. The species studied possessed many similar characters showing the affinity that exists among them and in addition, they shared some generic bands. The tetracytic and anosocytic stomata were predominant in all Capsicum species studied. The presence of starch granules in the leaf parenchyma cells and the paracytic stomata on the abaxial leaf surface of C. chinense as well as the jugshaped midrib of C. chinense distinguished this species from the other two species. More so, the absence of trichomes and islets in C. annuum made it stand out among the three species. However, the chromosome numbers seem not to be useful taxonomically in this study, as all the species studied possessed the same number of chromosomes though the analysis of the seed protein profile revealed that the species studied were distinct. Therefore, the morphological, anatomical and electrophoretic studies have been proven to be useful in the present study and the study concluded that all the species studied were distinct species from a common origin.

Synthesis, Characterization, Antimalarial Activity and Molecular docking of 2-Oxo-1,2-dihydro-1'H-spiro[indoline-3,2'-quinazoline]-4'- carbohydrazones

O.B. Omoyeni — 2025-03-07

Successfully combating the growing resistance to current antimalarial drugs requires the identification and targeting of essential metabolic pathways in the malaria parasite. In this study, Isatin 1 was used to synthesize isamic ester 2 and its hydrazide 3, which subsequently led to the development of a series of carbohydrazones (4–14). The interaction of these carbohydrazones with Plasmodium falciparum transketolase (PfTk) was evaluated using molecular docking techniques. Among the tested compounds, carbohydrazones 4 and 9 successfully passed pharmacokinetic screening, emerging as lead candidates for antimalarial drug development. PfTk plays a crucial role in generating ribose sugars essential for nucleic acid synthesis. In vivo antimalarial chemo-suppression studies using a murine model, with chloroquine and artemether as standards, revealed that compound 9 (10 mg/kg) exhibited activity comparable to chloroquine at the same dosage. Notably, no mortality was observed in test animals 24 days post-administration, suggesting the compound's potential as a PfTk inhibitor. The alignment between in silico predictions and biological study outcomes further supports this conclusion. Throughout the experiment, 84% of the test animals survived, highlighting the compound’s efficacy and low toxicity even at a minimal dose.

Ecological Risk of Artisanal Mining on Heavy Metals and Radionuclide Levels of Food Crops and Fruits from a Gold Mining Area in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

O.W. Makinde — 2025-03-07

In recent times, the percentage of gold mineral mined daily in Gold-rich regions of the country has been on the increase. A large percentage of these mining operations have been through small scale and by artisans who has dominated the scene in most part of the country and specifically in the south west part of the country. These artisanal miners are usually in the services of mining companies and do their task independently using their own techniques with the sole aim of reducing the cost of mining while aiming for higher profits. They do not sell their products through traders but operates on the basis of a contract system with companies, which guarantees the purchase of all their productions. In essence, artisanal miners make use of use mostly local or primitive technologies (Figure 1) which gives little or no consideration for environmental safety and management in addition to being time and energy consuming. The detrimental effects of Gold mining on soil, water, plants in mining environments in Nigeria and the world all over has been tremendous [Alloway and Ayres, 1993] and has always being a major subject of concern. Ranging from the degradation and devaluation of land mass, whose reclamation has always been a major problem thereby leading to loss of land value, to the high-level contribution of contaminating and harmful materials to the environment above desirable levels [Fatoki et al, 2002]. In the large-scale environmental degradation caused generally by mining of minerals, especially, Gold, those carried out by artisanal and small scale miners contributes the highest with their crude technologies and practices which results into large scale destruction of soil, vegetation, water and even air.

Theoretical evaluation of the photovoltaic performance of some porphyrinoid compounds as potential sensitizers in DSSCs

K. Sanusi — 2025-03-07

This study investigates the effects of substituents and solvents on the photovoltaic properties of some selected porphyrinoid systems for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their photophysical and photovoltaic properties were studied in vacuum, acetonitrile (AcCN), dichloromethane (DCM), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and ethanol (EtOH) for possible application as sensitizers in DSSCs. Electronic absorption properties of the porphyrinoids were obtained via potential energy surface scan (PESs) calculations and TD-DFT, while their thermodynamic properties were obtained by DFT in the selected media. A total of twentyone compounds were generated by replacing one or all the original substituents in a porphyrinoid with -CO2H. The best performing sensitizers judging by their incident-photon conversion (IPCE) values were found to be Por2 (6.85 × 10-11) and Pht7 (6.63 × 10-11) with AcCN as the solvent. The compounds did not show considerable fascinating photovoltaic performance in the other solvents (DCM, DMSO and EtOH). Overall, the study predicts that Por2 and Pht7 are the best sensitizers among those investigated. It also shows the enduring property of AcCN as the most suitable solvent for photovoltaic activity.

Identification of the bioactive compounds in Medicago sativa (alfaalfa) and the in-silico studies of the pharmacological properties of the most prominent compounds

G.C. Nnawuihe — 2025-03-07

The identification of bioactive compounds in the methanolic leaf extract of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) and the in-silico studies of the pharmacological properties of the most prominent compounds were carried out using standard procedures. The quantitative phytochemical result revealed the presence of alkaloids (17.66%), flavonoids (10.23%), cardiac glycosides (12.60%), tannins (11.27%), saponins (3.34%) and steroids (5.01%). Thirteen compounds of the leaf extract were identified using GC-MS technique. The four most prominent of the identified compounds were hexanal (24.71%), 1-dodecene (24.71%), 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10- anthracenedione (19.53%) and tolbutamide (14.00%). Carbamic acid, methylphenyl- ethyl ester, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, caryophyllene, xanthosine, 1-tetradecene, megastigma-3,7(E),9-triene, trichloroacetic acid, 1-cyclopentylethyl ester, octadecane and heptadeca-5,8-dione were present in smaller percentages. The result from the in-silico studies of the prominent compound showed that 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione had a binding energy of -6.9 Kcal/mol for antidiabetic, -6.4 Kcal/mol for antiulcer, -8.3 Kcal/mol for antihypertensive, -8.1 Kcal/mol for antihermorrhagic, -5.7 Kcal/mol for antimalarial. Comparing the result with three standard controls, it was found that 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione had excellent binding energies than the standard drugs of most of the docked pharmacological potentials which include diabetes mellitus ulcer, hemorrhagic and hypertension. However, the pharmacokinetics (ADMET) properties of the drug proved that the 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione can be easily absorbed, distributed and properly metabolized in the liver and kidney and excreted. The toxicity studies showed that 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10- anthracenedione does not cause eye corrosion, genetic mutation, and does not also affect respiratory and reproductive organs. Though despite the few toxicities of 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione, the drug likeness test according to Lipinski rule of five proved that 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione can be used as a drug, hence, it can be regarded as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, ulcer, hermorhagic and hypertension. However, animal studies should be carried out on the evaluation of the active pharmacological activities of the drug and more clinical trials should be assessed.

Enhanced photabsorption and supercapacitive potentials of MnS thin film electrode with Li-ions incorporation for optoelectronic and energy storage applications

M.O. Adeyeye — 2025-03-07

MnS and lithium-doped MnS thin films were prepared on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) conductive substrates from appropriate inorganic chemical reagents using two-electrode electrochemical deposition technique. Effects of Li-ions incorporation as dopant impurity on some surface properties of the thin film: optical, electrical and electrochemical cyclic voltammetry responses, were investigated to explore the films’ optoelectronic and energy storage potentials. The optical result showed high absorbance in the UV region and high transmittance towards visible and infrared spectra wavelength range of EM spectrum. Direct allowed transition with decreasing energy band gap value from 2.03 eV to 1.85 eV relative to lithium dopant concentration was observed. The film also revealed increasing surface conductivity with thickness. Enhanced electrochemical charge storage of the MnS host material leading to specific capacitance value of 95 F g-1 was also instigated by the Li+ ions incorporation. The study demonstrated that MnS and lithium-doped MnS thin films are suitable electrode materials for energy harvesting and electrochemical energy storage devices.

Geospatial Mapping of Background Ionizing Radiation in an Operational Quarry in Modakeke, Osun State, Nigeria.

D.D. Maza — 2025-03-07

This study investigates the levels of background ionizing radiation in and around a quarry, focusing on geospatial radiation mapping to highlight “hotspots” within the quarry site. Using a portable FNIRSI GC-01 Geiger counter, ambient radiation dose rates were measured at 30 sampling points within the quarry. The results revealed that annual effective dose rates (AEDR), ranged from 1.23 mSv/year to 3.68 mSv/year, with 40% of the sampling points exceeding 2.5 mSv/year. Geospatial analysis identified distinct hotspots, particularly in the North-Eastern and central regions of the quarry. Compared to the global average of 2.4 mSv/year, approximately 43% of the sampling points exhibited elevated radiation levels, raising concerns about occupational exposure for quarry workers. The findings underscore the importance of regular monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies, such as zoning high-risk areas and implementing rotational work schedules, to minimize health risks. This study highlights the utility of geospatial radiation mapping in quarries to safeguard occupational health.

Contrasting behavior of oxy- and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin: reaction of Ellman’s reagent with CysF9[93]β of carbonmonoxyhemoglobin reveals tertiary level conformational differences between mammalian hemoglobins

Adedayo A. Fodeke — 2025-04-30

The efficiency of oxygen transport function of hemoglobin is affected by their amino acid sequences amongst other things. To gauge how the amino acid sequences of mammals affect the affinity of their hemoglobins for oxygen, the pH dependent studies of the affinities of CysF9[93]β sulfhydryl group of oxy- and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin of four mammalian hemoglobins: rabbit, straw coloured fruit bat (SCFB), human A (HHbAA) and human S (HHbSS) for 5,5’-dithiobis(2-nitrobezoate) (DTNB) in dilute solution were reported. The affinities of DTNB for the hemoglobins in each of the derivatives decreases with increasing pH. Rabbit hemoglobin has an affinity that is at least twice that of HHbSS for DTNB. That of SCFB and HHbAA which were quite comparable were at least three times the affinity HHbSS at corresponding pH. The proportion of r-conformation in the oxy derivative of all the mammalian hemoglobins were between 73 and 80 % at high pH. The proportion of r-conformation in the carbonmonoxy derivative were 0.62% for SCFB; 8.0% for rabbit; 88.60 % for HHbAA and 91.87% for HHbSS. Carbonmonoxyhemoglobin is more sensitive to increasing differences in amino acid sequence and composition of hemoglobin compared to that in oxy-derivative. The restriction in the isomerization process of oxyhemoglobin was rationalized on the basis of ease of formation of hydrogen bond between O and N of α and β subunit by HisE7[63]β in oxyhemoglobin compared to COHb where such linkages are hindered. Single point mutation in human hemoglobin at position 6β result in significant difference in affinity of CysF9[93]β for DTNB.