DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOME BRANDS OF GREEN TEA USING WET DIGESTION, INFUSION AND DRY ASHING METHODS

The concentrations of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Ni) in some commercially available brands of green tea sold within Katsina metropolis coded (SGT, HGT, LGT, AGT and GGT) were determined using wet acid digestion, water infusion, and Dry Ashing methods by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Among the trace elements analyzed Nickel and Manganese recorded the highest value ranged 1.0 – 3.5 mg kg-1 and1.0 – 5.5 mg kg-1 in dry ashing and wet digestion respectively. Fortunately, almost all the elements analyzed were within the standard permissible limit of WHO. The content of trace elements was found highest in the Dry Ashing method and lowest values recorded in tea infusion. The contributory factors responsible for the differences found in tea samples could be from a varying concentration of metals in the soil, conditions of cultivation and preparations, and these vary between both countries of origin and for the type of tea. Further work is recommended on these brands to study other important parameters

PROFIL DAN ANALISIS AKTIVITAS ANTIOKSIDAN DALAM EKSTRAK AIR MENIRAN YANG DIKERINGKAN DENGAN METODE YANG BERBEDA Profile and Analysis of Antioxidant Activity in Dried Meniran Water Extracts using Different Methods

Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri Linn.) is a medicinal plant that can reduce obesity status, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and have antioxidant activity. Meniran has been long used as a medicinal plant, but its utilization in a form of water infusion is still rare. This research is a continuation study which aims to identify the biomolecules that have antioxidant activity in water infusion of meniran. The making of water infusion of meniran requires drying process, which can be done by room temperature drying and sun drying. Phenol and fl avonoid compounds in meniran are assumed to have antioxidant activity. Both compounds are easily oxidized and isomerized due to sun exposure. It is assumed that the drying method will aff ect the presence of phenol and fl avonoid compounds and its antioxidant activity. The study began with the process of sun drying and room temperature without direct sun exposure. Then the extraction process used water soxhlet by soxhlet extraction method. The extract was then tested qualitatively using the DPPH IC50 method. The results of the qualitative analysis with meniran color visualization are positive containing fl avonoids and phenols. The results of quantitative analysis of meniran which are dried by sun drying; fl avonoids 0.90% w/w and 1.65% w/w phenols, in samples stored at room temperature: 2.00% w/w fl avonoids and phenol 56.16% w/w. The antioxidant activity of IC50-DPHH in extract concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 ppm) of dried meniran at room temperature 18.48 ppm, sun drying cannot be determined.

Pengaruh Infuse Water Lemon (Citrus limon) Terhadap Kadar Malondialdehyde(MDA) Plasenta Pada Tikus (Rattus novergicus) Bunting yang Dipapar Uap Rokok Elektrik

The Placenta is an important organ that perform for the exchange of nutrients and oxygen which is needed by the fetus through retro-placenter blood circulation. The poor maternal environment has an impact on placental development and growth in the fetus, one of them is exposure to electric cigarette vapors as a free radicals. A protection that can neutralize free radicals namely lemon as an antioxidant. This study aims to find out the effects of infused of lemon water (Citrus Limon) in preventing increased levels of mice placental Malondialdehyde (MDA) in pregnant mice (Rattus novergicus) that exposed to electric cigarette vapor.The experimental research design uses the Randomized Post Test Only Control Group Design. 30 animals were split into 5 groups,KN,KP, and the 3 treatment group was exposed to electric cigarette vapor and had been infused with lemon water P1=25; P2=50; P3=100 gr lemon/100 ml water. Lemon water infusion and electric cigarette vapor were given on the 18th day, the 19th day was surgically removed, and MDA levels were measured. Most average placental MDA level KN 0.1162; KP 0.5820; P1 0.3106; P2 0.1828; P3 0.2218 ng/100mg. Anova OneWay results have shown there are differences in placental MDA levels between groups p = 0,000 p <0.05. The KP group was significantly different from KN, the P1 group was significantly different from KN, the P1, P2 and P3 groups were significantly different from the KP. However, there has been no significant difference between P3 and P1. In KN there is no difference between P2 and P3, P2 there is no significant difference with P1, and there is no significant difference between P3 and P2. Lemon water infusion can reduce MDA levels in the placenta of pregnant rats exposed to electric cigarette vapor.

Rapid activation of esophageal mechanoreceptors alters the pharyngeal phase of swallow: Evidence for inspiratory activity during swallow

Swallow is a complex behavior that consists of three coordinated phases: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. Esophageal distension (EDist) has been shown to elicit pharyngeal swallow, but the physiologic characteristics of EDist-induced pharyngeal swallow have not been specifically described. We examined the effect of rapid EDist on oropharyngeal swallow, with and without an oral water stimulus, in spontaneously breathing, sodium pentobarbital anesthetized cats (n = 5). Electromyograms (EMGs) of activity of 8 muscles were used to evaluate swallow: mylohyoid (MyHy), geniohyoid (GeHy), thyrohyoid (ThHy), thyropharyngeus (ThPh), thyroarytenoid (ThAr), cricopharyngeus (upper esophageal sphincter: UES), parasternal (PS), and costal diaphragm (Dia). Swallow was defined as quiescence of the UES with overlapping upper airway activity, and it was analyzed across three stimulus conditions: 1) oropharyngeal water infusion only, 2) rapid esophageal distension (EDist) only, and 3) combined stimuli. Results show a significant effect of stimulus condition on swallow EMG amplitude of the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, thyroarytenoid, diaphragm, and UES muscles. Collectively, we found that, compared to rapid cervical esophageal distension alone, the stimulus condition of rapid distension combined with water infusion is correlated with increased laryngeal adductor and diaphragm swallow-related EMG activity (schluckatmung), and post-swallow UES recruitment. We hypothesize that these effects of upper esophageal distension activate the brainstem swallow network, and function to protect the airway through initiation and/or modulation of a pharyngeal swallow response.