Effect of Fermentation with Rumen Content on the Feeding Value of Boiled Iron Tree (Prosopis africana) Seedcoat on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens

Aims: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Prosopis seed coat fermented with rumen content at different levels as energy source on the serum biochemical composition and heamatological indices of broiler chickens. Study Design:Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Between November 2016 and January 2017. Methodology: The study was in two phases; the starter and finisher phase, in each of the phases, there were five dietary groups and fermented Prosopis africana seed coat meal (FPASCM) was included at 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% to replace maize. The total of two hundred and sixty (260), day- old Zartech broiler chicks were randomly distributed to five dietary treatments with four replicates of 52 chickens per treatment and each replicate had 13 birds. The birds were raised on deep litter and fed ad-libitum and drinking water provided daily and performance was monitored. At the end of the eight week, blood was collected via the wing web for serum and haematological assay. Results: The results of haematological parameters of broiler chickens fed varying levels of fermented Prosopis africana seed coat are presented in Table 3.There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between treatments for parameters measured except for PCV and haemogobin. The PCV values ranged from 25.00 -28.25% and haemoglobin values ranged from 8.35 -9.40g/dl. It was observed that most of the haematological indices measured fell within the normal reference range values. The results of serum biochemical assay revealed that serum glucose 45.85-107.22 mg/dl varied significantly (P<0.05) among the dietary treatments. Birds served 25% FPSCM had the highest value while those served 15% FPASCM recorded least value. Conclusion: Based on the observations from this study, it was concluded that FPASCM could be included in the diets of broiler chickens up to 25% without compromising the health of the birds.

Therapeutic properties of aqueous extracts of leaves and stems bark of Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. (Fabaceae) used in the management of dental caries

Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. (Fabaceae) is used in the herbal medicine of Burkina Faso to treat dental caries. This study aims to contribute to the valorization of the said plant by investigating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of aqueous leaves and stems extracts. The inhibitory activity on lipoxygenase was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts. The antioxidant activity of bots extracts of the plant was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS+ radical cation decolorization. The anti-biofilm effect of the extracts was evaluated on Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAOI and the anti-Quorum sensing effect on Chromobacterium CV026. Aqueous extracts of Prosopis africana stems show the highest content of phenolic compounds (30,04± 0,59 mgAGE/100 mg extract) while those of the leaves show the highest content of total flavonoids (3.29 ± 0.53 mgQE/100mg extract). The aqueous extract of stem bark show the strongest antioxidant activity ( IC50 = 4.58±0.07µg/ml for the ABTS) , a best Inhibitory action on activity of lipoxygenase (IC50 = 13.42 ± 1.26 μg/mL ), a highest anti-biofilm activity ( 63.6%; at the concentration of 100µg/ml) without affecting the bacterial growth. In addition, this extract has the strongest anti-quorum sensing activity with an percentage of inhibition 53,5%. These findings suggested that the aqueous extracts of stem bark and leaves of Prosopis africana contain promoted phytomolecules to combat dental caries infections. Keywords : Anti-biofilm, Anti-quorum sensing, Lipoxygenase, Prosopis africana

Effects of Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. and Ficus mucoso Ficalho ethanolic leaves extract in the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) in stored cowpea

<p>The study investigated the effectiveness of <em>Prosopis africana</em> and <em>Ficus mucoso</em> ethanolic leave extract in the control of <em>Callosobruchus maculatus</em> infesting cowpea. Treatments were applied at different concentrations (10 %, 30 % , 50 %, and 0 %) on cowpea. Five pairs of newly emerged adult <em>C. maculatus</em> were introduced into each treatment. The two botanicals were evaluated on the insecticidal effects it has on the insect and data were recorded on adult mortality, oviposition rate, larvae, pupae, and adult emergence, seed viability, and phytochemicals present in both botanicals. Results revealed that both treatments had insecticidal potentials, adversely reducing the number of eggs, larvae, and pupae of <em>C. maculatus</em> with <em>P. africana</em> having the highest mean mortality rate at 50 % concentration. Observations further indicated that the botanicals had no negative effect on seed viability. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of some bioactive compounds such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, steroids, and tannin, <em>P. africana</em> mostly rich in them than <em>F. mucoso</em>. Though both extracts were effective, <em>P. africana</em> performed better in the control of the bruchid beetle indicating plausible usefulness in sustainable pest management by smallholder farmers and consumers of cowpea in environments where the plants are in abundance.</p>

Proximate and Mineral Analysis of Some Edible Wild Seeds and Stem in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Benue State is endowed with numerous varieties of useful plants whose fruits, seeds, roots, stems and leaves serve important roles in nutrition but unfortunately many of these plants have not been put to maximum use. The neglect of these forest food plants is attributed to inadequate information on their nutritional potential to serve as food. The broad objective of the study was to examine the nutritional composition of Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds. Carbohudrate content was found to be the most abundant nutrient in all the plant species studied when compared with other nutrients. The highest carbohydrate content (58.22±0.2%) was found in Cissus populnea stem followed by carbohydrate content in Afzelia africana seeds (51.36±0.01%). The least carbohydrate content of 35.68±0.06% was found in the fruits of Vitellaria paradoxa. There were significant variations in the concentrations of nutrients screened from the 5 selected plants at p>0.05 level. Proximate analysis showed that Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds were good sources of minerals such as Calcium,Magnesium, Potassium, iron and Chlorine. Potassium had the highest concentration in all the plant species when compared with other nutrients. The highest Potassium content (32.92±0.59%) was found in Vitellaria paradoxa fruits followed by Potassium content of 25.15±0.07% in Afzelia africana seeds. However, Potassium content between Prosopis africana seeds (15.77±0.81%) and Cissus populnea stem (15.77±0.61%) were not significantly different. The least concentration of Potassium was found in Parkia biglobosa seeds (8.03±0.11%). The mean quantities of minerals found in the plant species that were screened differ significantly at P<0.05 level. It was concluded that Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds were good sources of nutrients and major minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and chlorine. Diabetic persons need to be careful about the consumption of these plant species. It was recommended that efforts should be made to conserve and protect these plant species through domestication as they are rich sources of nutrients.

Analysis of Tree Species Preference and Reasons among Commercial Charcoal Producers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Commercial charcoal production has over time become an indispensable means of livelihood among rural settlers in Nasarawa State. However, charcoal production involves woodland exploitation which contributes to deforestation. Considering the growing significance of charcoal in rural and urban livelihoods in Nasarawa State, this paper analysed the preference of tree species and reasons among commercial charcoal producers in Nasarawa State in view of identifying endangered species and suggesting measures to ensure sustainability of the business. The study employed descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative data drawn from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents randomly sampled from commercial charcoal producers drawn from 6 communities and 3 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also conducted and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23). A total of 22 tree species were identified as usable for charcoal production in the study area. Investigation into the producers’ preference of tree species showed that eight (8) were mostly preferred out of which Anogeissus leiocarpus (Marke) (57.3%), Erythrina senegalensis (Madri) (52.2%) and Prosopis Africana (Kirya) (49.1%) were among the top three. Marke, Kirya and Madri were the most preferred species in Akwanga, Doma and Karu production areas respectively. High charcoal yield, good combustion quality, high heat content of resulting charcoal, less ash production were the main reasons for their preferences. Most of the preferred tree species have been depleted to the point that they are no longer commonly found for use among commercial charcoal producers in the state. The most endangered species due to commercial charcoal production were Anogeissus leiocarpus (Marke), Erythrina senegalensis (Madri) and Prosopis Africana (Kirya). However, pressure is currently on Teminalia glocosece (Baushe/Uko), Andira inermis (Gwaska), Ficus Spp (Baure), Vitellaria paradoxa (Kede) and Gardinia aqualla (Gaude) due to the difficulties in finding the endangered ones which constituted the most preferred species among producers in Nasarawa State. It was recommended that state energy policies should incorporate a law recognizing charcoal as a key source of energy in the State, thereby encouraging investments in the activity of commercial charcoal producers. Furthermore, conservation plans and practical measures of replacing the extracted trees from woodlands/forests for commercial charcoal production should form the basis for license issuance for charcoal production.

Comparative Extraction Performance of Solvent Systems in the Extraction and Characterization of Pectin from Prosopis Africana Seed Gum

Pectin was separately extracted in warm water bath from sun-dried and crushed Prosopis africana seed gum, using 0.05 M solutions of HCl, H2SO4, CH3COOH, C6H8O7 and a 3:2 blend of (H2SO4: C6H8O7). The physicochemical properties of pectin extracted from the Prosopis africana seed gum shows the following: colour varied from beige-brown to wheat brown, equivalent weight (1,818.18 mg/mol to 25,000 mg/mol), methoxyl content (0.124 % to 1.705 %), moisture content (12 % to 38 %) and ash content (2 %) for all the solvent system used. Also, the comparative solvent performance shows that the H2SO4:C6H8O7 solvent blend was the most effective for pectin extraction followed by the solvent HCl and H2SO4, while C6H8O7 was the least effective. The comparative pectin yield of Prosopis africana seed gum using selected acid solvent ranged from 6.94 % to 15.28 %. Among the solvents under study, the H2SO4:C6H8O7 solvent blend gave the highest pectin yield (15.28 %) with beige-brown, low methoxyl pectin of high purity and could be used as a functional food ingredient domestically and industrially

Evaluation qualitative des espèces fourragères présentes dans le département de la Bénoué (Nord Cameroun)

Les espaces pastoraux subissent des régressions et des conquêtes de par le monde. Ceux-ci occasionnent la diminution assez large de la quantité et de la qualité des fourrages encore disponibles. Cette étude a été réalisée dans le but d’évaluer qualitativement les espèces fourragères présentes au sein du département de la Bénoué. La méthode utilisée pour l’identification des espèces fourragères (herbacées et ligneuses) se base sur les différents entretiens menés auprès des éleveurs de ruminants, par le suivi des bovins, caprins et ovins au pâturage et par l’utilisation des clés d’identification disponibles. Les résultats montrent que les zones de pâturages existantes, diffèrent en qualité floristique et selon la localité où l’on se retrouve. En plus, plusieurs essences fourragères existent et appartiennent à environ 41 espèces. Parmi la vingtaine d’espèces fourragères appréciées par le bétail, 05 ligneuses le sont encore plus (Prosopis africana, Daniella oliveri, Acacia sieberiana, Stereospermum kunthianum et Balanites aegyptica). Il en est de même des 02 herbacées : Acroceras amplectens et Pennisetum pedicellatum. Plus d’une dizaine se retrouve en voie de disparition/menacées de nos jours. Si rien n’est fait, dans quelques années on observera une diminution de la richesse floristique en termes de ressources fourragères dans les différentes localités. Par ailleurs, une étude portant sur les éléments nutritifs et une étude quantitative de ces espèces fourragères rencontrées doivent être menées, pour mieux enserrer les espèces à conserver et les meilleurs espaces offrant de meilleures ressources fourragères.Mots clés : Zones de pâturage, richesse floristique, éleveurs de ruminants, clés d’identifications. English Title: Qualitative assessment of fodder species present in the Bénoué division (North Cameroon)Pastoral land (areas) worldwide are undergoing rapid decline as a result of urbanization (development). This often leads to a large decrease in the quantity and quality of available fodder. This study was aimed at evaluating quantitatively the various fodder species present within the Bénoué division. The method used for identification of fodder species (herbaceous and ligneous) was through interviews (surveys), conducted with animal-grazers (breeders) pasturing their flocks (cattle, goats and sheep) in the field and using available keys for fodder for pinpointing. The existing pastoral areas (zones), varies in quality and quantity of flora depending on the location where it is found. Several fodder species exist, belonging to about forty-one (41) classes of species. Among the twenty (20) fodder species best valorized by livestock, five (5) ligneous are most preferred (Prosopis africana, Daniella oliveri, Acacia sieberiana, Stereospermum kunthianum et Balanites aegyptica). As for the herbaceous, same is true for two (2) species, Acroceras amplectens et Pennisetum pedicellatum. More than a dozen species happen to be endangered. Thus, if nothing is done in a few years in order to conserve and preserve these endangered species they might become threatened as a result of gradual reduction in terms of their flora abundance within the different localities. In addition, a study relating to the nutritive elements and a quantitative study of these fodder species met must be undertaken, for better enclosing the species to be preserved and best spaces offering of better fodder resources.Keywords: Pastoral areas, flora abundance, livestock grazers, keys of identifications.