The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal

6-9

Authors: Jide Alfred O., Aladekoyi Gbenga, Alademeyin J.O.

The wild yam, Discorea Villosa, alata and bulbifera tubers used for this study, was obtained from the farm in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. The samples were prepared by cleaning, washing, peeling and cutting into smaller sizes, dried for one month. The sample were powdered in Willey milled at 60 mesh size and stored in screw cap bottle at room temperature for further analysis. The samples were evaluated for its nutritional quality, from the present investigation, it is observed that most of the yams were found to be a good source of protein but that of villosa (7.44±0.04) is higher than that of alata (5.15±0.10) and bulbifera (4.88±0.14). Lipids were significantly low in villosa (0.04±0.02) than the rest, alata (5.28±0.18) and bulbifera (6.14±0.11). Crude fibre, moisture contents of the three samples had no significant difference while carloric value of villosa in terms of carbohydrates was higher (81.12±2.98) than the rest. No significant difference in vitamin contents while potassium was higher in villosa (24.30±1.78) than alata (7.86±0.14) and bulbifera (15.54±0.30) in terms of minerals composition. These tubers which have great potentials to serve as a source of very necessary nutrients can be used as food for humans and animals

18-22

Authors: Nuning Nurcahyani, Hendri Busman, Sutyarso, Pratami Dwi Rahmawati, Mohammad Kanedi

To enrich new evidence about the anti-fertility activity of seeds extract of papaya (Carica papaya L.) in test animals, especially mice. Male mice (n=20) were grouped into four. The first group received only distilled water containing 1% CMC as the control. Group 2, 3 and 4 consecutively received papaya seeds extract of 2, 4 and 8 mg/40 g body weight. All treatment administered orally using stomach sonde once daily for 35 days. Study parameters assessed were the number spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatid cell counts, diameter and epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubules of the testis. There is no significant different in the number of spermatogonia between treatment groups. Spermatocyte and spermatid cells significantly decreased by the extract, especially at the highest dose. Additionally, the diameter and epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubules of testis are siginicantly reduced by the extract at the dose of 8 mg/40g body weight. Papaya seeds extract as potential to be used as anti fertility agent.

29-36

Authors: Nuriye Değirmen, Filiz Özyiğit, Özlem Arık

Nursing and midwifery professions require ethically sensitive approaches because they involve various applications on human beings, including medication applications. However, it is important to undertake initiatives based on scientific evidence within the framework of rules and specific procedures. To review the situation of medication applications during the training of nurses and midwives. This was a questionnaire study conducted on nursing and midwifery students in Kütahya Health Science University, Health Science Faculty. This study was conducted during 2014-2015 academic year on 345 nursing and midwifery students at the 2nd and 4th grade. The questionnaire items of this study were based on the Hospital Service Quality Standards Guide (HSQSG). Of the students (87% females), 17% were in the midwifery department at the 2nd grade and 23% were at the 4th grade and 26% were in the nursing department at the 2nd grade and 34% were at the 4th grade. While 10% of the students read the whole HSQSG, 78% did not read, and the remaining 12% just skimmed it trough. There was no difference between groups regarding reading the HSQSG (p>0.05).Gender of the students, their accommodation, reading the HSQSG, and the answers to the questions were compared and it was seen that they did not affect the answers. The students are not sufficient in patient safety procedure, correct medication storage, and procedures for administration of medicines brought by patients. The level of knowledge of the students increased as the class levels increased.

42-49

Authors: Sawsen Zramda, Tekaya Meriam, Ben Salma Mohamed Zied, Mohamed Hammami, Raja Chaaba

Opuntiaficus indica (OFI) has been used in traditional folk medicine. Many parts of the plant were investigated. However fewer data about seeds are available. In this study, the lipid fraction was extracted from OFI seeds in two different regions of Tunisia, then investigated for their phytochemical content and antioxidant activity in order to evaluate their importance in health field. The results showed that the content of seed oil in unsaturated fatty acids is relatively high (83 %) mainly in linoleic acid (58.14 %). Also, the content in phenolic compound and vitamin E was high which leads to significant antioxidant activity. These compounds and antioxidant activity vary between the seeds collected from two regions. The oil from region 1 (Sidi El hani) is richer than the oil from region 2 (Kasserine) in polyphenols, flavonoids and alpha-tocopherols (366.36±18.73 vs 233.82 ± 10.50 mg gallic acid / kg of oil; 205.8 ± 10.65 vs 155.24 ± 10.96 mg catechine / kg of oil, 185.90 ± 30.62vs82.12± 24.66 mg / kg of oil). In the same way, the anti-free radical activity and resistance to oxidation were higher in region 1compared to region 2 samples. The OFI oil can be used in food and pharmaceutical industry due to its special characteristics. However, the effectiveness of this oil depends on the area of collection.

56-62

Authors: Tesfaye Nuru, Solomon Girmay, Yadessa Melaku, Milkyas Endale

Teclea nobilis is widely distributed in tropical Africa and used as the remedy for gonorrhea, fever and analgesics. The roots of Teclea nobilis were exhaustively extracted using dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) and methanol to give 2.36% and 2.12% yield, respectively. Phytochemical screening analysis conducted on roots extracts of Teclea nobilis revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. Silica gel column chromatographic separation of the crude extract afforded benzoylbetulin (3), isolated for the first time from natural source, along with a known furoquinoline alkaloid maculine (1) and a known steroid lupane (2). The structures of compounds were characterized using spectroscopic methods (1H NMR, 13C NMR and DEPT-135). The extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activities using disc diffusion method against E coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and K. Pneumonia. Moderate inhibition zone (9 mm) was observed for maculine (1) against S. aureus compared to standard Ceftriaxone (20 mm).

71-80

Authors: Bohdan Hejna

In this paper we are thinking, in a free way, about possible applications of the Information-Thermodynamics point of view in biology1. We can consider a principle loss of information (structure) within the process of generation of cells by their duplication (dividing). Within any duplication of a cell (the predecessor) its follower is generated and the distortion of the duplicated (copied) structure (information) of the parent cell in the follower arises. This loss is measurable by the quantity of (average) information amount. It is a loss of part of message being copied (transferred), it is a loss of information within this process of such an information transfer. (The whole structure of the cell is a message, also including ’a program’ for its functionality in a texture.) This mechanism of aging by a ’tooth of time’ can be described in a functional way by the ’carnotized’ model of information transfer - direct Carnot Cycle viewed informationally. The growth of thermodynamic entropy in its environment is similar to the mentioned loss of the cell structure, measured, in biology, by the shortenning the length of the cell telomere. The telomere is, approximatelly, a box of chromozomes and its length codes the age of the cell, or, the number of the cell’s predecessors in the normal situation. Within the pathological proliferation of cells the opposite situation arises. In this case the cells with a precise structure (but, of an another type in comparison with the normal structure of its own original and ’normal’ type) are generated. But, this grow of structure in a certain locality in the whole organism is paid by a pumping off energy from an environment of this locality. This situation is describable again by our Information-Thermodynamic model, but by a reverse this time. The decreasing value of thermodynamic entropy or increasing value of information entropy is now evidenced locally with the higher growth of the thermodynamic entropy in the environment. This process is similar to the growth of the cell structure in the pathological case which growth is now measured by the lengthening of the cell telomeres.

97-114

Authors: Olakunle Alex Akinsanoye, Mopelola Abeke Omotoso

The use of watermelon seed oil as feedstock for oleochemicals was studied. Oil was extracted from the seeds which was homopolymerized using HClO4 as catalyst. The homopolymer was used to prepare a variety of oleochemicals namely amine, amide, epoxide and copolymerized Phenol-Citrullus-lanatus polymer (CPCLP). Iodine value was determined for the oil, homopolymer (CLH) and the CPCLP as a measure of unsaturation. Viscometry studies were carried out to determine the molecular weights of products. FTIR and proton NMR were used to determine the structure of the oleochemicals. 13C NMR was used to further characterize the CPCLP. The percentage oil yield is 56.86%. The iodine values were respectively 196.13g/100g, 127.96g/100g and 123.3g/100g for Citrullus-lanatus oil (CLO), homopolymer (CLH) and CPCLP. The molecular weights (x 107) of the oleochemicals were 510.8g/mol, 536.8g/mol, 543.8g/mol, 410.3g/mol, 566.8g/mol, and 759.0g/mol respectively for CLO, Citrullus-lanatus amide (CLAmide), Citrullus-lanatus amine (CLAmine), CLH, Epoxidized citrullus-lanatus polymer (ECLP) and CPCLP. FTIR spectra showed absorptions at (1720-1740) cm-1 of carbonyl group. The major peaks found in the proton NMR spectrum are vinyl protons (C=C-H) at (4.5-5.5) ppm, ᾳ-carbonyl protons and allylic protons at (2-3 and 1.8) ppm. CLAmine shows N-H peaks at 4.444 ppm and 4.490 ppm while CLAmide showed the CONHR peak at 5.775 ppm and 5.621 ppm respectively. CPCLP showed aromatic protons between 6.6ppm and 7.1ppm. The 13C NMR also confirm CPCLP structure. The results showed that watermelon oil can be used to prepare useful oleochemicals that are of great importance to the economy with little or no environmental impairment.

121-126

Authors: Ibiene Sarah Kalio, Bertha Ikechi

Trace elements such as Zinc and Copper modulate immune functions that affect the formation of insulin in the pancreatic beta cells. This study aimed to determine Zinc, Copper, Albumin and Total protein in diabetic individuals within Port Harcourt metropolis, Nigeria. Plasma Zinc, Copper, Albumin and Total protein concentrations of 28 diabetic individuals aged between 30-75 years were compared to 24 healthy non diabetic individuals aged between 30-75 years. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine Zinc and Copper concentrations while bromocresol green method was used to determine Albumin. Total protein concentration was determined using biuret method. The results showed that the mean ± standard deviation of Zinc, Copper, Albumin and Total protein for diabetic individuals are 0.58 ± 0.14 mg/L (Zinc), 0.028 ± 0.16mg/L (Copper); 42.64 ± 4.10g/L (Albumin) and 66.57 ± 11.52 g/L (Total protein) respectively while the values for non – diabetic individuals are 0.80 ± 0.30 mg/L (Zinc), 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/L (Copper), 38.5 ± 5.56 g/l (Albumin,) 58.83 ± 9.42 g/l (Total protein) respectively. The concentrations of Zinc and Copper were significantly lower in diabetic individuals when compared with control (p<0.05). This study shows that diabetic condition affects the concentrations of trace elements such as Zinc and Copper.