The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences

1-7

Authors: Anjan Adhikari; Moumita Ray; Tapas Kumar Sur; Sharmistha Biswas; Ranendra Kumar Roy; Alok Kumar Hazra; Anup Kumar Das

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder, where it is necessary to achieve and maintain good glycemic control. Though various achievements have been made in conventional and herbal medicines as anti-diabetic, there is a need to develop a well-defined treatment to manage the disease along with its multiple complications. Rhizophora mucronata, a true mangrove, abundant in the Sundarban region is traditionally used for its anti-diabetic properties but has very few scientific validations till date. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic efficacy of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Rhizophora mucronata Lam leaves on Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced Type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: The mangrove leaves were collected, identified and extracted with ethanol (50%) in the Soxhlet apparatus. Extract treatment was done for 28 consecutive days in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced Type 2 diabetic rats. Body weight, blood glucose profiles were measured along with serum lipid profile and serum insulin. Histological studies of the pancreas were also observed. Findings: The hydro-alcoholic extract of Rhizophora mucronata Lam leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose level. It also reduced the serum lipids in a dose-independent manner. Regular administration of extract maintained the normal serum insulin level. The study revealed Rhizophora mucronata leaves are a rich source of magnesium content and the Gas chromatographic study showed the presence of Squalene. Conclusion: Present study revealed the beneficial potential of ahydro-alcoholic extract of Rhizophora mucronata Lam leaves as an anti-hyperglycemic agent having lipid-lowering action along with insulin mimicking property. Further research is required to identify the bioactive component responsible for its potent anti-diabetic action.

11-15

Authors: Ibrahim Yerima; Mohammed Zanna Grema

The potential of coconut shell as a crop residue and its use as a biofuel has been ignored by our local communities and researchers, despite its importance as an alternative fuel in homes and small-scale industries. Today due to the increasing demand and cost of petroleum energy caused by decreasing supply and cost of firewood as a result of deforestation, demand and increasing population, coconut shell as a valuable biofuel must be viewed with seriousness. When coconut shell is used as a fuel, this attempt to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and sanitizes the environment of the injurious hard shell in addition to providing alternative and better source of fuel than fuelwood and other traditional fuel among the poor rural communities especially in developing countries. This reduces the demand and cost of fossil fuel as domestic energy. In this research, the potential of coconut shell was investigated by measuring a number of parameters ranging from moisture content, ash content, density and caloric value and specific heat capacity. Moisture content is considered as the most important parameter of the five parameters measured. The result of this research indicates a moisture content of approximately 9%, ash content 1.1%, density 0.98cm3, calorific value of 17.7mj/ kg and a fuel value index (FVI) of 810. Among all the agricultural crop resources namely, rice husk, sugarcane biomass, maize straw, rice straw, coconut frond and leaves, coconut shell has the highest biomass quality and the most utilized since it can be processed into charcoal due to high lignin content. Conclusively, considering the above measurement and results obtained from the coconut biomass as a biofuel, it is essential and necessary to encourage the use of coconut shell as a domestic fuel, particularly in the rural areas of developing countries where petroleum energy, deforestation and fuel wood scarcity is a challenge.

24-32

Authors: Nguyen Thanh Minh

Protect, utilize marine resources to promote sustainable development’s the content of the UN's Sustainable Development Agenda to 2030. To do so, through cooperation between coastal states, in particular, for sealed coastal countries or semi-enclosed seas. East Sea’s semi-enclosed sea according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Nordquist & Nandan, 2011). When exercising the rights and obligations of UNCLOS, coastal water or semienclosed sea cooperate with each other. Promote cooperation - peace - friendship between the countries’ East Coast mean to the Commonwealth of China and ASEAN. At present, the East Sea situation’s complicated, promote cooperation, discuss the establishment of cooperative mechanisms are an urgent requirement to maintain peace and stability in the region.