Russian Journal of Biological Research

3-5

Authors: M. Chindo, I.A.A. Ibrahim

The evaluation of some chemical properties and mineral composition (proximate chemical analysis) of Baobab leaves (Adansonia digita) collected from Muda Lawal market were analyzed at the soil science laboratory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi using flame photometric and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the concentration of crude protein ranged from 1.44-1.63 with CV of 5.7 % and that of crude fibre range from 0.81-0.97 and CV 12.7 %. The chemical composition showed that ash ranged from 1.48-1.65 with CV of 7.7; Ca from 2.51-2.63 with CV 3.91 %; K from 0.71-0.19 with CV of 7.86 % and Na from 007-0.08 with CV 9.42 %. Based on the results obtained there were no significance (p= 0.05) difference between the powdered and dried leaves, since all the parameters observed had coefficient of variation less than 15 %. Therefore, people can consume any of the two forms of baobab leaves.

10-15

Authors: I.A.A. Ibrahim, M. Chindo

Research was conducted to study the effect of Magnifera indica dried leaves on two important biochemical indices of the liver, (AST and ALT). Portion of the fractions each was subjected to phytochemical screening for the presence of secondary metabolites including, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and steroids/triterpenes and alkaloids using standard procedures (Silver et al., 1998). A total of 8 rabbits containing four young and four adult rabbits of either sex (2kg) were used for the study. The test animals were divided into four groups of two rabbits each (containing a mixture of one young and one adult rabbit each). T1 serves as the control, T2, T3 and T4 serving as the test groups. The extract was administered orally to the test groups (T2, T3 and T4) orally and distilled water (placebo) was administered orally to the control group (T1). The dosage of administration sustained was 200ml/kg daily in divided doses for a month. The ALT & AST test procedure was conducted using RANDOX reagent according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Results of preliminary phytochemical of the ethanol (EE) leaf extract of M. indica revealed the presence of all the constituent tested including alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, saponins, steroids, triterpenes, tannins except carbohydrates and glycosides. The aqueous extract (AE) revealed the presence of all the constituents except steroids, triterpenes, anthraquinones, tannins, carbohydrates and glycosides. The results obtained for alanine amino transferases (ALT) and aspartate amino transferases (AST) were found to be within the normal range of 10-45V/L for ALT and 10-120V/L for AST. The packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration were the only heamatological parameters tested. According to the result obtained in the analysis, there was a slight variation between the PCV and Hb concentration in the test animal and the control . Hence, the extract has no adverse effect on the circulating red blood cell as well as the Hb concentration but rather brings about the slight increase in the production of red blood cell as well as the Hb concentration. This may be attributed to the presence of active constituent that promote red cell production in the plant extracts.

20-26

Authors: Tea Mchedluri, Nino Makharoblidze

The river Khrami, a right tributary of the Kura river, has vital importance for Kvemo Kartli region. The river Khrami irrigates thousand hectares of arable land and is used as drinking water in the villages. That is why, it is very important to maintain its ecological relevance. Based on the monitoring data from 2016-2017, it can be concluded, the ecological condition of the river Khrami is highly affected by one of its tributaries – the Mashavera river. The Mashavera river flows in the vicinity of mining quarries. The water of the river Khrami is of hydrocarbonate – type, high in calcium. The nitrogen level and biological oxygen consumption do not exceed the permissible limit. The soluble forms of the heavy metals change but their concentration do not exceed the permissible limit which is conditioned due to the high pH of the river water, which hydrolyzes heavy metals and their main part precipitates on the bottom and the rest is sorbed on floating debris. The anthropogenic substances in the riverThe anthropogenic substances in the river Khrami, are transformed into non-toxic admixtures due to chemical, physical-chemical and biological processes. Organic and biogenic substances are oxygenated or consumed by life forms. Due to this or the process, called self-purification, the ecological condition of the river is satisfactory.