September 2016 – INNSPUB edublog

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016

Physicochemical, rheological and thermal properties of taro (Colocassia esculenta) starch harvested at different maturity stages

Makhlouf Himeda, Nicolas Njintang Yanou, Richard Marcel Nguimbou, Claire Gaiani, Joel Scher, J. Balaam Facho, Carl M. F. Mbofung

ENSAI, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Corresponding author email njintang@yahoo.fr; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Biomolécules, ENSAIA-INPL. 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye, B.P. 172, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Appliquées, Université de N’djamena, B. P. 1027 N’djamena, Tchad

Key words: Taro corms, starch, maturity stage, physicochemical properties, thermal properties.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tubers maturity stage on the physicochemical characteristics and thermal properties of Colocasia esculenta (Sosso ecotype) starches. Plantation was done in Chad, tropical area from May to February following a randomized design with 5 maturity stages (6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 months after planting) as the main treatments. The results showed significant increase in phosphorus content (from 113.99 to 145.64μg/100g), temperature (from 80.69 to 84.54°C) and enthalpy of gelatinization (from 13.24 to 16.27 J/g), water absorption capacity (from 140.11 to 304.48 %), solubility index (from 17.50 to 29.42%) and swelling index (from 115 to 135%). In addition the monomolecular moisture content (varying from 2.67 to 3.36 %) and the GAB constant C (varying from 11.73 to 113.22) exhibited significant increase with maturity. Furthermore, a significant decrease in amylose content (from 35.90 to 27.65%) was observed as the maturity increases. In conclusion and on the basis of the correlation observed, the changes in phosphorus and amylose composition of starch during growth seemed to play a role not only on the molecular structure of the starch granules, but also on its functionality.

Get the original articles in Source: Volume 2, Number 3, March 2012 – IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016

Ethnobotanical studies on useful plants of Sirumalai Hills of Eastern Ghats, Dindigul District of Tamilnadu, Southern India

Chinnappan Alagesaboopathi

Department of Botany, Government Arts College, Salem – 636 007. Tamilnadu, India

Key words: Ethnobotany, medicinal plants, herbal practitioners, tribal people.

Abstract

The present investigation is an attempt to an ethnomedicinal plants survey carried out in Sirumalai Hills of Eastern Ghats, Dindigul district of Tamilnadu. The indigenous information of the village dwellers, tribal people, village herbalists, herbal practitioners and other traditional healers and the indigenous plants used for medicinal worthiness were collected through personal interviewes and questionnaire during field trips. The exploration revealed some unknown medical uses of medicinal plants. The locals use 44 medicinal plants for the treatment of several diseases either in single or in combination with some other ingredients. The information on correct botanical identities with family, vernacular name (Tamil), part used and traditional practice of 44 species, 40 genera and 28 families of angiosperms are discussed here for the treatment of various illnesses viz., asthma, snake bite, anthelmintic, promote coolness antipyretic, jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, leprosy, diuretic, diabetes, stomachache problems, paralysis and skin diseases. The dicotyledons are represented by 41 species of 37 genera and 25 families while monocotyledons are represented by 3 species of 3 genera and 3 families. The plant parts are used in the form of juice, extract, powder and paste. These uses are noteworthy for further investigation on recent scientific manner. The present study concluded that the abundance of natural ethnomedicinal information of medicinal plants may also points to a excellent potential for investigation in the discovery new medicines to fight ailments and other new uses.

Get the original articles in Source: Volume 2, Number 2, February 2012 – IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016

Biochemical constituents of the developing grains of wheat cultivars

Irshad Ahmad, Abrar Yaseen, Mohammad Maqbool Mir

Department of Biochemistry, Govt. S.P College, Sgr. Kashmir, India

Hybrid Seed Corporation, Maharashtra, India

Sher Kashmir University of Agriculture Science & Technology, Kashmir, India

Key words: Carbohydrate, grain development, protein, Triticum aestivum.

Abstract

Present study on three wheat cultivars viz., “C-306”, “IWP-72” and “Pratap” revealed a progressive decrease of Total Soluble Solids .In “IWP-72” variety, the T.S.S declined from 4.95 per cent at 15 days to 2.90 per cent at maturity. Similarly, in “C-306” the T.S.S content decreased from 5.12 to 2.80 percent. In “Pratap” T.S.S decreased from 6.45 to 1.90 percent. Reducing sugar content in test varieties declined at 45 days, to 0.68, 0.70 and 0.60 per cent respectively. Non-reducing sugars also follow the same pattern. At mature stage, starch content goes up to 75.50 per cent of dry weight of wheat grains in the “Pratap”, 72.50 per cent in “IWP-72” and 70 per cent in “C-306” variety. In varieties “C-306 and “IWP-72” the greatest increment in the protein content of about 4.09 and 3.90 per cent respectively was noted between 15 and 45 days. While in “Pratap” increase in protein content was 3.0 per cent.

Get the original articles in Source: Volume 2, Number 2, February 2012 – IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)

September 24, 2016September 24, 2016

The status of the soil microbial flora and oil content of Imore, a coastal community in Lagos state, Nigeria after petroleum spill and fire outbreak

Renner Kofi Omare, Agwu Ogochukwu Angela

Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, PMB 12729, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Key words: Petroleum spill, Nigeria, soil microbial flora, hydrocarbon utilizers, oil content.

Abstract

Petroleum spill on soil is perilous, however, natural occurring hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms have the capacity to utilize the hydrocarbon as source of carbon and energy, thereby, enhancing their transformation and mineralization. Therefore, to ascertain the extent of damage and natural restoration of an oil spill site, this study compared its microbial flora and hydrocarbon content with an adjacent unpolluted zone, after 40 weeks. The results revealed that the number of heterotrophic bacteria and hydrocarbon utilizers remained at least one order of magnitude higher in the polluted zones (2.5 x 107 to 3.2 x 104) than in the unpolluted zone (2.3 x 103 to 2.8 x 104) throughout the study period. Conversely, the fungi population, which was three orders of magnitude higher at 0 d, drastically decreased later (120 – 150 d) with all zones having approximately 1.3 x 104 cfug-1. At the end of the study, the extent of oil reduction was 1.6 % at the control zone while the polluted sites showed between 33 to 35%. The rate of hydrocarbon reduction was between 9.2 x10-5 to 9.9 x 10-5 mgd-1by 90 d, but declined to 3.3 x 10-5 to 4.1 x 10-5 mgd-1by 150 d. Consequently, though the soil microbial flora seems to have adapted to the excess oil, the extent and rate of oil removal is not satisfactory, hence, additional remediation treatment is required for complete restoration.

Get the original articles in Source: Volume 2, Number 2, February 2012 – IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)

September 22, 2016September 22, 2016

An endo-beta-D-glycosidase from salivary glands of Macrotermes subhyalinus little soldier with a dual activity against carboxymethylcellulose and xylan

Fagbohoun Jean Bedel, Ahi Amedée Pascal, Karamoko Yahaya, Dabonné Soumaila, Kouadio Eugène Jean Parfait and Kouamé Lucien Patrice

Laboratoire de Biocatalyse et des Bioprocédés de l’Université d’Abobo-Adjamé (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire), 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire

Key words: Bifunctional enzyme, carboxymethylcellulase, endo-beta-D-glycosidase.

Abstract

This study highlights an endo-beta-D-glycosidase from little soldier of Macrotermes subhyalinus purified by anion exchange, cation exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The only substrates that were hydrolyzed by the purified enzyme were xylans and carboxyméthylcellulose. The enzyme showed a single protein band and its relative molecular weight was estimated to be 215.45±5.63 kDa. The specific activities towards carboxymethylcellulose and xylan from Birchwood were respectively 9.32±3.78 and 8.59±2.54 U/ mg of protein. The purified enzyme showed an optimum pH of 4.6 for cellulase activity an 5.0 for xylanase activity in acetate buffer. The optimum temperature of the enzyme with CMC and xylan from Birchwood hydrolysis were found to be 60 and 55 °C respectively.

Get the original articles in Source: Volume 2, Number 2, February 2012 – IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)