S.C. Ohadoma*, P.A.Akah**, C.A. Nkemnele*** ,
I. Nnatuanya+, and P.J.C. Nwosu++
Department of Pharmacology, Imo State University, Owerri,
E-mail: chodraf@yahoo.com Tel: +2348035081946;

** Present address : Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

** *Present address : Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Madonna University, Elele Rivers State, Nigeria.

+ Present address : Department of Chemical Pathology, Madonna University, Elele Rivers State, Nigeria.

++ Department of Surgery, Madonna University, Elele Rivers State, Nigeria.

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed

(Accepted 28 September 2011)

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the leaf extract of Lupinus (L.) arboreus in mice and rats using experimental models. Phyto-chemical tests and acute toxicity tests were carried out on methanol extract (ME) of the leaf. Writhing reflex test, pressure–induced pain and thermally-induced (hot plate) pain were used to assess the analgesic activity of the extract while egg albumen-induced oedema was used for anti-inflammatory activity. The acute toxicity test revealed an intraperitoneal (i.p) LD50 of 77.45mg/kg, while the phytochemical studies showed the presence of saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, protein, reducing sugar and resin. The extract at doses of 30mg/kg and 60mg/kg i.p exhibited a significant (P<0.01) analgesic activity in mice. The methanol leaf extract of L. arboreus at doses 30mg/kg and 60mg/kg showed 23.5% (P<0.05) and 32.1% (P<0.01) inhibition of paw oedema respectively at the end of 2hr. The extract of L. arboreus possessed remarkable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

A. E. Umahi* and O.E. Ekpe
Department of Industrial Physics
Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Email: edyumahi@yahoo.com Tel.: +2347038143999

*To whom all correspondence should be addressed

(Accepted 28 September 2011)

ABSTRACT
Characteristics of measured World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) in belts within part of West Africa were studied. The lightning electromagnetic discharge and its detection are reviewed. Typical statistical study was carried out at distances ranging from 0-84 km interval along the latitude called belts. 8 belts were examined. ~50 % consistency was found in the belts showing the bins of highest and lowest lightning electromagnetic discharge.

O.S. Egbule
Department of Microbiology
Delta State University, Abraka
E-mail : egbuleoly@yahoo.com Tel. : 08062439096

(Accepted 27 August 2011)

ABSTRACT
Bacteria isolated from urine samples collected from 100 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic at Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, were identified by standard microbiological methods. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in pregnant women. To ensure appropriate treatment, knowledge of the organisms that cause UTI and their antibiotic susceptibility is a necessity. The organisms isolated from the subjects and prevalence rates were as follows: Klebsiella (37.5%), Escherichia coli (33.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.3%), Proteus mirabilis (8.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.6%). A high resistance of 94.4% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 90.9% to ampiclox and erthryomycin 90.3% to ampicillin, 85.3% to augumentin, 75.4% to chloramphenicol, 75% to streptomycin, 68.1% to gentamycin, 63.6% to cefuroxime, 61.1% to pefloxacin, 55.5% to ciprofloxaxine, 52.8% to ofloxacin, and 45.5% to ceftriaxone was observed. All the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). Approximately 33.3% isolates were resistant to 10 antibiotics, 6.9% isolates were resistant to 9 antibiotics, 11.1% isolates were resistant to 8 and 6 antibiotics, 2.8% isolates were resistant to 7 antibiotics, 22.2% isolate were found to resist 5 antibiotics and 12.5% isolates were found to resist 4 antibiotics. The most common plasmid encountered were 1.517kb in size. About 55.5% of the isolates carried antibiotic resistance on plasmids. The percentage prevalence of isolates that harboured antibiotic resistance gene on other mobile genetic elements or chromosome (44.4%) was also quite high. Therefore, stringent measures should be adapted to reduce UTI among pregnant women and to prevent the spread of resistant strains.

V.I. Onwukeme*, P.M. Nwako and C.T. Onyema
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Email – Valenlinifenna@yahoo.com Phone: 07035348528

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed

(Accepted 28 September 2011)

ABSTRACT
Canerium schwanfurttil biodiesel was produced through transesterificalion of the oil with methanol using sodium hydroxide catalyst. The biodiesel was characterized as alternative fuel for diesel engine through ASTM Standard fuel tests. The transesterification process using 20cm3 of the oil, 0.18g of sodium hydroxide, 4.0cm3 of methanol and 65oC reaction temperature in 45 minutes yielded average of 97.4% biodiesel on three replications. Fuel tests conducted on the biodiesel showed lower specific gravity and sulphated ash and higher cloud point, pour point, flash point, carbon residue than petrodiesel, and conforms with specified standards and published data on other vegetable oil biodiesel.

C.N.C. Odiegwu*, C.A. Oranekwulu+, C.M. Obi++, P.O. Manafa++ and C.N. Adike++
Department of Medical Laboratory Science
College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
E-mail : odiegwucnc@yahoo.com Tel. : 08035089579

+ Present address : 18 kukaboom St. Birchlegh Norken park Johannesburg, South Africa.

++ Present address : Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

(Accepted 17 August 2011)

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed

ABSTRACT
Seed extracts of 9 species of some tropical cucurbitaceae plants were assessed for the presence of lectins. The studies were done by means of haemagglutination testing as lectins are proteins highly specific for their sugar moieties. Only the seed extracts of Telfairia occidentalis and Citrullus sativus agglutinated separately pooled and washed human ABO cells. While those of Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumeropsis manii, Cucurbita pepo, Lagenaria siceraria, Lageneria vulgaris and Luffa aegyptiaca investigated showed no agglutination reaction with any of the ABO cells in any serological conditions. All cases of agglutination reactions were direct, that is, complete in normal saline suspensions of red cells. Telfáiria occidentalis and Citrullus sativus lectins extracts however, cross reacted with the pooled ABO cells in equal strength, thus making standardization in order to show specificity with any of the ABO cells futile. But on standardization though, the results showed that T. occidentalis had a titre of 64 as the maximum dilution at which it was capable of cross reacting with the pooled ABO cells while the titre of C. sativus was 16. Thus, the results of the study showed that 2 (22%) of the 9 species of the cucurbitaceae plants seeds had lectinic properties while 7 (78%) of the species do not have lectinic properties. Since the extracts of the T. occidentalis and C. sativus species that showed lectinic properties cannot be standardized to show specificity with any of the ABO cells, they cannot possibly be indicated by referring to them as anti-ATo, anti-BTo, anti-HTo or as anti-ACs, anti-BCs, anti-HCs respectively (where To Telfairia occidentalis and Cs = Citrullus sativus). However, since lectins have been shown to have many end use applications including bacterial pathogen identification, induction of mitosis, neuronal tracers, as markers in cancer research, as tools in glycobiology for the isolation and characterization of glyco-conjugates etc, these two lectins can be applied in any of these areas.
 

Ikechukwu F. C. Onah
Department of Computer Engineering,
Enugu State University of Science and Technology,
Enugu – Nigeria.
E-mail : ikonah@yahoo.co.uk Tel: +234(0)803 387 16 35.

(Accepted 08 August 2011)

ABSTRACT
This paper was aimed at determining the effectiveness of ID3, C4.5, Ripper, CART and Bayes algorithms in the automatic generation of network intrusion classifiers in a multi-agent platform. Three types of intelligent agents namely classification learning multi-agents, Java agents for meta-learning (JAM) and artificial neural network agents working in parallel and in cooperation with each other were applied to the pool of data from a real estate management network to adaptively generate models in a transaction database and determine whether it implies any fraudulent activities or not. The test results showed that dynamic adaptation of the model of agents offer tremendous benefits to the decision making problem. It was seen that meta-learning systems deployed as intelligent agents will be able to detect frauds on a global-scale, integrated software systems.

J.E. Amadi
Department of Botany
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, PMB 5025, Awka Nigeria.
E-mail : jamadi2009@yahoo.com Tel. : 08033710308

(Accepted 11 July 2011)

ABSTRACT
A review of the efficacy of plant extracts in plant disease control was undertaken. Antimicrobial activities of different extracts have been reported for several plants. Extracts of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum Presl.), anise (Pimpi¬nella anisum L.), black seed (Nigella sativa L.) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. and Perry.) have been reported to be effective in the control of Rhizoctonia solani rot in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Leaf extracts of Morinda lucida, Tithonia diversifolia, Gliricidia sepium and Phyllanthus amarus effectively suppressed the growth of Curvularia lunata in vitro. Antifungal activities have been reported with the extracts of four plant species, Eugenia aromatic,Piper betle, Alpinia galangal and Sphaeranthus indicus against Fusarium oxysporum the causal organism of stem rot disease in vanilla seedlings.

Kalu Kalu Ngele and Prescillia Uche Obiahu
Science Laboratory Technology Department
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana
Ebonyi State, Nigeria
E-mail : kayong73@ yahoo.com Tel. : 08066316115

Science Laboraotory Technology
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechni Unwana
Ebonyi State

(Accepted 26 September 2011)

ABSTRACT
Blackfly species were sampled in Ebonyi State, Nigeria to determine its distribution in the state. 295 blackfly species were caught during the study. Four different species of blackflies were caught which include; Simulium damnsum, S. neavei, S. unicornutum and S. cervicornutum. Of the four species of blackflies caught, S. damnosum was the most abundant with prevalence of 63.70%, while the least in abundance was S. cervicornutum with prevalence of 7.50%. S. damnosum was found in all the rivers sampled, unlike the other three species of blackflies which were not found in all the rivers sampled. On dissection, S. damnosum had the highest infectivity rate of 10.84% while S. cervicornutum had the least rate of infection, 0.68%. The infectivity rate of blackfly in the area was 14.92%. The high infectivity rate of S. damnosum incriminated it to be the major vector of Onchocerciasis in the area. The eggs, larvae, and pupae were found in all the rivers sampled attached to a substratum and vegetation in the areas with high velocity and high organic matter contents. They were also found in fast flowing areas of the river. However, with the high prevalence of eggs, larvae, pupae and the adult blackflies sampled, Ebonyi State is said to be prone to human Onchocerciasis infection and should be included in the map of the Nigerian Onchocerciasis control programme as one of the areas to be eradicated with Onchocerciasis.
 

O. Orji*, C.N. Umeh+, C. Anyim and O. Nworie
Department of Applied Microbiology
Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Email: @yahoo.com Tel.: 07031618664

+ Present address : Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

*To whom all correspondence should be addressed

(Accepted 25 August 2011)

ABSTRACT
The antibacterial activity of pulp oil extract of Canarium schweinfurthii was evaluated using modified agar well diffusion technique. The result showed that the extract at varying concentrations, exerted antibacterial activity on some of the test organisms. The highest inhibition zone diameter (27 mm) at 4 ml was recorded for the pulp oil extract against Salmonella typhi, while no susceptibility was recorded against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis. The dimethyl sulphoxide showed no antibacterial activity on the entire test organisms in a similar concentration range, while ofloxacin showed antibacterial activity only on S. typhi (26 mm). The extract inhibited in a concentration dependent manner with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.5-4.0 ml/ml.

E.J. Archibong*, N.E. Achebe and S.C. Onuorah
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka, Nigeria.
E-mail:etimarchibong@rocketmail.com. Tel. 08033381861.

*To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

(Accepted 28 September 2011)

ABSTRACT
Investigations into the microbial activities of extracts and mixed extracts of bitter kola, garlic and honey were carried out on 4 test organisms; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans. The results showed that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of bitter kola were active against Candida albicans but not active against other test organisms. However, the ethanolic extract of bitter kola was active against Staphyloccocus aureus, while honey was active on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at given concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts and their various combinations were obtained as: ethanolic extract of bitter kola and honey on Staphylococcus aureus = 3.43mg/ml, and on Klebsiella pneumoniae = 2.63mg/ml, mixed ethanolic extract and aqueous extract of bitter kola on Candida albicans = 3.31mg/ml, ethanolic extract of bitter kola on Candida albicans = 3.55mg/ml and on Staphylococcus aureus = 3.31mg/ml, while honey on Escherichia coli = 3.16mg/ml and on Klebsiella pneumoniae = 3.47mg/ml. These extract combinations can therefore serve as good therapeutic combinations for the treatment of certain diseases caused by the test organisms.