Influence of palm oil ( Elaesis guineensis) on health

In recent times there has been a growing research interest in palm oil, one of the major edible plant oils in the tropical countries, because of the link between dietary fats and coronary heart disease. Obtained from a tropical plant, Elaesis guineensis, it has a polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio close to unity and a high amount of antioxidant vitamin A precursors and vitamin E. Palm oil is consumed in the fresh state and/or at various levels of oxidation. Feeding experiments in various animal species and humans have highlighted the beneficial role of fresh palm oil to health. These benefits include reduction in the risk of arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis, inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and platelet aggregation, and reduction in blood pressure. However, a considerable amount of the commonly used palm oil is in the oxidized state which possesses potential dangers to the physiological and biochemical functions of the body. Oxidation is as a result of processing the oil for various culinary purposes. Studies have revealed that relative to fresh palm oil, oxidized palm oil induces an adverse plasma lipid profile, free fatty acids, phospholipids and cerebrosides. Additionally, oxidized palm oil induces reproductive toxicity and organotoxicity particularly of the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart. Available evidence suggests that at least part of the oxidized oil impact on health reflects generation of toxicants due to oxidation. The reduction of the dietary level of oxidized oil and/or the level of oxidation may reduce the health risk associated with consumption of oxidized fats.     

Aquatic areas of ecological importance as inputs into surface water resource protection areas in Zambia

1. Although the network of national parks in Zambia offers a degree of protection for freshwater diversity, the protection status of numerous systems outside of these parks requires further action. The biodiversity associated with its freshwater systems, both lotic and lentic, is unique, covering a climatic gradient from tropical to subtropical across the Zambezi and Congo basins. Recent Zambian legislation allows for the delineation of water resource protection areas (WRPAs), with one of the criteria being that they include aquatic areas of ecological importance (AEIs).
2. In this study, a systematic conservation planning approach was used to identify aquatic AEIs objectively. Importantly, the approach included a rigorous and iterative stakeholder engagement and review process.
3. The conservation planning software marxan was chosen because of its ability to integrate upstream–downstream connectivity. In total, 5,671 planning units (sub-catchments with an average area of approx. 14,000 ha) were populated with 77 biodiversity features: data were drawn from a wide range of sources, and included fishes, semi-aquatic mammals, molluscs, amphibians, and ecotonal physiographic features, such as waterfalls. Sub-catchments were preferentially chosen using a combination of area- and distance-weighted boundary costs.
4. The final solution highlights critical clusters in each of the major freshwater ecoregions in Zambia, with all conservation targets being met. Results show that although the existing protected area network also coincides with identified aquatic AEIs, approximately 80% of all aquatic AEIs fall outside of formally protected areas.
5. The outcomes of this process serve as one of three prioritization layers (the other two being water provision and sensitivity to human impacts) that are integrated in a larger study to select and prioritize WRPAs.

     

The cocoyam,Xanthosoma sagittifollium,as a potential raw material source for beer brewing

A widely cultivated cocoyam variety,Xanthosoma sagittifollium, was assessed for its suitability for lager beer production, using maltedSorghum vulgare (white variety) for saccharification of the substrate. The three-mash decoction method was used. Results showed that the cocoyam was superior to barley and sorghum as a substrate because of its potentially higher carbohydrate content (71–78%) compared to barley (65%) and sorghum (70–73%). The percentage wort extract was 13.3–14.5° plato compared to 7–12 for barley and 13° for the tuber crop, cassava. The kiln driedXanthosoma sagittifollium gave a dark bager beer with good aroma (68%) and very good flavour (73%) when compared with a commercial lager beer (Monarch) as standard (100%). The alcohol content (4.16% w/v) and the specific gravity (1013) were within the range (4.0–6.4%) and (1011–1019), respectively, specified by the Standard Organization of Nigeria. Although the bitterness value 40 EBU, was higher than the typical range 16–30 EBU, the taste panel indicated this was acceptable. The pH was 4.68 compared with the standard 4.36, while the acidity (as % lactic acid) was 0.36 compared to 0.24 for some commercial products.     

Using fish landing sites and markets information towards quantification of the blue economy to enhance fisheries management

Fisheries management uses important fish market information and information from Communication Technology (ICT) to improve fish trade by identifying inefficiencies, inequity and post‐harvest losses. The current study reports fisheries output using ICT at major landing sites and markets in Kenya and Uganda from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Enhanced Fish Market Information Service (EFMIS) database for 2009 – 2017. Catch assessment survey data validated the use of market data in drawing conclusions. Regional Frame Survey data provided information before EFMIS, enabling comparisons of fish trade costings. The average quantity of fish traded in Kenya depended on seasons of active lake fishing, which occurs in January – March and August – October, while Uganda had an irregular pattern associated with fish trade throughout the year. The quantity of fish traded weekly depended on the average price of fish. Lower sales margins during the EFMIS project showed the merits of information sharing using ICT platforms for efficient and equitable fish trade. Such evaluation of fish market information is useful in fish trade policy formulation and for fisheries management and ecological sustainability in rural and peri‐urban communities.     

Structures of SAS-6 suggest its organization in centrioles

Centrioles are cylindrical, ninefold symmetrical structures with peripheral triplet microtubules strictly required to template cilia and flagella. The highly conserved protein SAS-6 constitutes the center of the cartwheel assembly that scaffolds centrioles early in their biogenesis. We determined the x-ray structure of the amino-terminal domain of SAS-6 from zebrafish, and we show that recombinant SAS-6 self-associates in vitro into assemblies that resemble cartwheel centers. Point mutations are consistent with the notion that centriole formation in vivo depends on the interactions that define the self-assemblies observed here. Thus, these interactions are probably essential to the structural organization of cartwheel centers.     

Caffeine and theobromine levels in selected Nigerian beverages

Caffeine and theobromine contents (mg/g) weredetermined in samples of selected Nigerian beverageproducts. The beverages were cocoa (Milo, Bournvita,Rosevita and Enervita), coffee (Nescafe, Bongo, and Maxwell House decaffeinated) and tea (Lipton). The theobromine contentsof samples of Milo, Bournvita, Rosevita, Enervita, Nescafe, Bongo, Maxwell Housedecaffeinated coffee and Lipton were 62.10 ± 5.21, 64.80 ± 6.72, 82.80 ± 4.43, 80.37 ± 6.80, 27.00 ± 4.31, 14.67 ± 2.90, 23.46 ± 3.13 and 12.60 ± 1.52 respectively. The corresponding caffeine contents of these samples were 2.78 ± 0.43 (Milo), 3.17 ± 0.36 (Bournvita), 0.92 ± 0.51 (Rosevita), 1.05 ± 0.68 (Enervita),93.66 ± 8.91 (Nescafe), 6.47 ± 2.42(Bongo), 37.22 ± 5.34 (Lipton), and 0.21 ± 0.11 (Maxwell House decaffeinatedcoffee). Semi-processed cocoa beverages (Rosevita and Enervita) had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels oftheobromine compared with the finished cocoas (Milo and Bournvita). Similarly, Nescafe contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of caffeinecompared to Maxwell House (decaffeinated coffee) and Bongo. Levels of caffeine in Lipton tea were moderate.     

Thermoxidized Palm Oil Induces reproductive Toxicity in Healthy and Malnourished Rats

Repeatedly thermoxidized palm oil (TPO), simulating local culinary practice, was fed for eight weeks at 15% of a balanced basal diet to two sets of male and female weanling albino rats of Wistar strain. The first set of animals were normal and healthy while the second set were kwashiorkoric. Primary controls (PC) of all rats were fed a balanced basal diet of commercial rat pellets while secondary controls (SC) were fed the balanced basal diet supplemented with 15% untreated palm oil. The findings indicate that fertility, as expressed by the pregnancy rate of healthy test rats, was 78% when compared with 80% in PC (p < 0.05). Fetotoxicity was additionally observed in that neonatal birth weights and litter size in test rats (4.92 g and 6.70, respectively) were inferior (p < 0.05) to both SC and PC (4.96 g and 8.40; 5.38 g and 9.25, respectively). Protein energy malnutrition worsened the observed TPO-induced reproductive toxicities in that reproductive capacities of the rehabilitated animals were inferior to that of the healthy animals. Pregnancy rates in test animals were reduced by as much as 55% (p < 0.01) while fetotoxicities were also more pronounced (p < 0.05).