Search

It is well known that innovation in the modern economy is driven by interactions among the stakeholders that make up the innovation system. Effective interactions among key actors in an innovation system foster flow of knowledge and resources development and commercialization of new products. This study assesses the depth of research and development (R&D) and level of interaction existing among key elements in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry. Data were obtained from thirty-two manufacturing pharma firms, and sixty-nine researchers from faculties of pharmacy across Nigerian universities and three key research institutes with drug-related mandates. The results reveal poor synergy in research among the actors, and weak academia-industry interaction as only about one-third of industrial firms indicated active collaboration with knowledge institutions. More pertinently, over two-third of researchers in universities rated research-industry collaborations on most of the key aspects considered to be at least weak, Contract research and joint R&D activities were equally rated weak. The study concludes that the pharma innovation system in Nigeria requires serious government interventions by creating robust platform to promote productive interactions between these actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is the most variable ecological parameter in the lagoon with daily and seasonal variations . The changes in growth, serum biochemistry and antioxidant enzymes activities of Cardisoma armatum were examined during 84-day exposure to five different sublethal salinities (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppt). At the start of the trial, the crab initial average body weight was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The highest weight gain was recorded in 15 ppt (47.40±1.01 g), followed by 20 ppt, 10 ppt and 5 ppt with no significant differences between them. At the end of 84 days experiment, the crab exhibited the lowest body weight growth (48.29 %) at 0 ppt and the highest (81.04±1.08%) at 10 ppt. The 10 ppt treatment had the highest specific growth rates (0.31±0.11 %/day), followed by 5 ppt, 20 ppt, 15 ppt, and then 0 ppt treatments. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferases significantly decreased after 0 ppt, but mean serum protein value increased with salinity increase. Greater activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde were recorded in 5-20 ppt. All the antioxidant enzyme activities (with the exception of glutathione) showed significant differences. Thus, deviation from the brackish water condition adversely affects the growth and immune functions of the gecarcinid, resulting in population decline in reclaimed wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-cancer activities of many fermented foods and beverages are now scientifically established. Ogiri-egusi is a condiment prepared from fermentation of Citrullus vulgaris (melon) seeds and consumed in many countries of West Africa. Its anti-oxidative and anti-hyperlipidaemic properties have been reported. This study investigated the anti-cancer activities of the aqueous and methanolic extracts from ogiri-egusi. Cytotoxicity was investigated using the MTT and colony-formation inhibition assays while flow-cytometer based Apopercentage assay was used to quantify apoptosis in extracts-treated cervical and liver cancer and normal human fibroblast cells. The inhibitory concentration responsible for killing 50% of cells after 24 h by the aqueous extract in KMST-6, HeLa, and Hep-G2 cells were estimated at 1.610, 1.020, and 1.507 mg/mL respectively. While these values reduced with increasing incubation time in cancer cells it increased in the non-cancer cell. Furthermore, the extract significantly induced apoptosis in HeLa (97 ± 0.18%) and Hep-G2 (73 ± 6.73%) cells. These findings were corroborated by cells morphologic presentations and inhibition of colony formation assay. These findings suggest that the aqueous extract from fermented Citrullus vulgaris seeds might be a nutraceutical with potential anti-cancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low insecticide exposure has been shown to cause profound effects on non-target organisms, including crabs. Therefore, the changes in hematological parameters, serum biochemistry and antioxidant enzymes in the Gercacinid Crab, Cardiosoma armatum were assessed during 28-day exposure to four concentrations of organophosphate chlorpyrifos (0.003, 0.006, 0.03 and 0.06 mg/l). The results showed a significant (P= 0.0) decrease in packed cell volume and total haemocyte count of the exposure crabs (except in 0.003 mg/l concentration) compared to control group. There were no significant changes in hemocyte sedimentation rate, granulocyte and agranulocyte, although all exposure groups increased in hemocyte sedimentation rate and agranulocyte with respective ranges of 3.00-3.02 mm/hr and 64.00-67.00 %. Except for alkaline phosphatase, there were no significant variation in the biochemical profile of both the control crabs and exposure crabs, although organophosphate chlorpyrifos exposure induced increase in all the measured biochemical parameters. The serum protein level and the activities of the enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde) were inhibited in exposure groups. The changes in these hematoimmunological parameters of the crabs were suitable biomarkers of a sub-lethal exposure to chlorpyrifos at the concentrations tested, and this will be useful in biomonitoring of aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Macrobrachium are decapods that have been identified globally in terms of their economic importance and possibility of recruitment into aquaculture. Macrobrachium macrobrachion (Herklots 1851) and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (Herklots 1857) are the two largest species of the genus Macrobrachium in Nigerian waters. The study investigated the stomach contents of M. macrobrachion (Herklots 1851) and M. vollenhovenii (Herklots 1857) from three interconnecting lagoons (Badagry, Lagos and Epe) of Southwest Nigeria between June 2013 and May 2015 (24 months). A total of 3294 specimens of M. macrobrachion were examined for food and feeding habits from the three lagoons (1606 from Badagry, 778 from Lagos and 910 from Epe Lagoons) while a total of 1435 M. vollenhovenii were examined for food and feeding habits from the three lagoons (164 from Badagry, 146 from Lagos and 1125 from Epe Lagoons). The stomach contents of M. macrobrachion and M. vollenhovenii from the three lagoons were made up of Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Bivalves, Crustaceans, Copepods and detrital materials. The results of the food and feeding habit showed that M. macrobrachion and M. vollenhovenii are omnivorous in nature with the preference for detritus. Thus, there is a change in their feeding habit from omnivorous to planktivores and/or detritivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuttlefish is one of the most economically important cephalopods with rich taste and few inedible parts. The study was aimed at evaluating the nutrient, non-nutrients, free fatty acid and cholesterol compositions and functional properties of raw and processed Sepia officinalis using standard methods. Moisture and raw protein in raw sample of the cuttlefish were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than in processed samples. Raw fat showed significant differences with fried sample having highest value (22.39±0.54 %) to raw (16.24±0.10 %) and boiled samples (4.09±1.42 %). Raw sample contained more ash with highest mg/100g levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and manganese. Processed cuttlefish registered significant reduction in levels of trypsin inhibitor, phytate and oxalate compared to the raw. Raw protein of fried cuttlefish exhibited positive relationships with all the non-nutritional factors while total ash only showed positive relationships with phytate (r = 0.998) and trypsin inhibitor (r = 0.999). Cholesterol content of raw cuttlefish was of 0.923±0.02 mg/100g being reduced by boiling (0.711±0.02 mg/100g) and increased by frying (1.037±0.02 mg/100g). A significantly high percentage of oleic was observed in fried cuttlefish (4.47±0.10) while boiled sample had the lowest value (1.4±0.05). The results showed significantly high percentage of water and oil absorbing capacities for raw cuttlefish while foam and emulsion stabilities were higher in the boiled sample. By frying, the highest foam and emulsion capacities of 8.8 and 4.4% respectively were obtained. The study suggests that Sepia officinalis will be highly desirable for preparing comminuted sausage products due to its good functional and nutritional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated antioxidant and oxidative stress responses in the Hairy Mangrove Crab Sesarma huzadii inhabiting contaminated nearshore locations in Lagos lagoon mudflats through the catalase enzyme activity (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (MDA/TBARS). The results indicates that obtained metal levels differed significantly (P < 0.05) across stations, with relatively higher mean values recorded at locations closest to domestic and solid waste dumps. Estimated Biosediment accumulation factor was highest for Copper in the tissues of S. huzadii. Relatively low levels of SOD activities were recorded in crabs from Abule-Agege and Okobaba suggests potential stress from the locations. Significant differences were also observed in anti-oxidative stress enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels in tissues of S. huzadii across sites. Obtained levels of antioxidant enzymes and MDA in S. huzadii further indicates increasing level of environmental stressors in the areaHowever, the biochemical responses of biota to the interactions between season, contaminant level, multiple stressors or complex environmental settings needs to be fully understood and taken into consideration through continuous monitoring programs.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Chemometrics can be used to analyze a wide range of food products for authentication, quality control, differentiation and the determination of nutrition quality. Owing to the scarcity of studies relating to the intrinsic physico-chemical characteristics of penaeid shrimps caught on the Nigerian coast, the aim of this research was to estimate the energy-supplying nutrients, mineral elements and functional characteristics of Farfantepenaeus notialis from the Lagos Lagoon. Materials and methods. The proximate composition was determined using the AOAC method while the energy-providing nutrients were multiplied by the Atwater factors. The samples were digested in HNO3/HCl for mineral determination and the functional properties were estimated using optical measurements. Results. Higher concentrations of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate were recorded in the flesh while crude fibre and total ash were higher in the exoskeleton samples. The flesh had higher total metabolisable energy (1524 kJ 100 g-1) and utilizable energy due to protein (36.49 kJ). All the investigated minerals (Ca, Mg, K, P and Na) were more concentrated in the exoskeleton. In both samples, Na/K and Na/Mg ratios were within acceptable ideal ranges of 1.4-3.4 and 2-6, respectively. All values of the MSI (calculated) were lower than their comparative standard index values, having positive contrasts in both exoskeleton and flesh samples. The exoskeleton sample had better functional properties, but the flesh sample was higher in swelling strength. Conclusion. In addition to good flesh quality, F. notialis contains considerable amounts of energy-providing nutrients. As the content of fibre is very low, F. notialis may be ideal as a weaning food for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of salinity on the survival and growth of Callinectes amnicola (De Rocheburne) from the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria was monitored in the laboratory for 22 weeks. The crabs were euryhaline and tolerated a salinity range of 5 to 25 per thousand and had 90% survival at 15 and 20 per thousand. The highest gain in weight (173.0%) and carapace width (56.1%) was obtained at salinity of 15 per thousand. The highest specific growth rate (1.98) was obtained at 15 per thousand, while the lowest specific growth rate (-0.28) was recorded at 35 per thousand. The condition factor of the crabs showed a fairly consistent pattern at the different salinity levels with values ranging from 5.7 to 7.3. Complete moulting was obtained at salinity of 15 per thousand in the 12th week of the experiment. The crab with carapace width of 6.8 cm increased to 8.1 cm (19.1%) after moulting.