Journal of Natural Sciences Engineering and Technology

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TRIDAX PROCUMBENS LINN. AGAINST PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXIC RATS BY INHIBITING INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

O. G. AKINTUNDE — 2025-07-11

ABSTRACT

Paracetamol (PCM) overdose has been associated with hepatotoxicity. Medicinal plants such as Tridax procumbens L. (TP) may be used to relief PCM hepatotoxicity. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of TP against PCM-induced hepatotoxic rats by inhibiting inflammatory response. Twenty-four rats were used for this study, randomly distributed into six groups with four rats per group: Group A received no treatment; Group B received 300 mg/kg PCM; Group C received 50 mg/kg Silymarin; Groups D, E and F received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of TP respectively for 8 days. Groups C to F were treated with 300 mg/kg PCM on 9^th and 10^thday. The live body weight of all the rats were taken at 11^th days. Blood samples were collected into plain sample bottles from all rats. Rats were sacrificed and livers were harvested, weighed and later soaked in formalin for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analyzed using Randox kits. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine Cytochrome P450 (CYT P450) and Tumour necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) antigen–antibody reactions in the hepatocytes of rat. Data were statistically analyzed with graph pad prism 5.0 using Tukey post doc test. There were decreased live body and live body-liver weight ratio, AST, ALT and ALP of rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg TP compared with rats treated with PCM. Reduced necrosis and inflammatory infiltrate were observed in liver of TP-treated groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed reduced expression of inflammatory markers with CYT P450 and TNF-α in liver tissues of TP-treated rats, thus establishing the fact that TP may have hepatoprotective effects. It can therefore be inferred that TP can be incorporated into herbal preparation as a hepatoprotective medicinal plant for livestock production.

DETERMINANTS OF RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME SOURCES AMONG RICE FARMERS IN KEBBI AND EBONYI STATES, NIGERIA

A. I. DAVID — 2025-07-11

Smallholder farmers in rural Nigeria are usually confronted with agricultural risks which necessitate livelihood diversification. This study was conducted to determine risk management strategies and household income sources, and effects of farmers’ attributes on the agricultural risks’ sources and risk coping strategies. The study examined rice production in Nigeria, with reference to Kebbi and Ebonyi States where rice production is predominant. It utilized a multistage sampling procedure with sample size of 63 rice farmers from Ebonyi State and 315 from Kebbi State. Multinomial logit was used to analyze major factors determining the choice of risk management strategies adopted by the rice farmers. Rice production in the two states is predominantly embraced by middle-aged farmers, with mean ages of 43 and 42, respectively. Overall average household size was 9 people per household. About 54.0% of rice farmers lack formal education, in Ebonyi State and 39.0% in Kebbi State. Male genderism has marginal effect on market monitoring and evaluation risk mitigating strategies, with a household increase of 0.2%, indicating a higher likelihood of adopting economic factor strategies. Increasing rice farm size leads to a decrease in farmers' adoption of information and development factor, social factor and market and monitoring evaluation mitigating strategies. All households, on average, generate 75.4% of their total income from agriculture, with 25.0% receiving income from off-farm sources. Farmers either grow only rice, having no other income sources, or may diversify into some other categories. With age, rice farmers are more likely to engage in non-farm income activities due to the capital- and labor-intensive nature of rice cultivation. Higher education levels increase the probability of rice farmers adopting management strategy by 2.5%. The study found that socioeconomic and institutional factors influence rice farmers' risk management strategies and income sources. Most farmers rely on farming, suggestive the need for adult literacy programs and risk-mitigating strategies.

ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF ZINC NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED FROM AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM AND VERNONIA AMYGDALINA

J. A. AREMU — 2025-07-11

Synthesis of nanoscale metals has been reported for environmental pollution effects and health problems which have made green synthesis via plant extracts to be preferred. As a viable alternative, use of plant extracts for effective synthesis of nano metallic particles has therefore been deployed due to safety and simple methodology. This study explored the potential of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina leaf extracts as reducing agents for the synthesis of zinc nanoparticles. The extracts were utilized to reduce Zn²⁺ ions, and the resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis revealed average particle size of 20.78 nm for nanoparticles synthesized with Ocimum gratissimum and 19.56 nm for Vernonia amygdalina. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated against Bacillus thuringiensis (ATCC 789794.1), Staphyloccoccus aureus (ATCC 20923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The results showed significant inhibition zones ranging from 8-19 mm for O. gratissimum and 6 – 18 mm for V. amygdalina-mediated nanoparticles. In comparison, doxycycline demonstrated 18-20 mm zones of inhibition, while deionized water showed no inhibitory effect. This study has demonstrated the effectiveness of the plants leaf extracts in synthesizing zinc nanoparticles with potent antimicrobial properties.

AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF BLIGHIA SAPIDA (K.D. KOENIG) EXTRACT ON WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS, LIVER AND GILL OF AFRICAN CATFISH, CLARIAS GARIEPINUS EXPOSED TO KEROSENE-INDUCED TOXICITY

M.B. ADEKOLA — 2025-07-11

This study investigated the ameliorative properties of Blighia sapida extracts on the water quality parameters, liver, and gills of sub-adults of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (185±2.87g) exposed to kerosene-induced toxicity. The fish species were acclimatized for 14 days and the water was partially replaced every 48 hours. The test organisms were fed with commercial pelletized fish feed (42% CP) at 3% body weight twice per day throughout the acclimatization period. 189 pieces of the test animal were randomly divided into nine groups (G) of seven fish each in plastic tanks containing 20L of borehole water to which treatments were set up in triplicates: G1: control, G2: 100 ml kerosene, G3: 200 ml kerosene, G4: 100 ml kerosene + 50 mg/kg body weight (bwt) ethanol extract (EE), G5: 100ml kerosene + 100 mg/kg bwt. EE, G6: 100 ml kerosene + 150 mg/kg bwt. EE, G7: 200 ml kerosene + 50 mg/kg bwt. EE, G8: 200 ml kerosene + 100 mg/kg bwt EE, G9: 200 ml kerosene + 150 mg/kg bwt EE. The study was carried out for 28 days and the obtained water quality parameters data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results showed significant (p<0.05) effect on the water quality parameters of total dissolved solids, hydrogen ion concentration, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature with increase in the volume of kerosene. The histological examination revealed mild/severe vacuolar degeneration on the liver and gills of fish exposed to varying volumes of the kerosene. However, B. sapida, ameliorated the toxic effects of the kerosene in dose-dependent manner. Severe portal and central venous congestions were observed in the organs, however, the severity of these congestions decreased with increase in the extract concentration. The result indicated that B. sapida displayed ameliorative effects on sub-adults African catfish, as such could be used to treat the fish species in the case of oil spillage.

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SLICING MACHINE

A. E. OLUMILUA — 2025-07-11

Utilization of machinery reduces the time and drudgery of processing tubers. The high cost, energy consumption, and bulkiness can however render it unimportant for small-scale industrial applications. The study developed a two-feeder slicing machine to reduce the time-consuming and human-injurious labour involved in traditional crop processing. The slicing machine utilizes cold and hot working processes, with two conical-shaped hoppers and removable discs with diameters of 80-90 mm and lengths of 170 mm. Using discs, the product is sliced into a discharge chute where it falls due to gravity, secured with a bolt and nut, powered by a two-horsepower electric motor, allowing adjustable slice clearance. The machine was tested on Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plantains, measuring geometric mean diameters and running at different speeds for two minutes. Materials were collected and categorized into sliced and unsliced forms. The machine achieved a maximum efficiency of 89% when slicing giant plantains at 412 rpm, while achieving the lowest efficiency of 60% when slicing little plantains at 224 rpm, with a slice rate range of 0.027 to 0.047 kg/sec. Cutting efficiency of the machine on small and large sizes of sweet potatoes were 64% and 69% at 224 rpm, while optimal efficiency was 84% at 477 rpm. The commercial and domestic two-feeder slicing machine efficiently sliced Irish potatoes (72%), plantains (88%), and sweet potatoes (75%), reducing manual labour, injury risk, and waste.

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONAL AND COLOUR PROPERTIES OF EXTRUDED SNACKS FROM FERMENTED SORGHUM-PUMPKIN LEAF COMPOSITE FLOUR

O. A. OJO — 2025-07-11

There is a need to further explore evolving technological processes and affordable nutrient sources to produce nutritionally adequate ready-to-eat products. This study was aimed at determining the effects of pumpkin leaf flour on the proximate composition, functional and colour properties of extruded snacks from fermented sorghum-pumpkin leaf flour. D-optimal mixture design was used to generate percentage of fermented sorghum and pumpkin leaf flour which resulted into ten experimental runs. The sorghum grains were fermented naturally for 24 h and were further processed into flour. Extruded snacks were produced from the ten runs and were analyzed for proximate composition, functional and colour properties using standard analytical procedures. Crude protein, crude fibre and total ash increased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in pumpkin leaf flour in the extruded snacks while water absorption index, bulk density, expansion ratio and lightness decrease significantly (p<0.05) with increase in pumpkin leaf flour. The optimum combination for extruded snacks were fermented sorghum flour of 86.24% and pumpkin leaf flour of 13.76%.

DIGITAL TWIN PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT ON AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND COMPARATIVE COST ANALYSIS WITH GASOLINE VEHICLE

A. P. OSASONA — 2025-07-11

The paper evaluates the performance of a digital twin on an electric vehicle and compares its operation costs with a gasoline vehicle of equivalent energy usage. This study uses a digital twin technique in the automotive industry to assess performance and compare the cost of electric vehicles to gasoline cars. The twin system measures output data from a converted gasoline Toyota starlet car, comparing its energy usage with gasoline cars. The technology includes internet of thing (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), predictive analysis, simulation tools, virtual sensors and 5G. The outcome reveals that as time increases, speed increases, and battery level depreciates, leading to decreased fuel levels in conventional vehicles, with higher battery consumption voltage in low-speed tests. Low-speed driving consumes more energy than high-speed driving, causing momentum to increase and initial decrease. An electric vehicle was 50.9% less expensive to operate than a gasoline powered vehicle for the same distance, and over a five-year period, maintenance costs were predicted to be 50.6% lower. The operation cost of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles doubled that of novel electric vehicles (EVs), and with increasing petroleum prices, the cost increased over 400%. The use of digital twin technology in studied electric-powered vehicle is economical, environmentally friendly and maximizes resources use in favour of global circular economy vision.

AUTOMATED BIRD SCARING SYSTEM: A REVIEW

F.O. DURODOLA — 2025-07-11

Birds are a considerable menace to crop farming, resulting in major economic detriment through crop damage. Conventional avian deterrence techniques, including scarecrows, reflecting substances, and chemical repellents, have demonstrated ineffectiveness over time due to habituation. This research examines diverse ways for bird detection and deterrent, classifying them into singular and multimodal approaches. Contemporary innovations, like as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, machine vision, and deep learning-based detection, have markedly enhanced the efficacy of avian management systems. The review emphasises the advantages of combining detection with adaptive deterrence strategies, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based acoustic deterrents, AI-driven repellent systems, and laser-based frightening techniques. Moreover, multimodal deterrence—integrating visual, aural, and physical barriers—demonstrates the most efficacy in mitigating avian-related damage. The paper indicates that subsequent research should prioritise the development of cost-efficient, automated, and species-specific deterrent methods that reduce habituation and improve sustainability in crop protection.

Guide to Author

E.A. Makinde — 2025-07-11