Scholarly Works http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/169 2026-04-06T14:14:47Z 2026-04-06T14:14:47Z Ezea, Vincent Ndika Umerie, Sunday Chidozie Ubaoji, Kingsley Ikechukwu http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1198 2025-08-25T13:21:05Z 2019-07-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Chemical modification of cellulose from palm kernel de- oiled cake to microcrystalline cellulose and its evaluation as a pharmaceutical excipient Authors: Ezea, Vincent Ndika; Umerie, Sunday Chidozie; Ubaoji, Kingsley Ikechukwu Abstract: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is an important ingredient in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. In this research work, microcrystalline cellulose was synthesized from the alpha cellulose content of pretreated palm kernel de-oiled cake. The microcrystalline cellulose from palm kernel cake was obtained through acidified sodium chlorite, sodium hydroxide delignification followed by hydrogen peroxides bleaching and finally acid hydrolysis. The prepared microcrystalline cellulose was characterized by determining some physicochemical properties such as pH, bulk density, tap density, moisture content, ash content, Carrs compressibility index, Hausners ratio, powder porosity, angle of repose and compared with commercial-grade microcrystalline cellulose that is used in pharmaceutical industry as excipient. FT-IR was employed to expose the functional groups and the wavelength inherent by both the produced and commercial microcrystalline cellulose. The swelling property of MCC product was determined based on hydration capacity, swelling capacity and moisture sorption capacity. The results of the physicochemical parameters were given as pH (7.75 ± 0.40), bulk density (0.49 ± 0.67 gcm-3), tapped density (0.54 ± 0.03 gcm-3), moisture content (1.00 ± 0.5%), ash content (4.30 ± 0.35%), Carrs compressibility index (12.96 ± 0.27), Hausners ratio (1.15 ± 0.01), powder porosity (18.8 ± 0.55), angle of repose (27.4 ± 0.26), respectively. The swelling properties were also determined and compared favorably with the commercial grade of microcrystalline cellulose (p>0.05). The findings suggest that palm kernel cake can not only be used as feeds for animals but also a better source of cellulose for the production of microcrystalline cellulose for the industry owing to its availability and cost managements. Description: Scholarly work

2019-07-01T00:00:00Z Ubaoji, Kingsley Ikechukwu Orji, Valentine Ugochukwu http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1193 2025-08-25T13:11:17Z 2016-07-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A REVIEW ON ACRYLAMIDE IN FOODS: SOURCES AND IMPLICATIONS TO HEALTH Authors: Ubaoji, Kingsley Ikechukwu; Orji, Valentine Ugochukwu Abstract: Acrylamide is basically one of the most industrial organic compound monomers of polyacrylamide that finds its way into many products in our everyday life. It is one of the potential environmental public health problems, both as a suspected carcinogen and a neurotoxin resulting from its increased accumulation in the process of cooking food materials. It is a chemical with a very wide range of uses and it accounts for one of the major health concern because it has been detected in a widely consumed food items; fried breads (or any carbohydrate-rich food items cooked at high temperature). Accordingly, the general population is highly exposed to it. Acrylamide formation occurs primarily at elevated cooking temperatures used when frying or baking (above 120 C) and in low moisture conditions. These cascades of reactions involve the Maillard reaction, which leads to browning and flavor changes in cooked foods. There are also several foods in which acrylamide appears to form in high-moisture conditions at lower temperatures, such as prune juice and canned ripe black olives. These substances are usually formed when asparagines is heated in the presence of compounds that is heated in the presence of compounds that have a-hydroxycarbonyl groups, a,B,y,d-diunsaturated carbonyl groups or a-dicarbonyl groups. The acrolein pathway and enzymatic decarboxylation of asparagine, as well as endogenic processes, are other alternative routes to amino acid formation. It can be naturally present in uncooked, raw foods in very small amounts. It is pertinent to note that some non-dietary sources could expose us to this substance. These non-dietary sources include cigarette smoke (about 1-2 micrograms per cigarette) and cosmetics. There is also airborne release of acrylamide during many different manufacturing processes, including the manufacturing of paper, asphalt, petroleum, photographic film, construction adhesives, varnishes, and dyes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that U.S. adults average 0.4 micrograms of dietary acrylamide intake per kilogram of body weight each day. For an adult weighing 150 pounds, this amount translates into approximately 27 micrograms of dietary acrylamide per day. Levels reported in Literature vary from 25 to 2000 μg/kg and potato products are considered as containing the highest level of acrylamide. The nitty-gritty of this review is to summarize various strategies, results of academic and industrial research on health damaging properties, exposure sources, formation mechanism and mitigation measures of acrylamide in foods. Description: Scholarly work

2016-07-01T00:00:00Z EGBUNA, CHUKWUEBUKA IFEMEJE, JONATHAN C. MADUAKO, MARYANN CHINENYE TIJJANI, HABIBU UDEDI, STANLEY CHIDI ANDREW C. NWAKA, ANDREW C. NWAKA IFEMEJE, MARYJANE OLUOMA http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1184 2025-08-14T13:51:55Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: PHYTOCHEMICAL TEST METHODS: QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS Authors: EGBUNA, CHUKWUEBUKA; IFEMEJE, JONATHAN C.; MADUAKO, MARYANN CHINENYE; TIJJANI, HABIBU; UDEDI, STANLEY CHIDI; ANDREW C. NWAKA, ANDREW C. NWAKA; IFEMEJE, MARYJANE OLUOMA Abstract: Phytochemical analysis involves both qualitative and quantitative analysis. While qualitative analysis is concerned with the presence or absence of a phytochemical, quantitative analysis accounts for the quantity or the concentration of the phytochemical present in the plant sample. The first step in phytochemical analysis is preliminary phytochemical screening before quantitative analysis. Quantitative analysis is a more comprehensive and useful method compared to qualitative analysis because the results obtained from the studies can be useful for drug discovery, standardization of herbal drugs, explanation of the medicinal potentials of plants and determination of the toxicity levels in plants. This chapter details the various simplified methods for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals including proximate composition analysis. It also presents useful hints for reagent preparation, how to determine the concentration of plant extract and make dilute solutions for standard curve making. It also details how to calculate the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of plant extracts on a given biological system among other calculations commonly encountered during phytochemical studies. Description: scholarly works

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Maduka, Ignatius C Ezeonu, Francis E. Neboh, Emeka E. Shu, Elvis N. Ikekpeazu, Ebele J. http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1181 2025-08-13T15:43:46Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Urinary Estrogen Levels in Women on Contraceptives in Enugu, South-East Nigeria Authors: Maduka, Ignatius C; Ezeonu, Francis E.; Neboh, Emeka E.; Shu, Elvis N.; Ikekpeazu, Ebele J. Abstract: Substantial evidence supports a causal relationship betweenthe risk of human breast cancer and levels of endogenous estrogens. Aim: To evaluate the urinary estrogen of women on contraceptives and also compare the levels in two different classes of contraceptives; hence, the possible predisposition of such women to the risk of breast cancer. Setting and Design: Urinary estrogen level was evaluated in 84 women attending family planning clinic in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, who have been on contraceptive device for 10 years or less (≤10 years). They were aged between 21 and 50 years and were divide into three groups (21-30 years, 31-40 years, and >40 years). The control group consisted of 30 age-matched apparently-healthy women who were not on any contraceptive device. Materials and Methods: Estrogen was analyzed using Ecologenia® Estrogen (E1/E2/E3) microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, Batch No. T2GR4, from Japan Envirochemicals Ltd, Japan. Statistical Analysis Used: Significant differences between means were determined by two-tailed Student’s t-test using graph pad prism computer software program. Result: There was a statistically significant increase (P=0.0462), in the mean urinary estrogen level of women on contraceptives when compared with the control. The highest amount of estrogen was excreted by the women in the 21-30 years age group. When the contraceptive devices were divided into two classes of intra-uterine device and oral/injectables, there was no statistical difference (P=0.8112) in the mean urinary estrogen output of the women. Conclusion: The synthetic estrogen content of contraceptive device most probably contributed to the level excreted in the urine. The increased estrogen output observed in women on contraceptive device was not dependent on the class of contraceptive device used. Description: scholarly works

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z