Volume 10 July 2001

Use of Seeds of Moringa oleifera to Clarify Turbid Waters and Wastewaters

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Use of Seeds of Moringa oleifera to Clarify Turbid Waters and Wastewaters Moramudaii, M.A.A.W.; Fernando, P.; Yapa, P.A.J. Ability of seed extracts of Moringa oleifera to clarify turbid waters and wastewaters was investigated. Mature seed extracts of Moringa were comparatively more effective than immature seed extracts. Mature seed powder at 50 mg/20 ml reduced the turbidity (NTU) by 95% within 2h. It was the aqueous extract of Moringa seeds that was really effective in clarifying turbid waters, not the insoluble fraction. A positive relationship between the protein content and purifying ability of seed extract was observed. It was also found that extracts of mature Moringa seeds have an ability to clarify textile dye solutions. All four solutions of textile dyes namely Terasil Blue 3RL-02, Terasil Navy ORL-C, Terasil Red Rand Terasil yellow 40 were clarified by Moringa seed extracts. Studies on pH and the conductivity showed that pH is slightly reduced and conductivity is rapidly increased when they were treated with Moringa seeds whilst conductivity was found to be dependent on treatment time and temperature. The clarifying ability of Moringa seed was also investigated against paper factory effluent but 'no significant effect was observed. Mature seed extracts of Moringa significantly reduced the bacterial growth of polluted waters. The effectiveness was directly proportional to the amount of seeds used. An antimicrobial activity was found in crude aqueous extracts of Moringa seeds.

Some Anti-nutritional Factors of Mature Sword Beans (Canavalia gladiata)

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Some Anti-nutritional Factors of Mature Sword Beans (Canavalia gladiata) Ekanayake, Sagarika; Jansz, E.R.; Abeysekera, A.M.; Nair, Baboo M. The anti-nutritional factor evaluation of Canavalia gladiata seed flour indicated a high amount of phytic acid, which decreased with processing. The raw cotyledon fraction had the highest content of phytate (8.5 mgg I) whereas the dry-autoclaved cotyledon flour had only 4.3 mgg'. The seed coat contained an a-amylase inhibitor and a trypsin inhibitor. The presence of an a-amylase inhibitor in the seed coat was established for the first time. The trypsin inhibitor activity of whole seed flour and boiled whole seed flour was 4866 TIUg·l and 2745 TIUg·1 respectively. The raw cotyledon was devoid of any inhibitor activity. The molecular weight of the trypsin inhibitor was found to be around 90 kD. The raw whole seed extract indicated a decrease in the a-amylase activity by 924 UIL indicating the presence of an inhibitor. There was complete inhibition of a-amylase activity by the raw seed coat extract. In the boiled seed coat extract the a-amylase activity increased (284 UIL). The different enzyme inhibitor activities were due to separate components present in the seed.

Relationship between the Shoulder Height and the Neck Girth of Sri Lankan Domesticated Elephants (Elephas maximus maximus)

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Relationship between the Shoulder Height and the Neck Girth of Sri Lankan Domesticated Elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) Goodagama, W.K.; Wemmer, C.; Ratnasooriya, W.D. The aim of this study was to examine whether a relationship exists between the neck girth and the height measured at the shoulder of Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas maxim us maxim us), as proposed for the Burmese timber elephants (Elephas maximus birmanicus) by Gale (1974). The study was conducted between 1 stApril1993 and 1 stApri 1994 in 13 administrative districts of Sri Lanka using 140 domesticated elephants (72 male and 68 female elephants). The results show a significant correlation between the shoulder height and the neck girth of elephants (irrespective of gender) (r=0.4323, p=O.OOI) when considered separately. Linear regression equations for each was Y=-9.89+1.0253 x X, P=O.OOI, Y=-28.46+1.11xX, p=O.OOl, and Y=78.29+0.631OxX, P=O.OOI respectively. (Y=Shoulder height, X, = Neck girth). Further the shoulder height is almost equal to the neck girth in males. However, this was not so for the females.

Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester Impair Fertility of Female Rats When Given during Early Pregnancy

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester Impair Fertility of Female Rats When Given during Early Pregnancy Ratnasooriya, W.D.; Jayakody, J.R.A.C.; Kalubowila, D.G.W. The role of nitric oxide (NO) on fertility of female rats was investigated by oral administration of the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (50 or l00mg/kg/day) to rats from days 1-7 of gestation. L-NAME caused a moderate but significant reduction (P<0.05) in number of uterine implants. This antifertility effect was due to an elevation in pre-implantation loss. The inactive stereoisomer D-NAME, on the other hand, had no effect whatsoever on fertiligy. The results suggest that NO is essential for the expression of normal fertility in female rats and NO donors may find applications in the treatment of some forms of female subfertility.