Pharmaceutical potentials of the oils of some popular insects consumed in southern Nigeria

Macrotermes bellicosus (MB), Imbrasia belina larva (IBL), Oryctes rhinoceros larva (OR) andRhynchophorus pheonicis (RP) larva oils were extracted, and the oils were physically and chemically characterized. The lipid content recorded for the insects were 31.46 ± 0.57%, 15.16 ± 0.18%, 14.87 ± 0.33% and 23.30 ± 0.33% (wet weight) for MB, IBL, OR and RP respectively. RP and OR insect oils were golden yellow, odourless and fluid at room temperature (26 ± 2oC), while that extracted from IBL and MB were of a lighter yellow colour. The insect lipids all gave a low solidification temperature and high iodine number indicating a relatively high level of unsaturation of the insect/larval oils. Their saponification values were high suggesting the presence of a fair amount of fatty acids but their acid values were low pointing to the fact that these fatty acids were not free but esterified acids. The cholesterol values were also low but highest in MB with a value of 41.8 ± 0.15 mg/100 g lipid. For all the insects, the neutral lipid fraction was the major fraction in the insect oils. RP had the highest neutral lipid fraction of 88.40 while MB had the least value of 69.87. At the same time MB had the highest phospholipids and glycolipid fractions with values of 19.14 and 10.81 respectively while RP had the least phospholipids and glycolipid fractions with values of 8.20 and 2.60 respectively. For IBL, RP and OR (which are insect larvae) the major fatty acids in the oils were palmitic and oleic acids while for MB (mature insect) the major fatty acids were palmitic and linoleic acids. The insect/larval oils contained more unsaturated fatty acids which explained the high iodine number, low solidification values and the liquid nature of the oils at room temperature. OR recorded the highest level of unsaturation of 65.61 while MB had the least level of unsaturation of 50.02%. Further analysis revealed a refractive index ranging from 1.1 ± 0.01 to 1.3 ± 0.05, specific gravity of 0.84 ± 0.02 to 0.90 ± 0.01, solidification value of 10 - 14°C, total lipid phosphorus ranging from 31.0 ± 0.25 to 47.18 ± 0.03 mmmmg/gm lipid, acid value of 3.12 ± 0.55 to 3.6 ± 0.06, iodine value of 108 ± 0.15 to 140 ± 0.51, saponification value of 187.17 ± 0.55 to 198.9 ± 0.25 and unsaponifiable matter of 8.11 ± 0.02 to 12.04 ± 0.11. These values when compared with that observed in oils which have been considered to be of high quality and of much use in pharmaceutical industries suggest that these insect oils may have pharmaceutical potential

Appraisal of Occupational Health Practices of Workers in an Oil Producing Company in Port Harcourt-Rivers State; Nigeria

Background: Workers in the oil industry are exposed to different types of hazards capable of causing various forms of health problems. The hazards considered by the study were noise and carbon monoxide poisoning amongst other forms of hazards. The importance of occupational health can never be overemphasized since human capital is the most important amongst all the factors of production.Aim: The study aimed at appraising the occupational health practices of workers in the selected oil industry.Methods: Two hundred participants were used as sample for the study. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the participants. Descriptive statistics of simple percentages and frequency counts were used in analyzing the data collected.Results: One hundred and sixty one (80.5) of the respondents agreed to the presence of noise pollution with damaging effects on the eardrum and carbon monoxide poisoning as occupational hazards in the company. One hundred and thirty five (67.5) also agreed that some workers in the industry have lost their hearing to the noise hazard inherent in their jobs. According to 56of the respondents safety gadgets such as earmuffs and plugs were not sufficiently provided by the company. Up to 80.5of the respondents also disagreed that workers were always making use of the safety gadgets provided.Conclusion: Findings revealed poor occupational health practices by the workers giving rise to victims of occupational hazards in the company. Safety gadgets were not sufficiently provided. Most employers in the developing countries are known not to be providing occupational health services for their workers while most workers do not also c o m p l y w i t h t h e s a f e t y s t a n d a r d s . Recommendations were made on the need to apply the tools of health education; supervision and monitoring to ensure service utilization by workers

Condom Use amongst Oil Workers in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Background: Spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) amongst oil workers in the Niger Delta region even with the use of condom is worrisome. To ascertain the awareness of the mode of transmission of STDs and commitment to prevention amongst oil workers in the Niger Delta region; the level of use of condom was studied. Method: A cross-sectional study using questionnaires administered to 180 oil workers over a period of three months (January to March 2006) was carried out. Result: A total of 165 respondents questionnaires from 138 males and 27 females were analyzed. Of this number; 144 were married and 21 single. Sixty - five (39.4) respondents used the condom occasionally. Respondents in the 35 44 years bracket used condom most [68 (41.2)]. Extra marital relationship was the reason given by most of the respondents [43 (26.1)] for using the condom. Most of the participants purchased their condoms from the chemist shops [106 (64.2)]. Condom accident [82 (49.7)] accounted for the high risk of infection. Rupture/bursting was responsible for most [70 (85.4)]. Conclusion: There is increased awareness of condom use within the educated sexually active oil workers. About 70of purchased condom is from Chemist shops. National agency for food and drug administration and control therefore should ensure that good quality condoms are dispensed in these outlets

Activites antifongiques de deux huiles essentielles sur les champignons des feves de cacao et de levures : Candida albicans et Cryptococcus neoformans

Les activites quotidiennes de l'homme l'exposent a la pollution environnementale par des microorganismes dont les champignons qui peuvent occasionner chez lui des mycoses ou detruire les produits vegetaux. Face e cela; les moyens de lutte employes se revelent plus ou moins efficaces mais sont; parfois dangereux. Chez le cacao la presence des toxines fongiques est a l'origine de la deterioration de sa qualite. Ainsi; sur des feves de provenances diverses; des especes Fongiques ont ete isolees par secousse et a partir d'un ecouvillon frotte aux Feves. Ensuite; il e ete teste deux huiles essentielles comestibles extraites de vegetaux ivoiriens. (Chenopodium ambrosioides et Melaleuca quinquenervia a 1 ml/L; 5 ml/L et 10 ml/L sur Aspergillus sp; Aspergillus niger; Aspergillus fumiganus; Mucor racemosus; Candida albicans et Cryptococcus neoformans. Aussi; une protection des feves de cacao par l'huile de Melaleuca quinquenervia a ete experimentee. Suite a ces differentes experiences; il a ete retenu d'une part; qu'a 1 ml/L et 5ml/l ces huiles essentielles ont des activites antifongiques. D'autre part. a 1ml/l Chenopodium ambrosioides agirait comme un Fongicide dans notre experience contrairement a l'huile de Melaleuca quinquenervia. Mais a 5 ml/1; l'huile de Melaleuca quinquenervia empeche le developpement de A. flavus; A. fumigatus; A. niger; Aspergillus sp; M. racemosus; Penicillium sp sur les feves de cacao pendant un mois. Ces experiences ont permis d'elucider l'impact de chacune des huiles sur les champignons. Vu la diversite de leurs activites; ces deux huiles essentielles pourraient etre utilisees comme produits antifongiques de lutte contre les champignons dans l'environnement et contre certaines mycoses

Emanations de l'huile de palme chauffante: facteur de l'asthme

Des asthmatiques consultant en Pneumologie a l'Hopital Jamot de Yaounde se sont plaints de toux et de dyspnee apres inhalation des fumees qui se degagaient du recipient dans lequel chauffait de l'huile de palme rouge; tres utilisee dans la cuisine traditionnelle. Reproduisant les conditions normales d'une cuisine; les auteurs ont expose 59 asthmatiques et 54 non asthmatiques a ces fumees. 47;45 pour cent des asthmatiques ont fait une crise de dyspnee classique. Mesurant le debit expiratoire de pointe (DEP) a l'aide d'un DEP metre avant; 5; 10 et 15 minutes apres l'exposition aux emanations; ils ont constate une diminution significative du DEP chez 16 patients presentant une toux spasmodique ou des rales sibilants soit 27;11 pour cent des asthmatiques. Seulement 24;1 pour cent des non asthmatiques ont presente des troubles mineurs (eternuements). Aucun n'a presente de diminution du DEP superieure ou egale a 20 pour cent; et aucun signe respiratoire n'a ete observe chez les non asthmatiques. Il existe donc une hyperreactivite bronchique de reaction aux emanations de l'huile de palme chauffante chez les sujets asthmatiques

Mentha saccharininsis; mentha incana: composition chimique de l'huile essentielle de l'hybride MS-41 et sa variabilite au cours de la reproduction sexuee

Nous avons etudie la composition chimique et la variabilite de l'huile essentielle de l'hybride MS-41 fertile obtenu a partir du croisement entre mentha sacharinensis et mentha incana. Il a ete etabli que cet hybride differe des formes initiales steriles par l'augmentation du nombre de chromosomes et l'apparition dans l'huile essentielle du pulegone et du menthofurane. L'etude de 62 plantes issues de l'autofecondation de cet hybride indique qu'il existe une variation quantitative considerable de l'huile essentielle et de ses principaux constituants; toutefois le trait dominant reste la biosynthese du menthol (50 a 90 pour cent). La composition chimique de l'huile essentielle ne change pas

Evolution de la teneur et de la composition des huiles essentielles de lippia multiflora en fonction de la periode de recolte

L'etude; de juillet 1988 a mai 1989; de la variation des huiles essentielles des lippia cultives (Brazzaville; Congo) met en evidence un mouvement continu de ces huiles des fleurs vers les feuilles et inversement. La teneur des differents constituants varie de facon plus ou moins prononcee selon la partie de la plante consideree alors que le profil global des huiles reste le meme. Cette etude permet de situer la periode de recolte la plus favorable pour cette plante a effets bactericide et antifongide etablis

Etudes chimiques et microbiologiques des huiles essentielles de quelques especes d'eucalyptus marocaines

15 huiles essentielles d'eucalyptus ont ete analysees par chromatographie en phase gazeuse et testees vis-a-vis de 9 souches bacteriennes. La composition et la proportion relative des composes des huiles essentielles analysees varient d'une espece a une autre. Les essais antimicrobiens ont permis de remarquer d'interessantes proprietes antimicrobiennes