African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Table of Content: 2 January 2006; 5(1)

January 2006

Aflatoxin contamination of foods in developing countries: Implications for hepatocellular carcinoma and chemopreventive strategies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality in the world and, in certain parts of Asia and Africa, it accounts for about 70% of cancer deaths. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and dietary exposure to aflatoxin B­1(AFB1) are the two major risk factors in multi factorial aetiology of HCC. Multiple lines of evidence indicate synergistic interaction between these two agents in...

Author(s): E. Olatunde Farombi

January 2006

Taxol synthesis

Being a complex diterpenoid, the potent anticancer drug, Taxol, requires complicated steps for its biosynthesis. In the present article, recent advances on Taxol biosynthesis pathway are reviewed, including many recently reported genes that regulate Taxol biosynthesis. To meet the urgent need of clinic and scientific research, besides Taxus supply, other approaches to obtain Taxol have also been discussed...

Author(s): B.H. Guo, G.Y. Kai, H.B. Jin and K.X. Tang,

January 2006

Impregnation and storage of Newcastle disease virus on to filter papers and detection of viral RNA by a single tube RT-PCR assay

Suitability of storing infected allantoic fluid (AF) and cell culture supernatants (CCS) with strain I-2 of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on Whatman filter papers at room temperature (22-25°C) and 37°C was determined. RNA was extracted from filter papers or liquid aliquots and subjected to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). The results showed that filter papers soaked with NDV...

Author(s): P. N. Wambura

January 2006

Can a general shoot proliferation and rooting medium be used for a number of carnation cultivars?

This investigation was conducted to find the best shoot proliferation and rooting media for 13 virus-free cultivars of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) recently imported from The Netherlands to Iran. The best shoot proliferation media were Murashige and Skoog (MS) containing 3 mgL-1 (13.95 mM) kinetin and 0.5 mgL-1 (2.69 mM) NAA or 1 mgL-1 (4.44 mM) BA and 1...

Author(s): H. Salehi

January 2006

Effect of serotonin infusions on the mean plasma concentrations of growth hormone, thyroid hormones and the amount and constituents of milk in the Sanan goat

The goal of this study was to determine whether serotonin increase the mean plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), growth hormone (GH),  milk amount and constituents in the Sanan goats. Nine Sanan goats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Each group received daily infusion of 1, 4 or 8 ng serotonin agonist (hydroxytryptophan) (5HT) for 7 days. Blood and milk samples were collected daily on...

Author(s): H. Khazali, A. Parhiskar and K. Jafari

January 2006

Purification and characterization of three low-molecular-weight acid phosphatases from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seedlings

The maximum acid phosphatasic activity was detected in peanut seedlings the 5th day of germination. At least, three acid phosphatases were identified and purified by successive chromatography separations on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, CM-Sepharose CL-6B, Sephacryl S-200 HR, and Phenyl-Sepharose HP to apparent homogeneity from developing five days old peanut seedlings. These enzymes designated acid phosphatase PI, PIIa...

Author(s): Jean Tia Gonnety, Sébastien Niamké, Betty Meuwiah Faulet, Eugène Jean-Parfait N’guessan Kouadio and Lucien Patrice Kouamé.

January 2006

Toxicity evaluation of flucycloxuron and diflubenzuron on the cellular model, Paramecium sp.

The effect of two pesticides, the diflubenzuron (DFB) and flucycloxuron (FCX) was studied on the ciliated protiste cellular model, Paramecium sp. Treatment with the DFB at 10 and 20 µg/ml reduces the growth of this protiste appreciably. The survey of the respiratory metabolism by the polarography technique (oxygen electrode) shows a sensitive inhibition of the oxygen consumption. In the case of the FCX,...

Author(s): ROUABHI, R., BERREBBAH, H., and DJEBAR, M.R.

January 2006

Nutritional potentials of some tropical vegetable leaf meals: chemical characterization and functional properties

Three tropical vegetable species (Talium triangulare, Amaranthus cruentus and Telfairia occidentalis) were selected based on their availability and agronomic desirability. The freshly harvested vegetable leaves were subjected to 2 processing techniques (shredding and sundrying) before milling into the vegetable leaf meals (VLMs).  The crude protein ranged from 19.9+1.8 to 35.1+1.7.  The crude fibre ranged from...

Author(s): A.O. Fasuyi