Advanced Chemicobiology Research

Chemical Composition and Physico-chemical Properties of Traditional Alkaline Salts (Lake Deposits and Plant-based Ash Salts) Sampled in Cameroon and Nigeria

Ngoualem Kégah Franklin — 2023-02-17

Lake deposits and plant-based ash salts are food additives used in a variety of food preparations throughout the world. They exist in many colours and are found in market stalls in many countries. In the literature, they have been named traditional alkaline salts (TAS). Their colours (as identified by users) are their major quality determinant and are associated with their efficiency when used in food preparations. Up to now, no relationship has been established between their colours and their chemical composition and/or physico-chemical properties. Lake deposits (sampled in Cameroon and Nigeria), "white" plant-based ashes and evaporites of plant-based ash filtrates (sampled in Cameroon) found from the market have a buffer behaviour (pH of 10 and 11) while "green" and "black" plant-based ashes do not (pH = 12 to 14). The buffer behaviour is due to the simultaneous presence of carbonates and bicarbonates, combined with the absence of oxides, the pH of the resulting solutions was increased with increasing carbonates/bicarbonates ratio. The colours of evaporites of plant-based ash filtrates are similar (less than 6% of difference) in their chemical composition (sodium, potassium, carbonates and bicarbonates) and physico-chemical properties while the other TAS are not. "White" lake deposits have higher major ions (sodium, potassium, carbonates and bicarbonates) content than the "black" ones. There is always a toxicity risk (lead and cadmium) associated with the use of plant-based ash salts and sometimes "black" lake deposits while there is not a toxic risk associated with the use of the "white" colour of lake deposits. "Black" lake deposits sampled in Abuja, Nigeria have one and a half times more cadmium and lead than those sampled all over Cameroon when they contain these metals.

A Systematic Overview of Monkeypox: from Origin to Treatment

Sheikh Rezzak Ali — 2023-06-12

The objective of this paper is to analyze existing data related to the monkeypox virus, its genomic characterization, transmission, prevention, and treatment available considering the current scenario of the monkeypox outbreak globally and posing a threat to public health. The literature search was performed in databases including PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar up to September 2022. The monkeypox virus is a re-emerging threat to international travel and public health that poses fresh difficulties. Due to these effects, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a human monkeypox public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022. The illness can spread from animals to humans, from humans to animals, and possibly from humans to humans. However, humanto-human transmission of the monkeypox virus is much more uncommon than animal-to-human transmission. During the outbreak of monkeypox in 2022, 5 continents have shown test positive in less than three months. Most of the cases were in men who have sex with men. There are several methods for diagnosis like genetic method, phenotypic method, immunological method, and electron microscopy. To prevent the spreading of the monkeypox virus, numerous precautions can be taken such as avoiding direct or indirect contact with an infected person, vaccination, or specific medication.

Evolution of Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Agro-ecological Systems

Justin Chipomho — 2023-04-28

Weed management through herbicides continues to be the most efficient and cost-effective component of integrated weed management (IWM) in crop production systems. However, the current production systems are characterised by intensive, inappropriate use of herbicides along with misapplication which creates selection pressure and leads to the rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds. Currently, there are 511 unique cases of herbicide-resistant weed species globally, involving 266 species and these comprise 153 and 113 dicots and monocots respectively. To date, herbicide resistance has been reported from 96 crops in more than 71 countries. Furthermore, weeds have evolved resistance to 21 of the 31 known sites of herbicide action in different crops. Understanding the mechanisms of herbicide resistance is therefore essential which when coupled with the ecological and management factors that affect herbicide resistance would lead to the development of appropriate, profitable, and sustainable weed management strategies. The review is aimed at the development of herbicide resistance, mechanisms of herbicide resistance, factors that influence the rate of resistance development and management of herbicide resistance by growers.