Applied Chemistry

 The proximate, mineral and antimicrobial activity pawpaw (Carica papaya) was carried out; this sample seed was obtained from discardsof plants and prepared for use by decocting, sun drying and grinding into powder.Using petroleum ether; of boiling range 40-60oC, their fats were extracted, theprotein content, ash content, crude fibre, moisture, carbohydrate as well as themineral contents were determined using standard methods. The fats yield of 26.01±0.00%, crude protein 8.75±0.01%, crude fibre 14.01±020%, carbohydrate content 36.25±0.01% and calories 414.09±0.02kcal/100gwas obtained for the sample.The mineral compositions determination of the sample showed that 13.70±0.12, 5.46±0.003, 26.58±0.02 and9.06±0.30 mg/100g for potassium, calcium, iron and copper respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of C. papaya seed was determined. The MIC value for the methanol extract was between 0.875 and 1.75 mg/ml, while that of MBC was between 1.75 and 2.5 mg/ml.

In this study, heavy metals Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Selenium(Se) were determined to assess the pollution level of Opa Dam. The water of the dam and the liver, gills and fillet of six Momyrus rume and six Tilapia zilli were analyzed by AAS. The order of the metals in the water and fillets of (M. rume and T. zilli) were Pb>Ni>Se?Cd>Hg, Ni>Pb>Se?Cd?Hg and Ni>Pb>Se>Cd?Hg. Pb, Ni and Hg were higher above the standard permissible level (EPA2002, WHO2003,WPCL 2004 and SON 2007) in Opa Dam water while nickel was outrageous in the fillet above the FAO,1983 and WHO 1985 limit of heavy metals in fish food. Thus, the dam needs periodical monitoring for the safety of the fish consumers and for water usage.

The study was carried out to find the status of Sombo spring water of Jimma town in respect to physico-chemical water quality parameters during 2015 and 2016 following standard methods of sampling and testing. For this study, samples were collected from two sample sites. The physico-chemical Parameters included turbidity, pH, EC, temperature, total dissolved solid, dissolved oxygen, Chloride, total alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium were analyzed. The observed values of various physico-chemical parameters of the spring water samples were compared with standard values and the result showed that seven out of ten tested parameters were within the permissible limits. Turbidity of the Sombo water was above the permissible limit while pH and dissolved oxygen values were below permissible limit range recommended by WHO for drinking water. Thus, the sombo spring water could affect human health, since the nearby community using it for drinking purpose. Therefore, it is recommended to have a frequent monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters and need the attention of the concerned body to treat the water or find other alternative safe drinking water source.

This research studies the surface modification of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric that was induced by DC plasma discharge for nanosiliver treatments. At first, DC plasma discharge was employed systematically as a function of plasma device parameters under different operating conditions including different time, different current and different hydrostatic pressure employing chemically inert argon or nitrogen as a working gas. The optimization of the best of these parameters were performed by the measurements and evaluation of mechanical properties, air permeability and water absorbency, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and the surface morphological changes of pretreated polyester fabrics were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photographic analysis , Then the pretreated PET fabric with plasma by the best conditions are subjected to nanosilver treatment by two different silver concentrations .The antibacterial activity of plasma treated and /or nanosilver treated PET against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aurous) and gram negative bacteria(Escherichia coli) were examined. The results obtained showed that both the hydrophilicity and antibacterial behaviours against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aurous) and gram negative bacteria(Escherichia coli) were highly improved by the treatment of fabric by either individual or combined DC cold plasma or nanosilver treatments.

Transition metal ions coordinated to nitrogen containing ligands, such as 1, 10 – phenanthroline and/or 2, 2? – bipyridine have found wide applications in chemotherapy. The ligands form very stable chelates with many first row transition metals and the ligands, as well as some of their derived complexes, do exhibit antimicrobial properties. The mechanism of action of these novel set of drugs was reviewed and compared to that of the conventional antifungal drugs (polyene and azoles). Transition metal complexes of 1, 10 – phenanthroline and/or 2, 2? – bipyridine demonstrated a significantly different mode of action and thus could be used either in combination with existing antimicrobial drugs or in a situation where resistance to conventional antimicrobial drugs have emerged. However, the antimicrobial properties of the various transition metal complexes of phen and bpy are not uniform indicating a degree of metal – ion dependency on their mode of action. The DNA binding, DNA cleavage and antitumoral properties of the transition metal complexes of the chelating ligands were also reviewed. DNA cleavage by these metallonucleases is reported to be dependent on the presence of a biological reductant (e.g. L-ascorbic acid, gluthathione) and an oxidant ( H2O2). The metal complexes were reported to control cancer cell division by significantly reducing DNA synthesis. However there is a significant difference in the mode of action of these novel sets of antitumoral drugs compared to the conventional antifungal drug cisplatin.

The antibacterial properties of picolinic acid was tested against selected test organisms which includes serratia marcescens, micrococcus luteus, proteus vulgaris, proteus mirabilis, bacillus cereus, bacillus subtilis, klebsiella pneumoniae, escherichia coli, shigella flexneri, lactococcus lactis, enterobacter cloacae, staphylococcus aureus. The results obtained established that picolinic acid has antibacterial activities against S. marcescens, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. flexneri, B .cereus, P. vulgaris, M . luteus with minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5mg/mL. It also had great antibacterial activity against P. mirabilis at minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.5mg/L. Picolinic acid evoked a strong antibacterial activities against B. subtilis, S.aureus and L. lactis at minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.0mg/mL and against E . cloacace at minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.0mg/mL. The diameter of zones of inhibition ranges between 7.0mm and 14.0mm.

Schiff bases are typically synthesized by the condensation of amines and a carbonyl bearing compounds. Schiff bases are important intermediates for the synthesis of various bioactive compounds.These compounds and their metal complexes are very important as catalysts in various biological systems, polymers, dyes and medicinal and pharmaceutical fields. Furthermore, they are reported to show a variety of biological activities including antibacterial and antifungal activities.

The ligand, 4-butanoyl-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (HBPy) and its complexes with Mn (II), La (III), Zr (III), V (V) and W (VI) were tested for antibacterial activity relative to streptomycin and penicillin antibiotics. The filter paper scraps diffusion method was used. The compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against G(+) Staphylococcus aureus, G(+) Hay bacillus and G(-) Eschericha coli. It could be observed from the results that the antibacterial effect of the Mn(BPy)2.2H2O and the VO2(BPy).HBPy complexes were similar to that of penicillin against the two G(+) strains. The other three complexes also had such antibacterial activity, but a little weaker than that of penicillin. The test data also indicated that streptomycin was intermediately effective against G(+) Hay bacillus. The five complexes at a concentration of 2 ?g/disc, showed antibacterial activity against G(+) Hay bacillus comparable to that of streptomycin with a concentration of 10 ?g/disc. The ligand and its complexes showed none or much weaker antibacterial activity compared to penicillin and streptomycin against G(-) Eschericha coli. It is therefore concluded that the metal complexes studied are potent against the Gram-positive bacteria studied; hence the compounds have great potentials in the exploration of new chemotherapy agents.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is known to be one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world, claimed to have anti-diarrhoea activity traditionally. Phytochemical components of the plant material are dependable sources for the treatment of health problems. Extract from fruit were screened for bioactivity against Salmonella spp and Shigella spp. The results significantly show activity at various concentrations for the distilled water, methanol and petroleum ether extracts. The crude and chloroform extracts revealed insignificant activities. Phytochemical analysis on the plant extracts reveals the presence of tannins, steroids, flavonoids and alkaloids. However, physiochemical analysis was also carried for the various solvent extract.

Cancer is a hyper proliferative disorder marked by metastasis into the vital organs of the body through invasion and angiogenesis. Biodegradable nanoparticles have been used frequently as anti-cancer drug delivery vehicles due to its splendid bioavailability, better encapsulation, and control release with less toxic properties. Various nanoparticulate systems, general synthesis and encapsulation process, control release and improvement of therapeutic value of nano-encapsulated cancer drugs are covered in this review. We have highlighted the impact of biodegradable polymer such as PLGA, PLA, chitosan, gelatin, polycaprolactone and poly-alkyl-cyanoacrylates in the formulation of nanoparticles for encapsulation of cancer drugs. Hence in the current review a detailed studied has been done for the delivering of cancer drugs effectively using biodegradable polymers.