Many structural and functional properties possessed by plants have great potentials to stimulate new concepts and innovative ideas in the field of biomimetic engineering. The key inputs from biology can be used for cr...Many structural and functional properties possessed by plants have great potentials to stimulate new concepts and innovative ideas in the field of biomimetic engineering. The key inputs from biology can be used for creation of efficient and optimized structures. The study of the geometry and folding pattern of leaves of Mimosa pudica, referred as Sensitive Plant, reveals some of the peculiar characteristics during folding and unfolding. When the leaf is touched, it quickly folds its leaflets and pinnae and droops downward at the petiole attachment. With the help of experiments on simulation model, the variations in angle of leaflets and degree of compaction after folding are investigated.展开更多
A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chroma-tographic tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of Mimosine in Mimosa pudica Linn. whole plant powder. Mi-mosine was extracted from the plant...A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chroma-tographic tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of Mimosine in Mimosa pudica Linn. whole plant powder. Mi-mosine was extracted from the plant using 1.0% HCl in water. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Thermo Hypurity C18 (50 x 4.6 mm) 5.0 μ column interfaced with a triple quadrapole mass spectrometer. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of Methanol: 10 mM ammonium formate buffer whose pH was ad-justed to 3.00 ± 0.05 with formic acid (80:20, v/v) and was delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in the negative ion mode was used for the quantitation. Detection was performed using an Applied Biosystems Sciex API 3200 Mass spec-trometer. The method was found to be simple, precise, accurate, fast, specific and sensitive and can be used for routine quality control analysis of Mimosine in Mimosa pudica Linn.展开更多
Two new C-glycosylflavones were isolated from the whole plant of Mimosa pudica, and their structures were determined as 6,7,3＇,4＇-tetrahydroxyl-8-C-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 2）]-β-D-glucopyranosyl flavone （1）...Two new C-glycosylflavones were isolated from the whole plant of Mimosa pudica, and their structures were determined as 6,7,3＇,4＇-tetrahydroxyl-8-C-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 2）]-β-D-glucopyranosyl flavone （1）, 5,7,3＇,4＇-tetrahydroxy-8-C[β-D- apiose-（1 → 4）]-β-D-glycopyranosyl flavone （2）. Their structures elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra.展开更多
Mimosa diplotricha is an invasive perennial, scrambling, thorny, leguminous shrub of neotropical origin widely acknowledged as a major economic, agricultural and ecological burden in its introduced ranges. Although th...Mimosa diplotricha is an invasive perennial, scrambling, thorny, leguminous shrub of neotropical origin widely acknowledged as a major economic, agricultural and ecological burden in its introduced ranges. Although the plant is thought to have been present in Nigeria for well over two decades, its mode and time of introduction is uncertain. In spite of the continuing spread of, and the menace caused by M. diplotricha in Nigeria, no attempt has been made to map the distribution of the plant countrywide. Therefore, we conducted a countrywide survey between 2007 and 2009, sponsored by the Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN) to determine the spread and status of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. A further objective of this paper was to review literatures on Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria and elsewhere to enable comparison. In this paper, we report on the spread, distribution and problems of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria based on the field monitoring surveys conducted. The distribution of this invasive plant in Nigeria has been mapped and is presented together with its ecology and problems being caused. Since the early 1990s, the weed has started to spread and invade many parts of the country causing significant damage to many natural and semi natural ecosystems. The different control options used by farmers to control Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria are discussed. Based on the successful control of this invasive plant using the biocontrol agent, Heteropsylla spinulosa in countries such as Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), we discussed the biological control prospects for the management of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. Such control attempts stands to benefit from international collaborations between Nigerian institutions and a host of others in Australia, PNG and/or Brazil. Finally three major causes for the massive and continuing spread of this weed in Nigeria are presented with recommendations for the Nigerian government and institutions to: 1) formulate policies and legislations regarding the control and management of invasive alien plant species which is currently nonexistent;2) enlighten the general public on the dangers of invasive alien plant species such as Mimosa diplotricha;and 3) initiate actions such as early detection and rapid response (EDRR) and biological control in order to prevent further spread of, and invasion by invasive plant species including Mimosa diplotricha.展开更多
In recent years, numerous actions for sustainable exploitation of forest resources have been undertaken, but few deal with commercialization of forest insects. Several tree based insect products, like wild silk, can b...In recent years, numerous actions for sustainable exploitation of forest resources have been undertaken, but few deal with commercialization of forest insects. Several tree based insect products, like wild silk, can be linked with forest conservation activities to provide livelihood services of different economic scales to forest dependent people. African wild silkmoth, Argema mimosae Boisduval, is one of the forest insects, a moth in the family of Saturniidae producing wild silk, but there is need for definite procedures for extracting silk fibre from its cocoons. This study evaluated physical characteristics of the A. mimosae cocoons and outlined a procedure to extract viable silk fibre for use in silk industry. Cocoons of the A. mimosae were collected from natural forest of Arabuko-Sokoke, Kenya （3020＇ S, 39055＇ E）, and others obtained by semi-captive rearing of the silkmoth larvae. The cocoons of A mimosae were described to be silvery in colour, tough and thick with distinctive perforations on the surface and a prominent valve-like opening with loose filaments at one end. The study recorded 120 min as the optimum boiling time for the cocoons to yield silvery brown silk floss using sodium carbonate （Na2CO3） as the degumming agent. Cocoons boiled in distilled water could not be deflossed into floss, but remained hard and intact, as compared with those of the control, Bombyx mori. This reveals that A. mimosae cocoons can be processed for natural silk fibre production and offer communities adjacent to forests an excellent opportunity to engage in production of natural wild silk.展开更多
Lead has caused serious environmental pollution due to its toxicity, accumulation in food chains and persistence in nature. In this paper, lead removal from aqueous solutions was investigated using condensed tannin ge...Lead has caused serious environmental pollution due to its toxicity, accumulation in food chains and persistence in nature. In this paper, lead removal from aqueous solutions was investigated using condensed tannin gel adsorbent synthesized from a natural tannin compound. It is found that the adsorption is strongly affected by pH values of aqueous solutions. Within pH range of 3 5—6, when initial lead concentration is 100 mg/L, removal efficiency is more than 90%. Adsorption equilibrium is reached within 150 minutes. The adsorption isotherm fits well with the Langmuir equation, by which the saturated adsorption uptake of 190 mg Pb 2+ /g dry tannin gel adsorbent is obtained. By means of thermodynamics analysis, it is revealed that the process is exothermic and the adsorption heat is up to 38 4 kJ/mol. With respect to high efficiency, moderate pH requirement and minimized second pollution, the tannin gel adsorbent exhibits a promising potential in the removal of lead from wastewater.展开更多
文摘Many structural and functional properties possessed by plants have great potentials to stimulate new concepts and innovative ideas in the field of biomimetic engineering. The key inputs from biology can be used for creation of efficient and optimized structures. The study of the geometry and folding pattern of leaves of Mimosa pudica, referred as Sensitive Plant, reveals some of the peculiar characteristics during folding and unfolding. When the leaf is touched, it quickly folds its leaflets and pinnae and droops downward at the petiole attachment. With the help of experiments on simulation model, the variations in angle of leaflets and degree of compaction after folding are investigated.
文摘A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chroma-tographic tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of Mimosine in Mimosa pudica Linn. whole plant powder. Mi-mosine was extracted from the plant using 1.0% HCl in water. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Thermo Hypurity C18 (50 x 4.6 mm) 5.0 μ column interfaced with a triple quadrapole mass spectrometer. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of Methanol: 10 mM ammonium formate buffer whose pH was ad-justed to 3.00 ± 0.05 with formic acid (80:20, v/v) and was delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in the negative ion mode was used for the quantitation. Detection was performed using an Applied Biosystems Sciex API 3200 Mass spec-trometer. The method was found to be simple, precise, accurate, fast, specific and sensitive and can be used for routine quality control analysis of Mimosine in Mimosa pudica Linn.
文摘Two new C-glycosylflavones were isolated from the whole plant of Mimosa pudica, and their structures were determined as 6,7,3＇,4＇-tetrahydroxyl-8-C-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 2）]-β-D-glucopyranosyl flavone （1）, 5,7,3＇,4＇-tetrahydroxy-8-C[β-D- apiose-（1 → 4）]-β-D-glycopyranosyl flavone （2）. Their structures elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra.
文摘Mimosa diplotricha is an invasive perennial, scrambling, thorny, leguminous shrub of neotropical origin widely acknowledged as a major economic, agricultural and ecological burden in its introduced ranges. Although the plant is thought to have been present in Nigeria for well over two decades, its mode and time of introduction is uncertain. In spite of the continuing spread of, and the menace caused by M. diplotricha in Nigeria, no attempt has been made to map the distribution of the plant countrywide. Therefore, we conducted a countrywide survey between 2007 and 2009, sponsored by the Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN) to determine the spread and status of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. A further objective of this paper was to review literatures on Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria and elsewhere to enable comparison. In this paper, we report on the spread, distribution and problems of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria based on the field monitoring surveys conducted. The distribution of this invasive plant in Nigeria has been mapped and is presented together with its ecology and problems being caused. Since the early 1990s, the weed has started to spread and invade many parts of the country causing significant damage to many natural and semi natural ecosystems. The different control options used by farmers to control Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria are discussed. Based on the successful control of this invasive plant using the biocontrol agent, Heteropsylla spinulosa in countries such as Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), we discussed the biological control prospects for the management of Mimosa diplotricha in Nigeria. Such control attempts stands to benefit from international collaborations between Nigerian institutions and a host of others in Australia, PNG and/or Brazil. Finally three major causes for the massive and continuing spread of this weed in Nigeria are presented with recommendations for the Nigerian government and institutions to: 1) formulate policies and legislations regarding the control and management of invasive alien plant species which is currently nonexistent;2) enlighten the general public on the dangers of invasive alien plant species such as Mimosa diplotricha;and 3) initiate actions such as early detection and rapid response (EDRR) and biological control in order to prevent further spread of, and invasion by invasive plant species including Mimosa diplotricha.
文摘In recent years, numerous actions for sustainable exploitation of forest resources have been undertaken, but few deal with commercialization of forest insects. Several tree based insect products, like wild silk, can be linked with forest conservation activities to provide livelihood services of different economic scales to forest dependent people. African wild silkmoth, Argema mimosae Boisduval, is one of the forest insects, a moth in the family of Saturniidae producing wild silk, but there is need for definite procedures for extracting silk fibre from its cocoons. This study evaluated physical characteristics of the A. mimosae cocoons and outlined a procedure to extract viable silk fibre for use in silk industry. Cocoons of the A. mimosae were collected from natural forest of Arabuko-Sokoke, Kenya （3020＇ S, 39055＇ E）, and others obtained by semi-captive rearing of the silkmoth larvae. The cocoons of A mimosae were described to be silvery in colour, tough and thick with distinctive perforations on the surface and a prominent valve-like opening with loose filaments at one end. The study recorded 120 min as the optimum boiling time for the cocoons to yield silvery brown silk floss using sodium carbonate （Na2CO3） as the degumming agent. Cocoons boiled in distilled water could not be deflossed into floss, but remained hard and intact, as compared with those of the control, Bombyx mori. This reveals that A. mimosae cocoons can be processed for natural silk fibre production and offer communities adjacent to forests an excellent opportunity to engage in production of natural wild silk.
文摘Lead has caused serious environmental pollution due to its toxicity, accumulation in food chains and persistence in nature. In this paper, lead removal from aqueous solutions was investigated using condensed tannin gel adsorbent synthesized from a natural tannin compound. It is found that the adsorption is strongly affected by pH values of aqueous solutions. Within pH range of 3 5—6, when initial lead concentration is 100 mg/L, removal efficiency is more than 90%. Adsorption equilibrium is reached within 150 minutes. The adsorption isotherm fits well with the Langmuir equation, by which the saturated adsorption uptake of 190 mg Pb 2+ /g dry tannin gel adsorbent is obtained. By means of thermodynamics analysis, it is revealed that the process is exothermic and the adsorption heat is up to 38 4 kJ/mol. With respect to high efficiency, moderate pH requirement and minimized second pollution, the tannin gel adsorbent exhibits a promising potential in the removal of lead from wastewater.
