Bio
A. A. J. Mofunanya is an academic from Nigeria affiliated with the University of Calabar and the University of Cross River State. He has contributed research in areas including plant viruses, plant biochemistry, agricultural pest management, and phytochemistry.
Educational Journey
PhD
Experience
University of Cross River State
2019 - 2021University of Calabar
2012 - 2021 • Department of Plant and Ecological Studies, Faculty of Biological SciencesEditors Role
Reviewer
GJSFR
0 -Research
Stress Induced by Simulated Nitric and Sulphuric Acid Rain on the Nutrient Quality of Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne ex Poir)
Stress has been associated with several alterations in the physiological and biochemical composition of plants affecting their use in chemotherapy. Investigations were carried out to assess simulated nitric acid rain (SNAR) and simulated sulphuric acid rain (SSAR) stress on the medicinal quality of Cucurbita moschata. Results revealed that all the nutrients investigated had higher values at pH 6.0 than at pH 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0. The presence or absence of phytochemicals was not affected by SNAR and SSAR levels. Stress induced on ash, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and moisture caused significant (P=0.05) increase at pH 2.0 and 3.0 with decrease at pH 4.0 with the exception of leaf protein which showed increase at all levels of acidity compared to the control pH 6.0. Amino acids depicted a trend similar to that of protein. Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese and P were seriously affected by simulated acid rain stress. Stress caused an increase in vitamin A and the B-complex vitamins at pH concentration 2.0 with a decrease at concentration 3.0 and 4.0. While vitamin C was significantly reduced by simulated acid rain stress, vitamin K showed increase in content at all levels of acidity.
Impact of Simulated Nitric and Sulphuric Acid Rain on the Medicinal Potential of Telfairia occidentalis (Hooker Fil.)
This study evaluated the impact of simulated nitric acid rain (SNAR) and sulphuric acid rain (SSAR) on the nutrient status of Telfairia occidentalis. Results of phytochemical screening of T. occidentalis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, reducing compounds, polyphenols in all parts with the absence of phlobatanins, anthraquinones and hydroxymethyl anthraquinones in aqueous and ethanol extracts of SNAR and SSAR as well as the control. Tannins, steroids, terpenoids and glycosides were present in some plant parts and absent in others. Impact of simulated HNO3 and H2SO4 acid rain on qualitative phytochemicals resulted in significant (P=0.05) increase and decrease in phytochemicals. Ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrate showed decrease owing to SNAR and SSAR impact with increase in root fat content. Protein was significantly reduced at all levels of acidity with leaf percentage reduction of 54.3%, 37.7%, 20.3% and 62.0%, 42.6%, 10.4% for SNAR and SSAR at pH 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 respectively. Impact of SNAR and SSAR caused decrease in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, alanine, arginine, cysteine, glycine, serine, tyrosine with increase in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline and alanine. K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and P were also reduced.
