<b>Investigation of chemical and biochemical properties of <i>Maerua subcordata</i>

Abstract

This paper reports some findings of chemical as well as biochemical studies of Maerua subcordata plant juice extract. The studies include: chemical composition of the juice such as mineral contents, protein and polysaccharide contents. These tests were carried out both in the juice extracts and in the "flocs". The latter samples were analyzed to establish whether the material that settled as a result of clarification had minerals, protein and/or polysaccharides. While there were no significant amounts of minerals found in the juice or in the flocs, there were significant amounts of polysaccharides in the juice as well as in the flocs. However it was found that there were insignificant amounts of proteins in the settled flocs. This was indication that polysaccharides in the juice were precipitated along with the sediments present in water. Further biochemical experiments on the identity of polysaccharides which apparently aided flocculation indicated that they were of branched type, amylopectin. The paper attempts to explain the mechanism of sediments settling as aided by the plant juice components.

Coagulación natural para la descontaminación de efluentes industriales

“…Gomas (galactomananos) de semilla de Cassia obtusifolia también se han utilizado para la remediación de aguas residuales de aceite de palma (Shak & Wu, 2014), así como las gomas de semillas de Cassia angustifolia para la remoción de colorantes (Sanghi, Bhatttacharya, & Singh, 2002). Además, a polisacáridos como la amilopectina extraída del jugo de tubérculos de Maerua subcordata se atribuye el efecto coagulante para la clarificación de agua superficial (Mavura, Chemelil, Saenyi, & Mavura, 2008). En semillas de moringa se encuentran agentes coagulantes caracterizados por ser proteínas diméricas catiónicas (peso molecular de 13 kDa y punto isoeléctrico entre 10-11), las cuales tienen también actividad antimicrobiana (Anwar & Rashid, 2007).…”

“…En semillas de moringa se encuentran agentes coagulantes caracterizados por ser proteínas diméricas catiónicas (peso molecular de 13 kDa y punto isoeléctrico entre 10-11), las cuales tienen también actividad antimicrobiana (Anwar & Rashid, 2007). Extractos líquidos de Maerua subcordata tuvieron efecto de remoción de turbidez debido a la influencia de amilopectinas contenidas en el jugo extraído del tubérculo de la planta (Mavura et al, 2008).…”

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge on Water Purification in Selected Rural Areas of Ethiopia

“…Consequently, removing the big tuber will not harm the plant survival. One study in Kenya has 401 indicated that local people use M. subcordata for purification of turbid water (Mavura et al 2008). The tuber of the plant is also reported to be used for sorption of Cu (II) and Pb (II) (Kowanga et al 2012).…”

A review on common vegetables and legumes as promising plant-based natural coagulants in water clarification

“…Even though the carbohydrate content is about 7.3 times greater (Compaoré et al 2011), this fraction which is also responsible for the particle coagulation does not seem to have much influence on the corresponding activity. The limited presence of the branched polysaccharides such as amylopectin which leads to effective coagulation in the roots extract of Maerua subcordata (Mavura et al 2008) could also be accounted for the decreased coagulation activity. Along with its reduced protein content, it is not surprising that M. oleifera is more efficient as the active agents have been identified to be that of protein nature (Ndabigengesere et al 1995).…”

“…This explains its improved coagulation efficiency whereby the larger fraction of carbohydrate has dominating effect towards particle aggregations. The coagulation activity in the plant extracts such as those from the roots of M. subcordata (Mavura et al 2008) and seeds of Zea mays (Raghuwanshi et al 2002) has also been attributed to the presence of starch.…”