Physicochemical Properties of the Seed Oil of Khaya senegalensis

The physicochemical characteristics of Khaya senegalensis seed oil were investigated. Iodine value, saponification value, percentage free fatty acid (FFA), acid value, and peroxide value were the chemical parameters examined in the oil analysis, while specific gravity and refractive index were examined as physical parameters. The results showed that the acid value was 1.18 ± 0.01, the saponification value was 191.76 ± 0.01 mgKOH/gm, and the iodine value was 102.79 ± 0.01. It contained 0.59 ± 0.01 percent free fatty acid. The value of peroxide was 6.83 ± 0.01 meq/kg. The results showed that the refractive index was 1.462 ± 0.02 and the specific gravity was 0.9194 ± 0.04. The established parameters fell within the worldwide and Nigerian vegetable oil industry standards.

Efficiency of Bio-Fertilizing as One of the Natural Alternatives to Improve the Growth of Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni Trees and for Sustainability

A field experiment was carried out at Ismailia Research Station, Ismailia Governorate from 2020-2022 to improve the growth of Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni by using a combination of mineral fertilizer (NPK) and biological fertilizer (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium, and Bacillus circulant) as recommended dose under new sandy soils conditions. Split plot designed with four treatments (Control, (50% Mineral fertilizer (M.) + 50% Biological fertilizer (Bio.)), 100% M. and 100% Bio.) of each species. Vegetative growth, leaf area, tree biomass, stored carbon, basal area, tree volume, and in the soil both of microbial account and mineral content were determined. The experimental results showed no significant differences between studied species among the most studied parameters except for Khaya senegalensis which gave the highest significant difference in root biomass and below-stored carbon than Swietenia mahagoni. Evidently, the highest significant growth parameters were 100% mineral fertilizer followed by (50% M. + 50% Bio.) as compared with control. No significant difference between 100% M. and (50% M. + 50% Bio.) of shoot dry biomass (15.19 and 12.02 kg, respectively) and above-stored carbon (0.28 and 0.22 Mt, respectively). Microbial account and mineral content in soil were improved after cultivation of tree species compared to before planting and control, especially with 50% mineral fertilizer and 50% bio-fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, a treatment containing 50% mineral fertilizer and 50% bio-fertilizer has led to the ideal Khaya senegalensis and Swietenia mahagoni growth in sandy soil for cheaper and sustainable.

Atomic force microscopy correlates antimetastatic potentials of HepG2 cell line with its redox/energy status: effects of curcumin and Khaya senegalensis

OBJECTIVE： The fatality of cancer is mostly dependent on the possibility of occurrence of metastasis. Thus, if the development of metastasis can be prevented through novel therapeutic strategies targeted against this process, then the success of cancer treatment will drastically increase. In this study, therefore, we evaluated the antimetastatic potentials of an extract of Khaya senegalensis and curcumin on the metastatic liver cell line HepG2, and also assessed the anticancer property of the extract. METHODS： Cells were cultured and treated with graded concentrations of test substances for 24, 48, or 72 h with provisions made for negative controls. Treated cells were assessed as follows： nanotechnologically--atomic force microscopy （AFM） was used to determine cell stiffness; biochemically--cell cytotoxicity, glutathione level and adenosine triphosphate status, caspase activation and mitochondrial toxicity were considered; and microbiologically--a carrot disk assay was used to assess the anticancer property of the extract of K. senegalensis. RESULTS： Curcumin and K. senegalensis increased the cell stiffness by 2.6- and 4.0-fold respectively, indicating their antimetastatic effects. Corresponding changes in redox （glutathione level） and energy （adenosine triphosphate） status of the cells were also demonstrated. Further mechanistic studies indicated that curcumin was not mitotoxic in HepG2 cells unlike the K. senegalensis extract. In addition the extract potently inhibited the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced genetic transformation based on carrot disk assay. CONCLUSION： Cell elasticity measurement data, using AFM, strongly suggested, for the first time, that both curcumin and the extract of K. senegalensis exhibited antimetastatic properties on HepG2 cells.