Kola Nut Nanoparticles: A Versatile Solution for Agriculture, Health and Environment

The kola nut is a seed that comes from the kola nut tree, which is native to West Africa. It has been used for centuries as a stimulant, a cultural symbol, and a folk remedy.

However, recent research has revealed that the kola nut also has potential uses in biotechnology and nanotechnology, such as producing nanofertilizers, protecting metals from corrosion, and enhancing healthcare.

Nanofertilizer from kola nut

(Photo : ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the applications of kola nut is to produce nanofertilizer, which is a type of fertilizer that contains nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles are tiny particles that have unique properties due to their small size and large surface area.

Nanofertilizers can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fertilization by increasing nutrient uptake, reducing leaching and volatilization losses, and enhancing soil quality.

According to a study by Agbaje Lateef, a professor of microbiology at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Nigeria, kola nut can be used to synthesize silver nanoparticles, which have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

These silver nanoparticles can be applied as nanofertilizer to increase the growth and yield of crops such as maize, tomato, and okra.

The study also showed that the silver nanoparticles from kola nut can reduce the fungal and bacterial infections in the crops.

Another study by Lateef and his colleagues used kola nuts to produce titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which have photocatalytic and antifungal properties.

These titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be used as nanofertilizer to enhance the germination and growth of wheat seeds.

The study also found that the titanium dioxide nanoparticles from kola nut can degrade the organic pollutants in wastewater.

Corrosion protection from kola nut

Another application of kola nut is to protect metals from corrosion, which is a process that damages metals due to chemical or electrochemical reactions with the environment.

Corrosion can cause economic losses, environmental pollution, and safety hazards. Therefore, it is important to prevent or reduce corrosion by using corrosion inhibitors, which are substances that slow down or stop the corrosion process.

A study by Lateef and his colleagues used kola nut to produce alloy nanoparticles, which are nanoparticles that consist of two or more metals.

These alloy nanoparticles can be used as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel, which is a type of steel that is widely used in construction, engineering, and manufacturing.

The study showed that the alloy nanoparticles from kola nut can effectively inhibit the corrosion of mild steel in acidic solutions.

Another study by Lateef and his colleagues used kola nuts to produce zinc oxide nanoparticles, which have anticorrosive and antibacterial properties.

These zinc oxide nanoparticles can be used as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum, which is a metal that is commonly used in aerospace, automotive, and packaging industries.

The study found that the zinc oxide nanoparticles from kola nut can significantly reduce the corrosion rate of aluminum in alkaline solutions.

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Healthcare benefits from kola nut

A third application of kola nut is to enhance healthcare, which is the provision of medical services to improve the health and well-being of people.

Kola nut has been traditionally used as a medicine for various ailments, such as obesity, pain, cough, malaria, infertility, and infections.

It contains phytochemicals, such as caffeine, theobromine, phenolics, and flavonoids, which have pharmacological effects on the body.

A study by Lateef and his colleagues used kola nuts to produce gold nanoparticles, which have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

These gold nanoparticles can be used as drug-delivery agents for treating inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

The study also demonstrated that the gold nanoparticles from kola nut can induce apoptosis (cell death) in breast cancer cells.

Lateef and his colleagues also used kola nuts to produce copper oxide nanoparticles, which have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

These copper oxide nanoparticles can be used as antimicrobial agents for treating infections caused by bacteria and fungi.

The study also showed that the copper oxide nanoparticles from kola nut can inhibit the growth of Candida albicans (a fungus that causes thrush) and Staphylococcus aureus (a bacterium that causes skin infections).

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