An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in curing some diseases in infants in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria was carried out between February and June, 2012. Ethnobotanical data were collected by oral interview with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to fifty (50) respondents made up of traditional medical practitioners (TMPs), herbalists and herb sellers. From the survey, a total of 63 plant species belonging to 33 families were found to be useful in the treatment of cold, malaria, fontanel, diarrhoea, typhoid, chicken pox, measles and small pox. Recipes used in the treatment of these ailments were documented. Herbal remedies were either prepared from dry or freshly collected plants while the traditional solvents of choice includes water, pure honey, lime and aqueous extracts from fermented maize. The methods of preparation were decoction and infusion while method of administration ranges from 1 drop to 1 teaspoonful daily. Survey revealed that leaves form the major part of plant for herbal preparations. Residents in the study area find the traditional medicine cheaper as compared to orthodox medicines. It is therefore implicated that efforts should be made on how to improve on documentation, conservation and standardization of the medicinal plants in Nigeria. Also, attention of the scientists and health officials should be drawn to the importance and various uses of the medicinal plants and they should intensify on the research to reveal other concealed values.
This study evaluated genetic variability and heritability in vegetative and floral characters among two minor legumes (Sphenotylis stenocarpa Ex. A. Rich. Harms and [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] of five accessions each. Six (6) floral and ten (10) vegetative characters were pooled for analysis on one hundred (100) plants of the two minor legumes. Appropriate statistical analyses were employed for comparative evaluation. Significant differences (P = 0.05) were observed in all the traits except rachis length. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed significant contributions of traits in lengths of calyx lobe, stipule, rachis and petiole; also in numbers of flowers per peduncle and of main branches to the expressed variability. The cluster analysis segregated the accessions into two major cluster groups. The broad sense heritability of traits was high (>95 %). The study is important in selection of valuable traits for conservation, management of genetic resources and hybridization programs of the two species.
The study was carried out to investigate the responses of drought stress on wheat tissues. Five wheat cultivars Alta 84 (AL), Atila (AT), Cettia (CE), Norman Bourgluk 2008 (NB) and Seri M82 (SE) were cultivated. Four weeks after planting, healthy plants were subjected to four treatments viz-well-watered (D1), watered daily, drought stress (D2), one weekly watering, drought stress (D3), two weekly watering and drought stress (D4), and three weekly watering. The experiment was a factorial experiment conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates; Transverse section (TS) of the leaves collected were sectioned using microtome, stained and observed under compound microscope. Mesophyll cells, vascular bundles, bundle sheaths and xylem tissues were measured using ocular micrometer. Epidermal peels were prepared to determine the number of stomata and trichomes. When drought stress was imposed (D2, D3 and D4), wheat cultivar Cettia developed larger mesophyll cells, xylem tissues, vascular bundles and bundle sheaths than other cultivars. Thus, larger vascular bundles would facilitate faster movement of water and mineral salts up to the shoot from the root. Cultivar Atila developed higher number of trichomes during drought stress D2 than other cultivars which help to reduce the rate of transpiration of water out of the epidermal leaves. Wheat cultivars Cettia and Atila could be drought tolerant cultivars. Generally, wheat cultivars developed stable stomata number and stomata closure mechanism to cope with drought stress. There was an increase in number of trichomes at D2, D3 and D4 which revealed the ecologically adaptation of wheat plants to drought stress.
The phytochemical and nutritional composition of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. an underutilized vegetable used as substitute for Solanaceous tomatoes by rural dwellers was examined in comparison with majorly cultivated tomato cultivars in Nigeria (Roma VF and Ibadan local). The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina was higher in carotenoid (2053.33 mg/100g), flavonoid (861.67 mg/100g), cardiac glycoside (11.67 mg/100g), alkaloids (93.33 mg/100g), lycopene (118.5 μg/100g), tannin (555.00 mg/100g), oxalate (2.55 mg/100g) and quercetin (5.25 mg/100g) than Roma VF and Ibadan local. However, Roma VF had the highest concentration of saponin (66.67 mg/100g) but there was no significant difference in steroid among the fruits. The Vitamins A, E and C contents of T. cucumerina (5346 μg/100g, 6.23 μg/100g and 25.33 μg/100g) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in S. lycopersicum. T. cucumerina had the highest values of crude protein and crude lipid (1.97% and 0.40%). The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina also had the highest ash and total carbohydrate contents (1.63% and 16.50%). Roma VF was significantly higher in crude fibre and moisture contents (1.77% and 89.40%) than other vegetables investigated. All the evaluated mineral elements (Na, K, Ca Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, P and S) in T. cucumerina compared favourably with S. lycopersicum cultivars. It was observed that T. cucumerina pulp contained an appreciable number of nutrients and secondary metabolites which qualify it as a good substitute to S. lycopersicum.
Aims: One of the ways to manage the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is monitoring of public knowledge, risk perceptions, adherence to preventive measures and preparedness behaviors. This is of utmost importance in resource limited countries. This study determined the knowledge and perception about COVID-19; adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures; as well as predictors of self-perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 among Nigerian adults.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Nigerian adults ≥ 18 years using an online survey. Participants were recruited using the authors’ social networks. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 5% level of statistical significance.Results: Generally, a high proportion of respondents had correct knowledge about COVID-19. However, only about half (49.8% and 49.9%) had correct knowledge that obesity was a risk factor for COVID-19 and that antibiotics cannot be used to treat COVID-19. Most (84.1%) did not have a self-perceived risk of contracting COVID-19. Most (81.0%) have been avoiding crowded places and 61.3% washed their hands very often. Predictors of self-perceived risk of COVID-19 were age 40-59 years (OR 2.05, CI 1.217-3.435), ≥ 60 years (OR 4.68, CI 1.888-11.583) and visiting crowded places (OR 2.27, CI 1.499-3.448).Conclusion: Our study recommends more rigorous public health education aimed at improving COVID-19 outbreak response in Nigerian. Also, physical and social distancing should be emphasized across all age groups with additional focus on the older population.
This study evaluates the antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging ability of whole grain finger millet. The crude extracts were obtained by cold maceration using 80% ethanol and methanol. Concentrated extracts were subjected to radicals of 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde, while the antioxidant constituents evaluated includes total phenol and flavonoid. The results revealed that whole grain finger millet contained 14.65±0.41 and 38.19±0.60 mg QUE/g sample of flavoniods, 36.46±1.09 and 67.10±1.17 mg GAE/g sample of total phenolics and 17.61±0.70 and 35.89±1.32 mg AAE/g sample of total antioxidant capacity for methanol and ethanol respectively. Ethanolic extract of whole finger millet scavenged above 50% hyrogen peroxide, NO and DPPH radicals. Hence, it terminated up to 8.97-65.16% lipid peroxidation reaction chain that may result from auto-oxidation, photo-oxidation and any other oxidation stress that may occur in plant and animal tissues. Therefore, pharmocology attention has to be given to finger millet which showed an effective antioxdants and antiradical capacities. Also, cultivation of finger millet should be encouraged by farmers.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important grains plant that can sustain food security and holds high nutritional values to the benefit of mankind. Activities of salinity in arid and semi-arid region have drastically reduced the production of wheat grains. Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient required by plants in small concentration to aid their growth. This study was aimed at identifying impact of Se on salinity-stressed wheat plants. Wheat seeds were soaked for eight hours in 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L Selenite concentrations and five sterilize-treated seeds were sown in 5 kg quantity of soil. This was subjected to 0, 100 and 200 mM of Sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration, respectively. The study revealed that Se increased production/expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes under salinity stress, thus growth of wheat plants was improved. Although the effects of Se on the wheat plants were concentration-based, nevertheless low lipid peroxidation and plant growth at 150 mg/L of Se were observed. Toxicity of Se to wheat plant could occur when there is no salinity stress. Therefore, farmers are encouraged to prime wheat seeds with 150 mg/L Se when cultivating saline soils.
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