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Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed is a species of a flowering plant. It has a long history of folklore uses, but has not been explored for commercial purpose. Traditionally the hot water extract is used to treat typhoid fever, among other medicinal uses. Despite its numerous acclaimed uses, its full resources are yet to be tapped. This study carried out the phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of this important ancient plant so as to expose some of its potentials. Enough sample of Asclepsias syriaca was collected from around Bingham University campus in Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The sample was dried at room temperature (280C) for 2 weeks. The air-dried plant was separated into root, stem, leaves, and flower/ fruits. The dried stem was pulverized using a mechanical blender. The pulverized stem was then subjected to phytochemical screening and proximate analysis, using standard methods. The results of phytochemical screening revealed high concentration of tannins, saponins and glycosides, with alkalloids and phenols present in lesser concentrations. Proximate analysis result yielded protein (31.35%), crude fat (14.85%), carbohydrate (11.50%), moisture content (2.30%). Most of the phytochemical components found in Asclepias syriaca have been documented to have antimicrobial property, hence, the plant could be a potential effective and cheap cure for many infections. The proximate analysis result also confirmed the nutritive value of this multipurpose plant.

Tomato (Lycopersicum spp) is widely consumed universally because of its high nutritive value, but suffers great post-harvest losses due to microbial attack. This work was carried out to investigate the causative agents of tomato spoilage and the spatial distribution of such causative agents in some selected major markets in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Sixty tomato fruits from each of the four selected markets (total of 240 fruits) were investigated for the microorganisms responsible for tomato fruit spoilage. Eleven microorganisms, comprising of five bacterial species and six fungal species were isolated from the spoilt tomatoes. The bacterial isolates included Micrococcus varians, Lactobacillus fermenti, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp and Klebsiella sp. The isolated fungi included Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporium, Aspergillus flavus, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor mucedo, and Candida tropicalis. They were all positive for the pathogenicity test. The isolated organisms were heterogeneously distributed with remarkable levels of severity across the study area. The bacterial load ranged between 2.09 X 109 and 2.56 X 109, while the fungal load ranged between 2.72 X109 and 3.97 X 10 9. The occurrence and magnitude of the spoilage, and hence economic loss due to microbial attack could be attributable to the biologic, ecologic and environmental factors of the study area. Recommendations were, therefore, made for improved personal and environmental hygiene, good agricultural practice and proper treatment of tomato fruits before consumption to avert the imminent health consequences due to the spoilage microorganisms.

Antibiotic resistance, as well as the evolution and spread of new strains of disease causing agents are of great concern to the global health community. The high cost of antibiotics has made it inevitable to search for cheaper sources of antimicrobials. There has been considerable interest in the use of plant materials as an alternative method of controlling pathogenic microorganisms. Asclepias syriaca is one of such plants that need to be investigated in view of its acclaimed medicinal uses. It has been reported to contain certain bioactive chemicals which could be antimicrobial in action. This work investigated Asclepias syriaca stem for antimicrobial activity. Cold water, Hot water and Methanolic extracts of Asclepias stem were prepared using standard methods. The extracts were used to carry out susceptibility test, determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the stem extract on Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extracts were found to be effective on the three test organisms, with the methanolic extract being most active, followed by hot water extract, then cold water extract. Inhibitory zone diameter ranged between15 to 26mm for Methanolic extract, 14 to 23mm for Hot water extract, and 12 to 20mm for Cold water extract. The extracts were most active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, then Salmonella typhi, and lastly Salmonella typhimurium. The MIC of the extract on Salmonella typhimirium was 200mg/mL for both the Cold and Hot water extracts, but 100 mg/mL for methanolic extract. The MIC of the extract on Salmonella typhi was 12.50mg/mL for Methalonic extract and for both Cold and Hot water extracts. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the MIC was 3.125mg/mL for all the extracts, i.e Cold and Hot water extracts, as well as Methanolic extract. MIC of the standard antibiotic was 3.125mg/mL. The MBC result showed no inhibition by all the extracts on Salmonella typhimurium, even at 400 mg/mL. All the extracts had MBC at 400 mg/mL for Salmonella typhi. All the extracts had MBC at 200 mg/mL on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while MBC of the standard control on all test bacteria was 6.25 mg/mL. From our results, it is evident that Asclepias syriaca stem extracts possesses antimicrobial property which can be exploited to treat Salmonella typhi infection as used traditionally, as well as infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Hepatitis B infection is a global public health problem and is endemic in sub Saharan Africa. This disease has different modes of transmission and the infection is usually common in developing countries, including Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among patients attending Defence Headquarters Medical Centre, Asokoro, Abuja. The work was a random cross-sectional study that included 260 patients during the period of May to July 2020. A rapid diagnostic test kit was used for the screening for HBsAg. Out of the 260 patients tested, 10 were positive, giving a prevalence of 3.8%. The highest prevalence based on age was found among those aged 27 to 36 years with 2.28% seropositivity. The infection was highest among the low class of socioeconomic status with 5.21%. Patients who were not knowledgeable about the disease had a higher prevalence rate of 13.60% and lastly females had a higher prevalence rate of 4.55% compared to males (3.33). The prevalence of Hepatitis B infection is quite high in the studied population, which could have some public health implications. Recommendations have, therefore, been advanced to control and possibly eradicate the disease in no distant time.