Concentrations of selected heavy metals, nutrient elements and PAHs in farms and produce (cassava tubers and oil bean seeds) from 4-year-old crude oil impacted areas (Ekore and Uduvwoku) and a non-oil-impacted area (Okpe), all in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria, were investigated to ascertain degree of risk posed. A random sampling design was chosen with three replications. Results obtained revealed significantly (P < 0.05) elevated (mg•kg −1) Cd (0.240, 0.140) and Cr (1.327, 3.122) in cassava samples for Ekore and Uduvwoku respectively in comparison to non-detectable amount for those of non-impacted source and exceeded set WHO limits of 0.1 and 0.05 mg•kg −1 respectively. Although PAHs were low, oil spill increased available levels by factor of 2.5 and 5 for Ekore and Uduvwoku respectively. Again, Cd and Cr exceeded WHO limit for study impacted soils. Available N, P and K decreased (%) by 56.1, 28.5 and 2.4 for Ekore and 82.9, 39.9 and 45.5 for Uduvwoku Cassava samples. Nutrient profiling in oil bean revealed % reduction in avaliable N, P and K by 33.7, 47.7 and 57.9 and 28.9, 76.3 and 39.8 for Ekore and Uduvwoku samples respectively. For oil bean, Cd and Cr did not differ markedly between polluted samples but exceeded WHO limits. Other studied contaminants fell within limits. In soils, available N, P and K decreased (%) by 39.6, 79.1 and 27.4 for Ekore and 53, 88.1 and 45.5 for Uduvwoku samples. Low pH of 5.3 and 5.7 in Ekore and Uduvwoku respectively may increase the leachability of Cr into groundwater. Biopersistent Cd and Cr were found to biomagnify up the food chain and may impair major processes. Although PAHs were relatively low, their % composition was more of High Molecular Weight that was less readily biodegraded by indigenous microorganisms, and hence can persist in the environment as carcinogens.

In traditional West African setting, plants are commonly used for cosmetic and medicinal benefits such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiparasitic effect of which Henna (Lawsonia inermis), a natural occurring plant of the lythraceae family is not an exception. A preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening and anti-inflammatory properties of Lawsonia inermis leaves extracted with N-butanol and ethyl acetate was investigated. Standard analytical procedures were observed, and statistical analysis using ANOVA version 20.0 was conducted to analyze for mean ± standard deviation (SD) and the least significant difference (LSD) obtained from the study. Results revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides; while In vivo anti-inflammatory activity wasobserved on a week old cockerel chicks induced carrageenan inflammation post extract administration, using aspirin tablet as control. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract as portrayed could be attributed to the plants rich phytochemical potential.

Snails posses numerous nutritional, medicinal and therapeutic properties, making it an essential component of human nutrition, medicinal and skin health. This study is aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of snail slime obtained from giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). The slime was extracted by low heat method and anti-inflammatory properties was ascertained by inducing paw edema in day old chicks using carrageenan, the phytochemical screening was conducted to ascertain the level of phenols and flavonoids, while the antioxidant properties was determined by DPPH radical scavenging activity, using ascorbic acid as standard. Statistical analysis using ANOVA version 20.0 was conducted to analyze the data obtained from the study. Post study statistics of data (mean ± SD) indicates that the snail slime extract potentially posses anti-inflammatory, relative phytochemical and antioxidant properties at significant (p≤0.05) level, hence validating its use in nutrition, medicinal and cosmetic purposes, and preparations.

Aim: This study investigated the proximate and phytochemical composition of Brachystegia eurycoma leaves. Methods: Crude ethanol extract of B. eurycoma leaves was obtained by cold extraction method.  AOAC method was used for proximate analysis. Phytochemical profiling was done with qualitative phytochemical evaluation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical method. Matching and interpretation of the spectral was done with the National Institute standard and Technology (NIST05) library. Results: The proximate analysis result showed B. eurycoma leaves to be abundant in param­eters evaluated in the order of 31.47±0.43% Carbohydrate > 15.15±0.04% Ash > 14.45±0.15 crude fibre > 13.83±0.32 protein > 13.14±0.22 moisture > 1.97±0.01 fat. Qualitative phytochemical analysis detected alkaloid, saponin, tannin, diterpenes, phenol, quinine, flavonoid, protein, xanthoprotein and cardiac glycoside in the leaves of B. eurycoma. GC/MS data showed that the prevailing volatile bioactive compounds in ethanol leaf extract of B. eurycoma were 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (13.23%), cis-9-Hexadecenal (10.40%), Desulphosinigrin (10.34%), Phytol (7.58%), Hydroquinone (7.23%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (6.61%), Oleoyl chloride (6.10%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (5.89%), Hexadecanoic acid, (2.97%), Benzofuran, 2,3-dihydro-(1.94%), Hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) (1.92%). Conclusion: The result of this preliminary investigation reveals the potentials of B. eurycoma leaves as candidate for food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.

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Abstract:The experiment carried out on grape, lime, orange and lemon fruit juices show that orange juice has the least acidic pH value of 4.09, while lime juice has the highest value of 2.09. Grapefruit had the highest percent of protein content at 0.92% while orange juice recorded the least percentage protein content at 0.51%. Mineral elements analyzed show that lemon juice had the highest potassium and calcium content with value of 195.45ppm and 3.52ppm respectively, while orange juice recorded the highest value of magnesium at a value of 0.426ppm. Lime juice recorded the highest iron content with a value of 2.998ppm. This finding compares the concentration of mineral element and protein level of some fruit juices commonly consumed in some Niger Delta areas of Nigeria, as well as determining their pH values. From the results obtained, citrus fruits are therefore highly recommended for consumption as a result of their high mineral element and low protein contents with exception to lime which might increase the acidity of the body.

Owing to vital roles played by enzymes in the preservation of the make-up of soil ecosystem and functional diversity, the influence of organic manure on the resultant biological quality of a crude oil polluted agricultural soil from a 90 d phytoremediation pot experiment was investigated. A 4-factor phyto-assisted clean-up of crude oil polluted agricultural soil was designed with options of manure amendments, to boost micobial activities. Profiles of β-glucosidases, proteases, dehydrogenases, phosphomonoesterases and respiration were investigated. Analysis of variance of triplicate experiment was carried out. Application of soil conditioner gave no marked dehydrogenase activity, which increased with depletion of available phosphorus. Marked increases in CO 2 release and alkaline phosphatase activity with soil conditioning may implicate beneficial relationship with the abundance of microbial populations. Flooding in some pots correlated with β-glucosidase and respiratory acitivities. A direct relationship between cellulose breakdown, measurable with β-glucosidase activity, organic matter and CO 2 release, measurable with respiratory activity within all soils was found in the present study. Use of organic manure significantly improved CO 2 release by soil biota in hydrocarbon-impacted soil and may be explored for phytoremediation technique.

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the phytochemical constituent of ethanol extract of Aju Mbaise herbal mixture. Study Design: In the course of the experiment, fresh samples of the plants that make up Aju Mbaise were collected and identified as Cnestis ferruginea, Xylopia aethiopica, Uvaria chamae, Palisota hirsuta, Scleria sp., Napoleona imperialis, Dialium guineense, Combretum racemosun, and Heterotis rotundifolia respectively. The fresh plants were air-dried, cut into small pieces and blended before the extraction process. Ethanol was used as the extraction solvent. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Research Laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, in July 2018. Methodology: The qualitative phytochemical analysis was determined by Standard methods described by Sofowara (1993), for testing alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids, while the quantitative phytochemical was estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: The phytochemical result showed the presence of alkaloids (8.69%), flavonoids (19.10%), glycosides (6.86%), hydrogen cyanide (0.92%), phenols (31.56%), saponins (0.83%), steroids (0.94%), tannins (16.80%), and terpenoids (14.31%). Conclusion: The study showed that ethanol extract of Aju Mbaise herbal mixture contains tremendous amount of phytochemicals.