The chemical composition of Tetrapleura tetraptera, used traditionally as a spice and in African folk medicine, was determined. The proximate composition (%) based on dry weight was ash (3.17 to 3.48); crude protein (5.13 to 8.65); sugar (3.29 to 39.63); and starch (7.56 to 29.10). The mineral content (mg/kg) based on dry weight was Fe (29.69 to 65.06); Zn (5.35 to 25.16); Cu (4.00 to 12.54); Mg (392.35 to 2951.28); Mn (16.23 to 178.91);, Na (119.48 to 2364.93); Ca (1348.63 to 13839.86); K (8631.09 to 14881.00); and B (1.14 to 6.23). The sugar, starch, Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, Na, Ca; and K contents were different in different sections of the fruit (p < 0 .05). The phytochemicals (mg/100 g) based on dry weight were total polyphenol (38.05 to 2907.15); flavonoid (10.30 to 410.75); saponin (60.80 to 953.40); tannin (135.50 to 1097.50); and phytate (1021.00 to 5170.00). The phytochemical composition in the fruits was generally high and comparable to other commonly used spices, indicating the potential use of 52 Chemical Composition and Health Impacts of Tetrapleura tetraptera 53T. tetraptera as a source of these phytochemicals in traditional medicine.

Variation in the proximate and mineral compositions of twenty nine accessions of grain amaranth (Amaranthus), belonging to five species: Amaranthus caudatus, A. cruentus, A. hybrid, A. hypochondriacus and A. hybridus were evaluated. Results showed that significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in the proximate and mineral compositions among all the species evaluated. Amaranthus caudatus had the highest levels of crude fibre (4.04 g/100g), sodium (8.95 mg/kg), phosphorus (5765.64 mg/kg), magnesium (2219.15 mg/kg) and aluminum (111.09 mg/kg) contents. Amaranthus cruentus had the highest levels of crude fat (8.68 g/100g), zinc (59.49 mg/kg), copper (6.62 mg/kg), manganese (136.44 mg/kg) and calcium (1642.45 mg/kg). Amaranthus hybridus had the highest levels of protein (17.89 g/100g) and starch (38.01 g/100g). Phosphorus was the most abundant mineral present, followed by potassium and magnesium; while selenium was the least abundant mineral element present. The grain amaranth species have higher protein, crude fibre, starch and essential minerals than commonly consumed cereals and hold promise as a healthy alternative to these cereals and their products.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of poultry dropping on changes in total carotenoid, phenolic content, vitamin C, capsaicin and antioxidant activity assay by reducing power and free radical scavenging activity in capsicum annuum L (var. Nsukka yellow). Five poultry dropping (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 ton/ha levels were observed from 2008/2009 dry season on these bioactive compounds. The content of capsaicin responsible for the pungency of peppers varied between 38.1 and 51.4 mg/g dry fruit. Poultry dropping of 20 ton/ha level had the highest phenolic content, capsaicin and antioxidant activities. No relationships between the levels of biologically active compounds represented by vitamin C and carotenoids and the way of fertilization were observed. A strong correlation were observed between pheolic content and antioxidant activity as measured by reducing antioxidant power and free radical (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging assays. The study proposed the nutritional significance of consuming Nsukka yellow pepper cultivated with organic manure because of enhanced functional properties.

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sewage sludge from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with a view to study their contribution to the environmental pollution of the Amathole District in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography joined with micro electron capture detector (µECD). The limits of detection (LODs) of the tested congeners varied from 0.04 ng/g α-Lindane (α-BHC) to 0.49 ng/g (endosulfan sulfate), and the limits of quantification ranged from 0.22 ng/g (aldrin) to 2.17 ng/g δ-lindane (δ-BHC). Total concentrations of the 17 congeners for different seasons in the sludge ranged from 191 to 947 ng/g dw. For the six predominant congeners, the total highest concentration levels were found in this order dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethane (DDD), α-BHC, γ-BHC, aldrin and endosulphate 1, and with values of 1512, 1330, 1095, 998, 994 and 547 ng/g respectively. For this result the contamination levels of some congeners for South African sludge can be categorized as high compared with European countries, but moderate to lower compared to other countries worldwide. Some congener (α-BHC, γ-BHC, aldrin, endosulphate 1, DDD and DDT) contents in the samples exceeded limits set by the European Commission for 1000 ng/g set for Σ DDT and 500 ng/g for other pesticide use of sludge in agriculture.

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