Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed to profile the nutritional and phytomedicinal properties of the plant in order to justify its relevance in traditional phytomedicine and advocate its application in novel pharmacological products. Using standard methods (High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry), the dried rhizomes were washed, pulverized and ethanol extracts subjected to proximate, phytochemical, vitamins, amino acid and mineral determinations. Data obtained were analyzed using student's t-test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Determined proximate indices indicated moisture content of 9.55%, carbohydrate (57.30%), ash (24.70%), crude fiber (1.12%), proteins (2.15%) and fat (5.32%). Mineral composition analyses showed that C. longa rhizomes had higher contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in parts per million (ppm) at 38.68 ± 0.114, 19.75 ± 0.001, 9.20 ± 0.002 and 7.06 ± 0.014 respectively. Amino acid profile revealed the presence of both essential and non-essential types with aspartate and glutamate in higher contents at 9.78 g/100 g and 9.65 g/100 g, respectively. Findings showed also the presence of vitamins A, C and D at 254.5 ± 2.19 mg/kg, 19.47 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 10.92 ± 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds with high retention times. This study thus revealed that C. longa possesses various nutritional and pharmacological/medicinal components in considerable quantities and can provide the body with basic nutrients for its therapeutic needs as well as secondary compounds with tremendous phytomedicinal potentials.

Citrus aurantium remains an excellent source of vitamins and phytochemicals. C. aurantium has been associated with lots of medicinal uses ranging from weight management to the treatment of nausea, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This study therefore aimed at determining the acute and sub-chronic toxic effects of C. aurantium (Lemon) fruit juice in Wistar rats. The median lethal dose (LD50) for the extract was determined by Lorke’s method. A total of 20 rats of mean weight of 125 ± 5 g randomized into 4 groups of five rats each was used for the study. Groups B, C and D were administered 2ml/kg, 4ml/kg and 8ml/kg bodyweight of the extract for 3 months while group A served as the control. Random blood glucose levels of rats were monitored on monthly basis. Blood samples were collected for various biochemical assays like kidney and liver functions, serum lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and electrolyte levels using standard diagnostic methods. Results showed a lethal dose of 70ml/kg body weight. Creatinine and urea levels were observed to decrease markedly in groups C and D against control. Significant reductions in the liver function parameters were noted for the test groups when compared with the control with a comparative significant (p<0.05) increase in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase within the test groups. There was also a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides within the test groups as compared with the control. The findings suggest that prolonged administration of C. aurantium does not exert any serious chronic toxicity involving tissue and organ damage. It can also be inferred that the fruit juice of C. aurantium could be employed to remedy numerous maladies that affect the body based on the lethal dose.

Background: Anemia is a condition in which there is a reduced number of red blood cells or haemoglobin and iron concentration in the body thereby leading to a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body tissues. Objectives: The study was designed to investigate the effect of a combination of ethanol extract of Ficus capensis and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats. Methods: The animals were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group A served as normal control, Group B as anemic control, group C as standard drug control, groups D and E were treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of combined ethanol leaf extract of F. capensis and C. aconitifolius respectively. Phenylhydrazine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. for two days to induce anemia in rats. The administration of the extract lasted for 14 days after which the animals were sacrificed and blood obtained through cardiac puncture for kidney and liver biomarkers analyses. Results: Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, Total bilirubin, Direct bilirubin and Kidney function parameters assayed in the anemic untreated group showed significant increases (p<0.05) compared to the normal rats which may be attributed to toxicity induced by phenylhydrazine. The groups treated with the ethanol extract at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight revealed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the liver function parameters compared to the anemic untreated group. The creatinine and urea levels of the anemic untreated group increased more than the that of the test groups although the increase was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study suggests that combined ethanol leaf extract of F. capensis and C. aconitifolius is safe and can be effective in the treatment and management of anemia.

Aim: Citrullus lanatus is a fruit widely consumed for its pulp though incompletely, as its other parts (seed and rind) are discarded and may possibly offer bioactive compounds involved in ameliorating certain disease conditions. Hence, this study aimed at comparatively investigating the nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of the seed, pulp and rind of C. lanatus so as to inform the inclusion of these different parts into the fare of the people. Methodology: Standard analytical methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used to determine proximate, phytochemical, vitamin, mineral and antioxidant aspects of the fruit parts. The results were analyzed using Student’s t-test at .05. Results: The proximate analysis showed a high moisture value in the pulp (93.34 +/- .82) followed by the rind (77.11 +/- 3.44) and the seed (10.00 +/- .48). High crude protein and fiber contents were both noted in the seed followed by the rind and pulp. Mineral determinations revealed potassium to be abundant in the rind (452.31mg/kg) than the seed (305.7mg/kg) and the pulp (100.5mg/kg), followed by calcium occurring more in the rind (292.61mg/kg) than in the pulp (257.21mg/kg) and seed (227.45mg/kg) and then manganese being the least concentrated among the minerals. The investigated phytochemical principles revealed the highest concentration of cardiac glycosides in the seed (14.82 +/- .66) than the rind (1.95 +/- 0.80) and pulp (1.10 +/- 0.17), followed by saponins occurring most in the rind (12.05 +/- 3.91) than the seed (10.17 +/- 0.63) and pulp (.13 +/- .01). The seed had the highest DPPH scavenging activity followed by the rind and pulp respectively. The seed also showed a higher reducing power and lipid peroxidation capacities than the other fruit parts suggesting a potent property for antioxidant activity in the fruit parts of C. lanatus. Conclusion: The findings imply that both seed and rind of C. lanatus can be good sources of nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant components in addition to the pulp which is commonly consumed and these may be implicated in management of certain diseases with further evidential research.

Aim: The incidence of heart-related disease conditions due to consumption of cholesterol containing oils and the increasing global demand for oil for domestic and industrial purposes have necessitated the need for scientific evaluation of other neglected indigenous plants for potential quality oil yield. This study thus aimed at extracting and comparing physicochemical and nutritional properties of seed oils from Glycine max and Sesamum indicum with a view to diversifying alternative sources of oil to meet teeming industrial and health needs and for food security. Methodology: Solvent extraction method was employed to extract oil from seed samples which were further subjected to estimation of physicochemical indices such as free fatty acid, saponification value, iodine value, peroxide value, specific gravity, refractive index, density, pH, melting temperature and viscosity according to methods described by using titration method. Results: Findings indicated higher saponification (412.33 mgKOH/mg), acid (2.99 mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (1.49 mgKOH/g), viscosity (0.13 Pas) and melting point (5.66 oC) values for sesame seed oil than for soybean seed oil. However, soybean seed oil showed higher density (0.837 g/ml), specific gravity (0.842 Kg/m3), pH (6.21), iodine (47.25 wij’s or g/iodine/g) and peroxide (40.80 mEq/Kg) indices than that obtained for sesame seed oil though mean values were not significantly different. Conclusion: From observed measured parameters, sesame seed may be suitable for industrial purposes such as the production of soap and paint owing to its high saponification, free fatty acid, viscosity and melting point values while soybean seed oil may be excellent source for domestic and nutritional consumption in addition to industrial use.