21

The occurrence and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed in urban soils of Udu, near Warri in Delta State, Nigeria. The PAHs were quantified with gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) after extraction and clean-up of the extracts with n-hexane/dichloromethane. The concentrations of ∑16 PAHs in the urban soils ranged from 269 µg kg-1 to 853 µg kg-1 .

The content and risk of nine heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn and Fe) were quantified and assessed in jams consumed in Nigeria. The heavy metal contents were quantified using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after digesting jam samples with mixture of acids. The quantified content (mg/kg) of the heavy metals in the jams ranged from 1 suggesting health concern for individuals consuming these jams regularly.

Whey (cassava wastewater) is an industrial residue obtained from the processing of cassava into various fermented products such as garri, fufu and lafun. Cassava whey mycoflora and their antagonistic activity against Escherichia coli were determined in this report. The associated fungi were enumerated and isolated by standard microbiological methods. The pH value of cassava whey samples was determined using an electrode pH meter while titratable acidity was by acid-base titration. Antagonistic effects of the fungal isolates against previously identified diarrheagenic E.

This study was carried out to investigate the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of pharmaceutical raw materials used in some non-sterile preparations. A total of 16samples of pharmaceutical raw materials and 3 formulated non sterile preparations were subjected to microbial limit test, isolation and characterization of microbial contaminants and physicochemical analysis.

The effects of flood on five genotypes of Cassava (Manihot esculenta), TMEB419, 011371, I98058I, I30574 and 91934 was investigated for a period of twenty (21) days. The plants were subjected to flooding two months after establishment. Results revealed that there are three homogenous groups for chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B. It was observed that the effect of flooding on chlorophyll content of the various genotypes is dependent on time. The longer the duration of flooding the less quantity of chlorophyll in the plant.

This study investigated the compatibility of selected isolates of the medicinal mushroom, Daldinia concentrica of southern Nigeria origin. The pure cultures of the mushroom were prepared on Potato Dextrose Agar. Compatibility was done by pairing the isolates in the Petri dishes. Five millimetre agar block of each of isolate was inoculated in a Potato Dextrose Agar plate in dual cultures with a distance of 2 cm apart. Five replicate plates were prepared for each paired isolates. The controls were the pairs from the same plate of isolate.

Selenium (Se) is a trace element required for many cellular functions in most organisms although also known to be toxic, has a narrow range separating chronic conditions of deficiency and toxicity. This study investigated the effects of exposure to different doses of Se as sodium selenite on some biochemical markers in male albino rats. Twenty-four rats grouped into four with six animals each were used. One of the groups served as control given distilled water and the other three groups were respectively given 16, 32, and 64 ppm Se orally in their drinking water for 4 weeks.

Trees are of great economic value and contribute greatly to life and environmental sustainability. The study evaluates survey of the ethnobotanical and trees diversity at the Ethiope River source Umuaja in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta state, Nigeria. It was done to document the ethnobotanical uses of the diversed tree species by the people of this community which has ecotorism potential. Photographs of trees were also taken to aid identification. A total of 17 trees species of economic values belonging to fourteen (14) different families were documented.

Herbs are increasingly used across the globe; In fact, the World Health Organization reported that most African countries, including Nigeria, depend on herbal medicines for primary health care, without much documented evidence of adverse effects. Agbo polyhebral extract is popular in Nigeria, especially among (but not limited to) the local populace of the southwestern areas. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of malaria alcoholic herbal extract (Agbo) on renal, liver, oxidative stress markers and hematological parameters on wistar rats.

Thirty (30) taxa distributed in 28 species, 2 varieties, 23 genera and 18 dicotyledonous families have been compiled, documented and studied phytodermologicaliy as the traditional leafy vegetables (TLV) of the Benin speaking people of Edo State. Majority of the taxa studied were amphistomatic (30), three (03) were hypostomatic (Vernonia amvgdalina, Trytochiton scleroxylon and Plumbago zylanica,) and one species was epistomatic (Ficus hymenlops). Three (03) types of stomata were observed.