Vol 16, No 4 ,2015, African Scientist

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.

One of the bacterial pathogens implicated worldwide in intestinal illnesses is diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC). This study was conducted to determine the antagonistic effects of Lactobacillus species isolated from soursop (Annona muricata) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruits against DEC isolates using agar well diffusion protocol. Lactobacillus species were isolated from a collection of pineapple and soursop fruits obtained from open markets in Benin City, Nigeria using culture-based methods. The antimicrobial-metabolites producing ability of Lactobacillus spp.

Ethanolic root extract of Anacardium occidentale L. was evaluated for antimicrobial activities against selected clinical isolates. Bacteria and fungi pathogens obtained from the laboratory unit of a functional health facility for this study included Escherichia coli, Kblesiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus sp., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The identities of the bacteria spp. were re-established following standard physical and biochemical routines.

The edaphic enzyme profiles associated with compounded top herbicide; Glyphosate impacted and control soils sourced from a commercial farm setting and a fallow land were determined using routine methodologies. The commercial farm establishment and the fallow farm were sited in Amukpe and Adavware communities both located in Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. The amylase and invertase content of the soils ranged from 11.43 µg glucose/g soil ± 0.24 to 52.15 µg glucose/g soil ± 0.68 and 55.46 µg sucrose/g soil ± 1.25 to 548.13 µg sucrose/g soil ± 15.56 respectively.

Pleurotus tuber-regium also known as the King tuber mushroom is an edible gilled fungus native to the tropics, belonging to the Pleurotaceae. Recent studies have shown its ability to reduce intraocular pressure when compared with antiglaucoma medications in animal models. Manometry has been the time proven and accurate method of determining intraocular pressure especially for research purposes. This study investigated the intraocular pressure reducing ability of P. tuber-regium when compared with Latanoprost (0.005%) in normotensive feline eyes.

Dry eye disease is a public health issue especially in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to compare the visual and ocular symptoms scores in postmenopausal women with and without dry eye using the 5-item Dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) and Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and to correlate the results between the DEQ-5 and OSDI in postmenopausal women with and without dry eye. Fifty-five participants (33 dry eye subjects and 22non-dry eye subjects) completed the two questionnaires (DEQ-5 and OSDI).

Participatory rural appraisal surveys aimed at determining farmers’ perception of plantain production constraints in Port Harcourt metropolis (specifically at Rivers State University [RSU], Nkoplu and the Agricultural Development Programme [ADP] farms, Rumuodomaya) have revealed: poor soil fertility, wind, “drought” and “disease” (in that order of importance) as the major militating factors to plantain (or Musa) production in this region.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of synthetic halogenated organic compounds used in a number of polymer-based commercial and home-use products. They are incoporated in the manufacture of electronics devices, furniture and textiles to increase resistance to flames and to meet set out fire safety standards. Generally, PBDEs are characterized by long range atmospheric transport, high bioaccumulation and toxicities. There is a dearth of information on the concentrations of PBDEs and the pattern of distribution at the various e-waste dump and dismantling sites in Nigeria.