Volume 17, No 1 , 2016

The study was aimed at generating callus from immature inflorescence and young leaf explants of coconut (Cocos nucifera L). Eeuwen’s medium which was supplemented with Murashige and Skoog macro salts, 6- Benzylamino purine (BAP) and 6-y dimethylally amino purine (2iP) at concentration of 1 mg/l each, was used as the culture medium. The effect of different concentrations of growth regulators when added to the culture medium was tested on callus generation.

Solanum melongena L. (round variety) is an eggplant that is commonly called “garden egg” in Nigeria. The unripe fruit is often eaten as snack, dessert or vegetable. The dried fruit powder was evaluated for its alkaloid, flavonoid and fatty acid profiles by Gas Chromatography (GC). The vitamin profile was estimated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The alkaloid profile showed the presence of high amounts of solamargine (134 ± 0.719 mg/100g) and solasonine (115 ± 0.455 mg/100g), with other alkaloids present in lower amounts.

Fresh vegetables water leaf (Talinum traingnlare), pumpkin leaf (Telfairia occidentalis) and scent leaf (Ocinum gratissimum) collected from urban markets in Benin City, Nigeria, were investigated for the presence of Vibrio species using standard microbiological techniques. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates against a panel of 13 antibiotics, was carried out according to the method described by The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCCLS).

Phaseolus vulgaris L. seeds were grown in soil treated with different concentrations of cadmium to investigate its effect on germination and growth. The seeds were sown in three replicates of 5 kg soils treated with 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg of cadmium and control. Toxicity effects increased with increasing concentration. Germination was significantly affected as data recorded for the various treatment showed great inhibition along the concentration gradient. Cadmium treated soil of 100 mg/kg caused death to experimental plants before 28 days.

Senna alata and Senna podocarpa are medicinal plants widely used in complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of various diseases, in southwestern Nigeria. The in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of a formulation composed of methanolic leaf extract of S. alata (75%) and S. podocarpa (25%), on Human Epithelial Squamous Carcinoma (HEp-2) cells was investigated.

Cisplatin is a very effective chemotherapeutic agent used in treating various types of cancer, but its application may have damaging effects on testicular morphology. In this study, the effect of vitamin C, a known antioxidant, on cisplatin-induced testicular damage was investigated. Thirty Wistar rats were grouped into six groups (A-F) of five rats per group. Cisplatin was given as a single dose of 8 mg/kg body weight 24 hours prior to daily vitamin C administration at l00 mg and 200 mg respectively, for two weeks in 2 ml distilled water by gastric gavage.

Sustainable use of soil on which agriculture depends is absolutely necessary for agricultural productivity. Soil samples were collected from two auto-mechanic workshops sited at Technical College Road (Station A) and Textile Mill Road (Station B) while the control was at EDPA Housing Estate, all in Benin City with the aid of a split soil core sampler at a depth of 0  10cm. The Physicochemical parameters of the samples were analysed using standard methods and revealed pH mean value of 7.27 at station A and 6.83 at station B respectively.

Phytochemical properties of the extracts of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and bulb of garlic (Allium sativum) indicate the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoid and phytic acids. Extracts of Z. officinale and A. sativum were more effective in the treatment of oral pathogens when compared to antifungi (Ketoconanzone) and antibacterial (ciprofloxacin) drugs used as positive controls. Z.

The growth of seeds and tubers is a major concern due to increased salt stress and widespread accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural land. Amylase is an important enzyme involved in germination processes and seedling development. This study was carried out to determine the effects of salt stress and heavy metals on the activity of amylase in in vitro germinated Cyperus esculentus. Sodium chloride (NaCl), at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mM, were used to evaluate the effect of salt stress.

The aim of this research was to assess the efficacy of different extracting solvents on the phytochemical, antibacterial and synergistic effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum and Citrus aurantifolia. Four bacterial species: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as test organisms and the antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined by the agar-well diffusion method.