Biosciences

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is renowned for its range of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, the toxicity and potential radiation modifying effects of extracts from its entities are not well characterised. The cytotoxic and radiomodulatory effects of aqueous extracts obtained from seeds, leaves and flowers of M. oleifera were evaluated. Cytotoxicity and radiation modifying effects of extracts were assessed in apparently normal Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells), using the colony forming assay. The free radical scavenging activity of each extract was also assessed, using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. At relatively low concentrations of 6.25–100 µg/ml, the seed extract showed about 20% cytotoxicity and yielded radiation sensitizing factors ranging from 1.23±0.07 to 2.38±0.76. The leaf extract was non-toxic at concentrations of up-to 50 µg/ml, but produced ~12% cell kill at 100 µg/ml. With the little or no cytotoxity on its own, the leaf extract was radiosensitizing, with radiation modifying factors ranging from 1.30±0.18 to 1.50±0.26. At all tested concentrations, the flower extract was non-toxic, but significantly enhanced cell growth in unirradiated cultures, showing no effect on cellular radiation response. With the exception of the leaf extract which had a maximum of only 9% free radical scavenging capacity, the other extracts showed no potential as radical scavengers. Aqueous extracts of seeds, leaves and flowers of M. oleifera may potentially be clinically useful as cytotoxic agents, radiosensitizers, and wound healing promoters.

Clean water is absolutely essential for healthy living. Adequate supply of clean drinking water is a basic need for all human being on the earth. Yet it has been observed millions of people worldwide are deprived of this. Freshwater resources all over the world are threatened not only by over exploitation and poor management but also by ecological degradation. The main source of fresh water pollution can be attributed to discharge of untreated waste, dumping of industrial effluent, and runoff from agricultural field. Industrial growth, urbanization and increasing use of synthetic organic substances have serious and adverse impact on fresh water bodies. Developed & developing countries suffer from problems of chemical discharge into the water sources mainly ground water1, and agricultural runoff in water sources. Polluted water causes problem in health. Nowadays heavy metal pollution2 is a serious and most dangerous threat3 to human being which can be prevented by taking some measures. Many areas of ground water and surface water are now contaminated with Heavy metals that have in adverse effect on Health. This study aims to detect the possibilities of ground water quality deterioration due to improper waste dumping with special reference to heavy metal pollution. Since it is well established fact that the heavy metal ions are potentially toxic4,5 to human health and could be quite detrimental for human life.

Phyllanthus niruri L belongs to family Euphorbiaceae is a field weed. Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extract of P.niruri was investigated on in vitro human blood platelet aggregation in terms of PT (prothrombin time) and APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time). In PT activity was observed maximum in aqueous extracts of aerial parts at 1000 µgmL-1, which was 28 times higher than the standard value. Among the plant parts, aerial parts gave better activity than roots. APTT activity was higher in aqueous extract of roots at 750 µgmL-1 and aerial parts at 1000 µgmL-1 that was 10.75 and 9 times higher, respectively over the standard values. The study revealed that P. niruri has potent anti-platelet aggregation properties.

Plant products easily damage due many reasons as one may be susceptibility nature to diseases due high content of water. This research analysis the water potential of plant tissues and its relation to heat stress. Fresh, clean and healthy plants, Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativus), Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), Capsicum (Capsicum annuum), Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were analyzed under different concentrations of sucrose solution followed by the calculation of chlorophyll, carotenoid, and chlorophyll stability index were done for spinach, Spinacia oleracea as model for the study of heat stress using spectrophotometer. Tomato tissue has lowest solute content and high-water potential and sweet potato tissue has highest solute content and lowest water potential. Spinach being leafy vegetable have very high solute content and high chlorophyll stability index. High water potential refers the availability of water in plant products such as fruits, vegetables etc. Solute concentration in tissues is inversely proportional to water potential, higher the solute concentration higher is the chlorophyll stability index and higher is the stress tolerance apart from the other factors affecting stress tolerance.

Health risk assessment of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Cr) in groundwater resource in warri metropolis was confirmed by this research. Twenty (20) hand dug well water were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results showed that Lead ranged in concentration from 0-0.04mg/l. Cadmium ranged from 0-0.040 mg/l. Chromium concentrations ranged from 0-0.004mg/l. The combined hazard index (HI) values via ingestion of water were greater than unity and may poses health risk from oral exposure. Use of concrete ring to protect the dug wells are strongly recommended to avoid storm waters and other lecheates from dumpsites and other industrial waste.

This study aims at analyzing the social and economic impact the exploitation, use and the commerce of Non-Timber Forest Products in the habitats surrounding Kindu city, Nyoka locality, Bilundu and Muyengo villages in order to call on actors for responsible exploitation of these natural resources for their survival and to identify major constraints on the development of the NTFP sector in these areas. The methodology to collect collection was based on the ethnoecologic approach. We surveyed permanent operators and sellers in Kindu (Kindu city, Katako village, Shenge village, Lwama district), Bilundu village on Kibombo road, Nyoka and Muyengo villages on Kalima road. To get more information about socioeconomic aspects of the exploitation of NTFP of plant origin in the survey zone, we identified transformers and merchants in the four survey sites (at random at least 25% of household producers and sellers) for ten months, (between July 2018 and May 2019). Data collection consisted of interviews. The unit of sampling is operators and sellers’ household. We sampled 697 individuals. The results show that: ? 48.4% forest operators in Kindu city exploit NTFP for home consumption and 28% prefer to sellt. In Nyoka locality, 44.3% commercialize NTFP they exploit and 36.3% exploit them for both home and commerce consumption. In Bilundu village, 63% products are more destined to commerce and 21% exploit them home consumption. Operators in Muyengo sell 52% products, and consume 33% in their homes; ? In Kindu, 44% operators allocate their income to their children’s education, 27% to their families’ healthcare, and 21% to food needs. In Nyoka, 73% operators use their income to meet food needs in their households, 13% for their children’s education and 11% for building. In Bilundu, 67.3% allocate their income to food in their homes, 22.2 % to their children’s education. Likewise, in Muyengo village 77% operators allocate their income to food, and 10% to their children’s education; ? 38% operators interviewed in Nyoka village said scarceness of some species impacts on the reduction of production of NTFP in their area, 31% point at progressive remoteness of the collection zone, 13% raise the issue of age to cover longer distances. In village Muyengo, 35% operators say there is decrease of these resources in the area because of progressive remoteness of collection zones, 33% complain about lack customers and 19% remark rarity of some species. In Bilundu village, progressive remoteness of the collection zones constitutes the first major reason of the decrease of production (54%), followed by rarity of some species (27%) and lack of transportation means towards the centers (12%). In Kindu, remoteness of the collection zones is the major cause of the decrease of production, followed by rarity of some plant species in the biotopes (21%) and lack of transportation means (12%).

Cellulase is any of the several enzymes produced chiefly by fungi, bacteria and protozoan that catalyze cellulolytic materials. The aim of the study was chiefly to screen cellulolytic bacteria using different staining reagents. Soil samples were collected from different sites in and outside of Sokoto State University. Cellulase producing bacteria were screened individually by transferring pure cultures of bacteria isolates in CMC agar plates and incubated for 48 hours,. CMC agar plates were flooded with 1 % Congo red and allowed to stand for 15min. at room temperature. One molar NaCl was thoroughly used for counterstaining the plates, and the plates were observed for clear zones around colonies. The same procedure was repeated when CMC plates were flooded with Iodine, Safranin, Crystal violet and lactophenol cotton blue. The result revealed the colonial characterization such as shape, color, size, elevation, and gram reactions were determined for each of the isolates. A Total of 12 isolates were obtained from which 8 showed cellulolytic activities when screened using Congo red on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), agar plates most of them were gram negative rods..The isolates labeled KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS6, and KS7 produced clearance zones when stained with crystal violet, the isolate labeled KS2. KS3, KS4, and KS8 produced clearance zones when stained with lactophenol cotton blue, the isolates KS4, KS6, KS7 and KS8 produced clear zone when stained with iodine while Safranin produced no clear zones when used to stain the CMC agar plates The study revealed that other staining reagents could be used to screen cellulolytic bacteria and this reagents are more readily available.

Hypothyroidism is a progressive metabolic disorder associated with decreased levels of T3 and T4 and increased TSH level. It is a common disease seen in females compared to males. Hypothyroidism being a metabolic disorder is associated with oxidative stress, which involves generation of free radials. The thyroid gland produces H2O2 by NADPH Oxidase system of the membrane and it utilizes H2O2 as a substrate of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) for thyroid hormone formation. In the present study T3, T4 and TSH was estimated to establish hypothyroidism and MDA and vitamin C to the asses the oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status respectively in the individuals. The study revealed an increased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant depression in antioxidant status.

Pseudomonas aeruoginosa, a bioreporter strain was used as an indicator to monitor quorum-sensing inhibition. Quorum sensing (QS) is a system of stimulus and response correlated to bacterial population density. The increasing incidence of multi-drug resistant pathogens has stimulated the search for novel anti-virulence compounds. Although many phytochemicals show promising anti microbial activity, their power lies in their anti-virulence properties. It is hypothesized that many naturally occurring terrestrial plants, algae and fungi traditionally used as medicines may also produce anti-QS compounds. To test this hypothesis, Pleurotus florida, the oyster mushroom was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively for its anti-QS activity using Pseudomonas aeuroginosa. A special swarm media that allow swarming motility growth of Pseudomonas aeuroginosa was used to conduct inhibition of swarm motility assay using mushroom extract. The methanol and chloroform extracts of the mushroom was tested for their inhibition of AHL (Acyl-Homoserine Lactone) production and biofilm formation. Inhibition of AHL for methanol extract ranged from 37.89-58.94% and for chloroform extract ranged from 50.05-70.05% at a concentration of 100-500µg/ml. Inhibition of biofilm formation for methanol extract ranged from 33.9-83.9% and for chloroform extract ranged from 60.07-82.1% at a concentration of 100-500µg/ml. The results of this study provided evidence that organic solvent extracts of the mushroom Pleurotus florida exhibited appreciable antiquorum sensing property and it justifies their use in the traditional medicine for the treatment of different multi-drug resistant microbes.

Direct gamma spectrometry study was carried out within the Adenta municipality in the greater Accra Region of Ghana to ascertain a baseline radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials in borehole water at the Adenta Municipality. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in twenty boreholes were measured. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the samples ranged from0.27 ±0.05Bq/L to 1.83 ±0.55Bq/L, 0.11±0.06Bq/L to 4.29±0.27Bq/L and 1.24 ±0.16Bq/L to 28.75 ±4.82Bq/L respectively. The average activity concentration values were 0.77±0.42, 0.93±0.62 and 9.77±4.55 Bq/L respectively. The total committed annual effective doses due to intake of natural radionuclides in the borehole water was estimated to be 40.29±48.82µSv/yr, which is far below the World Health Organization recommendation limit of 100µSv/yr. However, four of the boreholes exceeded the WHO recommended limit for total committed annual effective dose. The results obtained in this study shows that some of the inhabitants in Adenta municipality were expose to a significant radiological health hazards due to drinking water from the boreholes in the municipality. The results from this study will serve as a baseline data for future research in the study area.