Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a life-threatening condition affecting alcoholics who ceased or decreased their alcohol consumption. The synthetic drugs used to manage these consequences are not without undesirable effects; hence, the need for a natural and affordable approach is raised. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the effect of aqueous extract of gum arabic (GA) on hepato-renal functions during ethanol withdrawal syndrome in Wistar rats. Methods: In phase I, dose-response for GA and alcohol for the study were determined. In phase II, the effect of GA on biomarkers during AWS was studied. A total of 60 male Wistar rats were used for the study. Blood and tissue samples were obtained at the end of stipulated periods of oral administration for biochemical and histological analysis, and biochemical parameters were analyzed by spectrophotometry. Results: In the dose-response study, there were no significant differences (P≥0.05) in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as well as in total bilirubin (TBIL), malondialdehyde (MDA), sodium ion (Na+), potassium ion (K+), and creatinine concentrations in groups treated with 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) and 400 mg/kg bw GA aqueous extract compared to the control group. However, significant alterations were observed in groups treated with 600 and 800 mg/kg bw GA extract. Furthermore, rats that received 5.5 mL/kg bw alcohol showed marked changes in biochemical parameters compared to the group that received 4.5 mL/kg bw and the control group. The results obtained in Phase II exhibited the hepato-renal protective effect of GA during ethanol withdrawal. Statistical analysis of the obtained results indicated a better response from the study groups that were pre-treated or co-administered with GA compared to the group that was post-treated. Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that GA aqueous extract offered better protection prophylactically than curatively.

Small holder rubber farmer that account for over 75% of rubber production in Nigeria has withdrawn from production as a result of income gap created by the long gestation period of rubber amidst other agronomic challenges, hence the need to create an agronomic system that will incorporate other compactable short duration to generate additional and early source of income and take care of other agronomic challenges. An experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to evaluate the influence of rubber effluent and NPK fertilizer on the performance and fruit quality of snake tomato in a three and four year old (an existing) rubber plantation. The treatments include sole rubber, sole snake tomato and their intercrop combinations with rubber effluent and NPK laid out in randomized complete block design replicated thrice. Data were collected on vine length, vine girth, number of leaves, leaf area, fruit yield and its components, nutrient content and uptake. Growth parameters measured increased with increase in rubber effluent application however NPK fertilized plants were superior to rubber effluent treated plant at increased dosage as there was no marked difference between plants treated with effluent at 70kgN-1 rubber effluent and NPK treated plants, it was also observed that the fourth year plant were higher than the third year. Nutrient content was observed to increase with fertilizer application as non fertilized had the lowest nutrient content, the least uptake was observed in the non fertilized plants.