Aims: Quantitative phytochemical, proximate and some mineral content of the leaves and stem bark of Spondia mombin, a plant commonly found in Southern Nigeria was studied with a view of ascertaining their nutritional potential and justification for their ethnopharmacological uses. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the research Laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, between        February – March 2019. Methodology: Proximate composition, quantitative phytochemical, and mineral contents of the samples were studied using standard analytical methods of the Association of Analytical Chemist (AOAC). Results: Proximate analysis of the leaves and stem bark showed that there was no significant difference (P  between the carbohydrate and protein content of both leaves and stem bark while the stem bark had significantly higher (P values for ash, fat and fibre when compared to the leaves which incidentally had significantly higher (P  moisture content. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (P  between the leaves and stem bark with reference to tannin, oxalate and phytate, the stem bark, however, showed significantly higher (P  values for alkaloids, saponin and cyanogenic glycosides when compared to the leaves, although flavonoids and phenols were significantly (P higher in the leaves. Mineral (elemental) analysis of both leaves and stem bark indicated the presence of macro and micro minerals in varying amounts. Conclusion: These findings indicated that S. mombin contained an appreciable amount of nutrients and minerals which could be included in the diet to supplement our daily nutrients and animal feeds, while the presence of the phytochemical may justify their use in ethnomedicine for the prevention, treatment and management of diverse health challenges, the phytochemicals may also act as lead compounds in the development of new drugs to counteract the present drug-resistant phenomenon.

In this study, five surface water and sediment samples were collected from five different points along the course of the Udu River, Niger Delta, Nigeria, which were near the human population. Water samples were liquid-liquid extracted with dichloromethane in a separatory funnel, while sediment samples were Soxhlet extracted using a mixture of acetone, dichloromethane, and n-hexane. Quantification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the extracts was done using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ecological risk of PCBs was assessed by comparing the determined PCB concentrations with established guideline values, while health risk was evaluated using non-cancer and total cancer risk models. From the results obtained, only one congener (PCB-167) was present in water samples, with concentrations ranging from 20-1860 ng L-1. For sediment samples, 28 congeners were detected. The concentration of Ʃ28PCBs and the 12 dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) ranged from 5.34-16.1 and 1.07-5.36 ng g-1, respectively. The toxicity equivalence values for dl-PCBs varied from 0.0065-0.018. Compared to guideline values for both water and sediment, the PCB concentration obtained in this study does not pose any ecological risk at all except for one sampled point. Similarly, the hazard index values for non-cancer risk evaluation were < 1 at all but one point, while total cancer risk values were between 1 × 10-6 and 1 × 10-4 at all but one sampling point, indicating no potential risk of developing cancer associated with PCBs in water and sediments of the Udu River.

The research affirmed that Cola nitida L. and Garcinia kola Heckel used in Nigeria are quite different medicinally and nutritionally. The proportions of all nutrients analyzed quantitatively (lipid, moisture, fibre, ash, and protein except carbohydrate) were greater in C. nitida than in G. kola Heckel (p<0.05). C. nitida has a lower energy density than G. kola Heckel (332.20 kcal/g vs 349.10 kcal/g sample) (p<0.05). Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and cardiac glycosides were all significantly greater in G. kola Heckel than C. nitida at p<0.05, in addition to saponin, tannin, and steroids. A 72-hour methanol extraction of kola nuts by cold maceration showed that C. nitida had significantly lower total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents than G. kola Heckel (TPCs: 1815.38±125.90 µg GAE; TFCs: 385.80±37.24 µg QE; and TTCs: 2643.75±36.08 µg TAE/g sample). 2.2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays showed that G. kola Heckel (IC50 = 133.70 ± 0.11 µg/mL) was more effective than C. nitida (IC50 = 226.70 ± 0.21 µg/mL) at the 0.05 level. Studies on anti-inflammation found similar effects for G. kola Heckel and C. nitida (antiproteinase activity IC50 = 162.90 and 223.60 µg/mL; albumin denaturation: IC50 = 155.10 and 347.20 µg/mL; and membrane stabilization: IC50 = 183.50 and 271.70 µg/mL). Thus, it is proposed here that G. kola Heckel, in comparison to C. nitida, may be an acceptable source of energy, an antioxidant, and an anti-inflammatory agent in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors for the benefit of humans.

Jalin Herbal Mannex Liquid (JHML) is a polyherbal formulation from honey, Panax ginseng, Liriosma ovate, and Lepidium mehenil, intended for enhanced sexual performance and improve sperm count in men. JHML was studied via its effect on body weight, biochemical indices and histopathology of the testes. Twenty healthy Wistar rats of 120 -150 g weight were allotted into groups A and B., of ten rats each, group A (control), were given 2 mL/kg B.W of tap water, group B were dosed with 2 mL/kg B.W of JHML for four weeks with the animals allowed access to feed and water ad-libitum. Blood were obtained through heart perforation, kidney and testes were excised, washed with normal buffered saline. Results from the investigation indicated that JHML had androgenic properties with marked significant increase (p˂0.05) in body weight of rats administered with JHML. Significant increase (p˂0.05) was observed in LH, FSH, testosterone and with a concomitant significant decrease (p˂0.05) in PRL. The JHML caused non-significant decrease (p>0.05) on triglycerides and cholesterol but with positive significant effect (p˂0.05) on LDL and HDL. No significant changes (p>0.05) on creatinine, urea, uric acid and serum electrolytes. Testicular sections of rats treated with JHML exhibited normal features, seminiferous epithelium and interstitial tissues with active spermatogenesis. The significant increase (p˂0.05) in testosterone, LH, FSH with a concomitant significant decrease (p˂0.05) in PRL may account for its sex invigorating potential, the non-significant changes observed in some biochemical indices of the rats showed that JHML is relatively safe at the studied dose.

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