Evaluation of nutritional, anti-nutritional and some biochemical studies on Pleurotus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer using rats was undertaken with standard methods. Results of nutritional contents such as proximate composition revealed moisture (11.67%), crude protein (21.31%) and total carbohydrate (51.58%). Vitamin composition showed the presence of vitamins A (0.17 mg/kg), B2 (0.62 mg/kg), B3 (0.45 mg/kg), B6 (0.84 mg/kg), and D (0.82 mg/kg). Important minerals such as potassium (20.75 mg/100 g), calcium (41.14 mg/100 g), magnesium (0.70 mg/100 g), and iron (17.80 mg/100g) were found in the studied sample with nine essential amino acids. P. squarrosulus sample revealed sums of polyunsaturated fatty acid of 13.14% and saturated fatty acid of 86.85%. Result of anti-nutritional composition of P. squarrosulus showed the presence of saponins (5.11 mg/100 g), oxalate (0.28 mg/100 g), phytate (0.75 mg/100 g) among others. The anti-nutrient to mineral molar and mineral weight ratios of the studied sample were within the recommended critical values/ideal ratios for bioavailability. Amino acid groups positioned the studied sample as having more non-essential amino acids than essential ones; with total neutral amino acids being the highest while total sulphur-containing amino acid was the lowest. Results of biochemical studies implicated P. squarrosulus as a weight reducing recipe, which can lower cholesterol levels, influence haematological indices positively, and lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) liver enzymes. However, P. squarrosulus increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lowered reproductive hormonal levels in test rats when compared to experimental control and those placed on reference foods. Since ALP increase is associated with the prostate, there is need to extend the study on P.squarrosulus to accommodate its effect on prostate and reproduction. This study has evaluated the nutritional, anti-nutritional and some biochemical studies on P.squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer using rats.

In view of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus, this study evaluated the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Vinca major L. on biochemical parameters and glucose level of alloxan induced diabetic rats as objective. Sixty-four male Wistar albino rats were induced with diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection and were separated into four groups (1-4) of sixteen rats each. Group 1 served as the control while groups 2 to 4 served as the test groups. Apart from the control, the test groups were treated with different concentrations of the leaf extract, and four rats from each group were sacrificed every seven days for assessment. The treatment period lasted for 28 days. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels in groups 3 and 4 rats significantly increased (p<0.05) against the control throughout the number of days of the study. Red blood cell (RBC) levels in groups 2 and 4 increased significantly (p<0.05) against the control on the 14 th day, while all the test group rats had significantly increased (p<0.05) RBC levels on the 21 st and 28 th days of the study. The observed trend followed by electrolyte ions, urea and creatinine in test rats against the control in the present study, may be attributed to V. major leaf extract trying to salvage the excretory organs of alloxan battered diabetic rats. Glucose level, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) liver enzymes reduced significantly (p<0.05) in test rats against the control. Diabetic rats treated with V. major leaf extract in this study, showed significant improvements on those associate problems of diabetes which include anaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hepatic necrosis and inflammation. Rats treated with the leaf extract also showed reduced glucose level (Hypoglycemia). From the observations of this study, extract from leaf of V. major may be effective against diabetes and some of its associate problems.

The study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of bi-herbal formulation of aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity and liver injury in rats. Forty (n=40) male Wistar albino rats were procured and separated into five groups. Groups I and II served as normal control and experimental control respectively. Groups III to V served as test groups. Rats of experimental control (group II) and test groups were induced with lethal dose of gentamicin. Test groups III and IV were placed on herbal formulation of aqueous extracts of V .amygdalina  and G. latifolium respectively, whereas rats in test group V received bi-herbal formulation of aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina and G. latifolium. Nephrotoxic indices such as urea reduced significantly (p<0.05) in test groups (III, IV, and V) when compared to experimental control (group II) and normal control (group I). Creatinine also reduced significantly (p<0.05) in test groups III and V against group II (experimental control), and increased insignificantly (p>0.05) in test group V when compared to normal control (group I). Rats induced with gentamicin had upsurge in liver enzymes indicating possible compromise of hepatocellular integrity but the ameliorating effects of the herbal formulations were seen clearly in test groups in this study as they tried to protect the hepatocellular integrity. The bi-herbal formulation of aqueous extract of 5% v/v each of V. amygdalina and G. latifolium offered the best protection as observed in this study. This study has revealed the protective effects of bi-herbal formulation of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina  and G. latifolium against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity and liver injury in rats.

Chemical composition of three different eggplant fruit species was studied using standard methods. Solanum aethiopicum, Solanum melongena and Solanum macrocarpon fruit species were used as samples. Results obtained showed high moisture, phytate and oxalate contents in the investigated fruit species. Vitamin concentrations of the investigated fruits ranged from high to low. One or two of the investigated fruits possessed a higher amount of the chemical compounds than others. This study has shown the comparative study of the chemical composition of three different eggplant fruit species.

Studies on biochemical effects of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats were undertaken. One hundred albino rats of Wistar strain were obtained and divided into five groups of twenty rats each and properly treated with the aqueous extract after four out of the five groups were induced with diabetes. The diabetic induced groups were diabetic control, test groups I (treated with 200 mg/kg) and II (treated with 50 mg/kg), and reference (treated with the standard glibenclamide). The diabetic free group was designated as normal control. Results obtained revealed that oral administration of aqueous extract of C. papaya leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats significantly reversed the damage associated with alloxan-induced diabetes revealing its hypoglycemic, liver and renal function integrity effects. The presence of phytochemicals and phytonutrients found in C. papaya could explain the observed pharmacological property of the studied extract. This study has revealed the biochemical effects of aqueous extract of C. papaya leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats.