The chemical and physical analysis of Diamond, Pure Chem, Dangote and Elephant cements in respectively. The coefficient of variation suggests that there were no significant differences between all these factors except free lime. Pure chem has a free lime value of 2.28 which is highly significance compared with others. An empirical equation has been suggested to predict the variation of the compressive strength against time, which agrees very well with the experimental results.

ABSTRACT. Major and trace metals (Mg, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Sn, Al, Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Mn and Ti) in liquid effluents, soil sediments and plant parts (roots and leaves) from Tisco Nigeria Limited, Akure, were determined in both open effluent channel and closed direct tank. The plant in the open effluent channel was Pennisetum purpureum while the one around the direct tank was Chloris pilosa. The correlation coefficient (Cc) of the metals in the open channel gave the values: soil sediments/water (0.61), roots/leaves (0.709); and (0.34), (0.91), respectively, in direct tank. Ftest values showed that 67 % of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the samples. The soil sediments would serve as reservoir for all the metals determined. This was also the case for both plant roots with species variation. The plant leaves showed evidence of bioaccumulation of some metals. The high levels of Pb, As and Cd in the samples call for concern as environmental contaminants.

This study determines the proximate, mineral, amino acid and anti-nutritional compositions of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) kernel and pulp using standard analytical methods. The result showed that the contents of crude fat and protein in the kernel are higher than that of the pulp. The only minerals whose values ranged between 40.0 to 200 mg/100 g were P, Ca and Na for the kernel and pulp samples but values of other minerals (Mn, Fe, Zn, K, Cu and Mg) were below 10.00 mg/100 g on wet weight basis. Amino acid analysis of kernel and pulp showed concentrations of TAA (57.92 and 57.48 g/100 g crude protein), TEAA (27.10 and 19.04 g/100 g cp) and TNEAA (30.82 and 38.44 g/100 g cp). Arginine was the most concentrated EAA in both the kernel and pulp samples. Except for the alkaloid, the kernel sample contained higher concentrations of anti-nutritional factors than the pulp. Generally, Vitellaria paradoxa kernel and pulp contained nutritive minerals and sufficient proportions of EAAs however, supplementation of all the EAAs will be required in order to meet up with FAO/WHO dietary requirements. Also the high contents of some of their anti-nutrients may pose a nutritional problem in their consumption.

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Background: Over exposure to Ultra Violet (UV) radiation is one of the most significant external stress-inducing factors resulting into occurrence of skin pigmentation among others in human body. The biological implication of such disorders is not only limited to premature skin aging and cancer, but also resulted into economic loss of perishable agricultural products. Methods: Methanol extracts of ten (10) medicinal plants with skin health traditional history were selected for this study. The biological profile of the extracts was assessed in an in-vitro system using colorimetric assays: tyrosinase inhibition, Ferric-ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Trolox Equivalent Absorbance Capacity (TEAC) and Fe II-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation. Results: Representative of asteraceae such as Laggera pterodonta (S3); Ageratum conyzoides (S4) and Chromolaena odorata (S5), while Euphorbia convoluloides (S8) were found to possess good anti- tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 177.50; 125.08; 167.58; 161.92) μg/ml respectively, in which the rate of formation of dopachrome proceeded via pseudo second order kinetic using the Largergren model. Other notable inhibition of oxidative stress displayed by the methanol extracts includes S7 (FRAP = 1905.12 ± 2.85 µM AAE/g); S1 & S6 (TEAC = 2163.48 ± 2.80; 1044.35 ± 28.99) µM TE/g, while S7 & S9 showed highest inhibitory activities on Fe II-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 33.625; 35.125) µg/ml, respectively in competitive manner to that of the commercial anti-oxidant EGCG (IC50 = 36.250 µg/ml). Conclusion: The outcome of the biological properties of the selected plant extracts in this study suggested the existence of relationship between the traditional claims and the scientific data therein.