Background Several mechanisms had been exhibited by plants to mitigate deleterious effects of salinity stress. A screen house experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress on the activities of osmolytes (antioxidative and non-antioxidative enzymes) in the leaves of two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)—Ife brown and Ife bpc, with the aim of better understanding the biochemical mechanisms of salt tolerance. Salts of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) at 5, 10 and 15 dS/m concentrations were used for this study. The saline solution was prepared following standard methods. Proline, lipid peroxidase (LP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were determined following standard protocols. Results Results showed that minimum proline content (12.07 mg/g) and maximum proline determination (16.05 mg/g) were observed in Ife bpc at 5 and at 15 dS/m under NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments. The LP content significantly increased in Ife brown at 15 dS/m under NaCl treatment and at 10 dS/m (9.49 mg/g) under Na2SO4 salinity. Minimum GSH content (120 µm/g) and maximum glutathione accumulation (138.97 µm/g) were observed in Ife bpc in the stressed cowpea seedlings (5 and 10 dS/m) under NaCl treatment with respect to the control. Also, SOD activities in the leaves of Ife brown increase with increase in salinity stress in both NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments. Conclusions This study concludes that the accumulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants is capable of detoxifying and scavenging reactive oxygen species, thereby mitigating salinity-induced oxidative damage.

Toxicity of heavy metals above the normal threshold constituted a threat to humanity and biodiversity. Phytoremediation has become a novel and emerging technology of cleaning polluted sites through the use of plants. A study was carried out at the screen house located besides the academic building of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Amaranthus hybridus L. (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae) on a brewery effluent. The parameters investigated include chlorophyll content, the concentration of the metals in the plants, Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Translocation Factor (TF) was studied. Three different concentrations of brewery effluent were used at 50, 100 and 150 mL/5 kg of soil, respectively. The results of this study under controlled conditions indicate that effluent application increased chlorophyll content, reduced plant height and stem girth. Three heavy metals (iron, cadmium, and chromium) were detected in the shoots and leave of both plants after the experimental period. The translocation factor (less than 1) and bioaccumulation factors (greater than 1) were below the permissible limits hence indicating a possible bio-accumulator for the heavy metals investigated. Brewery effluent reduce the plant height but increase the leaf area of A. hybridus under high concentrations which possibly suggest an adaptive mechanism developed by the plant under stress.

Background The study evaluated the prevalence of malaria and Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene (PfCRT) in HIV patients attending Specialist Hospital, Akure. This study was carried out between April and June 2019. Three hundred and seventeen (317) patients attending the antiretroviral clinic (ART) were involved, out of which 89 (28.08%) were males and 228 (71.92%) were females. HIV test was done using the Unigold® HIV test kit, malaria test was done using thick and thin blood smear, CD4 test was done using the Partec® CD4 counter and PCR was used to detect the presence of plasmodium falciparum mutant gene. The data obtained from this analysis was subjected to Pearson’s Chi-square test. Results The overall result showed low prevalence of malaria (23.03%) in the sampled patients. Highest malaria prevalence (31.0%) was recorded in HIV patients with CD4 count between 200–500 cells/μl of blood, with the males recording 24.7% malaria prevalence. The age group 20–29 years recorded the highest prevalence of 27.3%. A higher prevalence 91.1% of PfCRT gene in HIV-positive and (40.0%) in HIV-negative patients was recorded with 100% prevalence in patients with CD4 count ≤ 200. This shows that the low prevalence of malaria recorded in this study could be credited to good health-seeking attitude of HIV patients and the upscale of HIV care and treatment centres. Conclusion The high prevalence of PfCRT gene shows that treatment of malaria with chloroquine is still being practised despite the availability of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) as the recommended regimen for malaria treatment.

Heavy metal contamination of polluted site has become a recurring decimal globally posing a threat to human life and biodiversity. This study was carried out to investigate the bioaccumulation potential and health risk assessment associated with the consumption of two indigenous vegetables Corchorus olitorius L. (Malvaceae) and Amaranthus hybridus (Amaranthaceae) in Akure. Initial pre soil analysis showed that the heavy metal concentration were above the safe limit as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The heavy metals investigated include Cr, Ni, Cd, Fe and Pb for their bioaccumulation factor to provide baseline data regarding environmental safety and suitability of the vegetables for human consumption. Translocation factor, Daily Intake of Metal (DIM), Health Risk Index (HRI) and Oral Refrence Dose (RFD) were calculated following standard methods. This study concludes that different vegetables accumulate and translocate variable amount of heavy metals from the soil into their tissues. Hence, it is not advisable to consume vegetable samples collected from this site based on the permissible limits as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).

Background: The plethora of secondary metabolites inherent in plants that could be synthesized and formulated into useful drugs for the treatment of diseases is not fully understood. This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Aspillia africana and Psidium  guajava plants on some selected bacterial and fungal isolates.Methodology: Fresh and matured leaves of Aspillia africana and Psidium guajava were collected at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. The plants were identified and voucher deposited at the Herbarium unit of the Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife. The pure isolates of the bacteria and fungi were obtained from Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The bacteria isolates were maintained on nutrient agar slant and the fungal isolates on PDA. Extraction of the plant materials using methanol, ethanol and aqueous fractions were carried out using standard protocols. The isolates were inoculated on a nutrient broth. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined by broth dilution method while minimal bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations respectively were determined following established protocols.Results: The results showed that Bacillus cereus, Cornybacterium pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli were all resistant to the plant extracts. The fungal isolates; Candida albicans, Tryptophyton rubrum, Penicillium expansium, and Aspergillus flavus were resistant to Psidium guajava extract as no significant activity was observed. All the plant extracts produced considerable antimicrobial activities with Streptococcus faecalis and Staphyloccocus. aureus. whereas, these organisms were resistant to ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, chloramphenicol, augmentin, ciprofloxacin and septrin.Conclusion: This study revealed that the therapeutic properties of Aspillia africana and Psidium guajava are better enhanced with their synergistic potential to the tested microorganisms.Keywords: Aspillia africana; Bactericidal; Psidium guajava; Synergistic;therapeutic.Background: The plethora of secondary metabolites inherent in plants that could be synthesized and formulated into useful drugs for the treatment of diseases is not fully understood. This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Aspillia africana and Psidium  guajava plants on some selected bacterial and fungal isolates.Methodology: Fresh and matured leaves of Aspillia africana and Psidium guajava were collected at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. The plants were identified and voucher deposited at the Herbarium unit of the Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife. The pure isolates of the bacteria and fungi were obtained from Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The bacteria isolates were maintained on nutrient agar slant and the fungal isolates on PDA. Extraction of the plant materials using methanol, ethanol and aqueous fractions were carried out using standard protocols. The isolates were inoculated on a nutrient broth. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined by broth dilution method while minimal bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations respectively were determined following established protocols.Results: The results showed that Bacillus cereus, Cornybacterium pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli were all resistant to the plant extracts. The fungal isolates; Candida albicans, Tryptophyton rubrum, Penicillium expansium, and Aspergillus flavus were resistant to Psidium guajava extract as no significant activity was observed. All the plant extracts produced considerable antimicrobial activities with Streptococcus faecalis and Staphyloccocus. aureus. whereas, these organisms were resistant to ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, chloramphenicol, augmentin, ciprofloxacin and septrin.Conclusion: This study revealed that the therapeutic properties of Aspillia africana and Psidium guajava are better enhanced with their synergistic potential to the tested microorganisms.