Concerted efforts in search of alternative sources of protein has grown due to dearth of animal protein in developing countries, as food shortage and poverty become more endemic, people increasingly depend on plants rather than animals for proteins in their diets. This work focuses on untapped indigenous wild savannah tree, Acacia sieberiana (seeds) for its nutritional and economical values. The seeds were collected and processed for proximate compositions, phytochemicals and elemental analysis. The high percentage of crude protein content of 49.7% and absence of toxic elements such as Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (Ar), and very low percentage of Lead (Pb) 0.001ml/g has proven that the Acacia sieberiana seeds are very safe and could serve as an alternative source of protein. The result of the quantitative minerals determination shows the presence of Manganese (3.93mg/g), Calcium (2.02mg/g), and Iron (0.11mg/g). The germination trials of the seeds were also carried out, and the result shows that, soaking, heating the seeds at 60 0 C and even the non treated seeds as well as those planted and mulched gave promising results of the plant's seeds germination. The statistical package for social science (SPSS) software was used to analysed the significant differences between the treatments at critical value (p≥0.05).

The essential oil of Monodora myristica was obtained by steam distillation with a yield of 45.6 g kg-'. The composition of the oil was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The oil was found to contain 75 % monoterpene hydrocarbons, the major compounds being aphellandrene (50.4 %), a-pinene (5.5 %) and myrcene (4.35 %). There were also a few sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3 %) and oxygenated compounds such as germacrene-~-4-01 (9.5 %). Gerrnacrene-~-4-01, a-pinene, A2-carene, / Icaryophyllene, valencene, y-muurolol and carvacryl acetate have not previously been reported in M myristica.

The effect of radapertization using 60Co gamma radiation on the chemical and organoleptic properties of ground and whole dry pungent red pepper has been investigated. The fungal population was eliminated with a dose of 7.5 kGy and a dose of 10 kGy was required to radapertize the samples. Irradiation up to 10 kGy did not produce any significant (P > 0.05) changes in the contents of capsaicin and carbohydrate. Oleoresin content was significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 24.45 to 31.61% and lipid from 16.80 to 19.30%. The observed effect on apparent oleoresin and lipid contents was due to enhanced extractability. Storage time had no effect on the sensory properties of the spice but rather enhanced microbial load reduction in the medium dose (5.0 and 7.5 kGy) treated samples. A dose of 10 kGy has been certified to pose no health hazard to humans; hence decontamination of red pepper with up to 10 kGy gamma radiation does not require any further toxicological study and is therefore recommended.

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