No abstract

The use of medicinal plants as a core component of the traditional African health care system is perhaps the oldest and most diverse of all therapeutic approaches. Traditional herbal healers are, in many parts of rural Africa, the most readily accessible and affordable health resource available to the local population and, at times, the only surviving treatment. Finding a suitable solvent is important to obtain a high yield of antioxidants in the phytochemicals present in C. africana. Among the solvents, methanol displayed the highest capacity in extracting glycosides (223.12±1.20 mg LE/g dry weight) phenolics (89.09±0.24 (mg GAE/g dry weight) and flavonoids (80.88±0.24 mg QE/g dry weight) from C. africana stem bark extract. Closely related trend was observed in glycosides, phenolics and flavonoids extracted with n-hexane. These findings suggest a high number of polar glycosides and phenolics in the stem extract of C. africana. These findings validate the pharmacological activities of the plant in Africa.

The study focused on two objectives which are to find out the frequency of patronage of university library information resources and services in North-Eastern Nigeria and to Establish the reasons why clients patronize university library information resources and services in North-Eastern Nigeria. Two research questions were used and two hypotheses in guiding the study. The population of the study is five thousand, forty-eight (5048) registered university library clients across five Federal University libraries in the region, a sample of four hundred and four (404) respondents were drawn using a nonprobability convenience sampling technique. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistical technique in analysing the data while the hypotheses were analyzed using inferential statistical method. the finding of the study shows that only thirty-six (36) % of university library clients patronize their library information resources and services frequently in North-Eastern Nigeria. The study equally reveals that, the major reason why university library clients in North-Eastern Nigeria patronize their university libraries is the conducive library environment for learning with a mean of 1.58 and (58.1%). Other factors like availability of relevant information resources, library staff attitude amongst others that were presented to the respondents recorded low responses. It was also established by the study that, there is no significant difference in the frequency of patronage of university library information resources and services across the five university libraries that were studied with P <0.05, and X2 calculated > X2 computed at df 4. Similarly, no significant difference was recorded on the reasons why clients patronize university library information resources and services in the North-Eastern Nigeria with P < 0.05, X2 calculated > X2 critical at df 4. It was recommended that, the managements of university libraries in the North-Eastern Nigeria must make the libraries more attractive for their clients by providing more relevant and up-to-date information resources and services. They are also to provide the type of services that will meet the needs and peculiarities of their clients.

The use of medicinal plants as a fundamental component of the traditional African health care system is perhaps the oldest, sustainable and most diverse of all therapeutic methods. Traditional medicinal herbal healers are, in many parts of rural Africa, the most readily accessible and inexpensive health resource available to the local population and, at times, the only surviving treatment. The Phytochemical analysis of Commiphora africana was carried out in three different organic solvents n-hexane, methanol and aqueous. Preliminary qualitative analysis revealed the presence of all the Phytochemicals analysed except anthraquinone and steroids. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that n-hexane fraction of Commiphora africana contains more phenolics and glycosides (6.2 ± 0.02, and 7.2 ± 0.1) respectively as compared to flavonoid (4.1± 0.03). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of n- hexane extract of the plant using three standard flavonoids rutin, quercitin and gallic acid showed comparable RT values. From the calibration curve, it was compared and revealed the presence of more quercitin (60%) followed by gallic acid in a negligible amount. Quercetin has specific biological properties, which can enhance mental / physical efficiency and reduce the risk of infection.