The volatile composition of the leaf, stem-bark, and nut of Artocarpus camansi (Moraceae) were studied. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation in a modified Clevengertype apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 32, 11, and 26 compounds were identified, representing 99.09%, 99.45%, and 99.89% of the leaf, stem-bark, and nut oils, respectively. The main constituents of the leaf oil were m-xylene (36.82%), myristaldehyde (25.36%), phytol (6.21%), ethyl benzene(7.25%); those of the stem-bark were m-xylene (61.32%), o-xylene (18.76%), and ethyl benzene (16.21%); while the components of the nut oil were lanosteryl acetate (23.9%), olean-12-en-3y acetate (23.63%), 24-methylene cycloartenol (17.57%), mxylene (15.26%), and squalene (2.85%). The leaf oils showed low activity against Shigella flexenari, Epidermic MethicilinResistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA-17), Epidermic Methicilin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA-16), drugresistant clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (DRPA) and moderate activity against Samonella typhi. The stem-bark oil showed low activity toward P. aeruginosa and EMRSA-17 but was moderately active toward Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. The nut oil also showed low significant activity toward P. aeruginosa, EMRSA-17, and EMRSA-16, and was active toward E. coli, S. flexenari, S. typhi, and drug-resistant clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa. ARTICLE HISTORY

A new series of 2-aminopyridine derivatives were synthesised. N-acylation of 2-amino-3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl) pyridine and 2-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl) pyridine with series of acid chlorides afforded a total of fourteen (14) amide compounds. The structures of the new compounds have been established by their IR, NMR and mass spectra data. All the compounds were tested for their activity against four (4) The synthesised compounds exhibited very good activity against the four MDR-Staphylococcus aureus strains of which most of the compounds showed higher potencies for inhibiting the growth of the strains than vancomycin, the standard drug employed. The compounds reported here may serve as the starting point for the design and development of MDR-S.aureus inhibitors as antibacterial agents.

Tobacco, which is a product of Nicotiana tabacum, has nicotine as its principal phytochemical. Nicotine has been reported to be an addictive drug and the leading cause of tobacco addiction worldwide with consequent renal implications. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Nicotiana. tabacum on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels as indices of renal function in male rats. A total of 18 male wistar rats weighing 140-230g were used for this study. The animals were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C), containing 6 rats each. Group A served as control while Group B and C were orally administered sublethal doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight of the Nicotiana. tabacum extract respectively once per day for three weeks. At the end of the experimental period, all the animals were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for biochemical assay.The results showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the serum concentration of sodium, potassium and urea levels of rats treated with the extract when compared with the control. However, serum concentrations of chloride, bicarbonate and creatinine showed no significant appreciable differences between the treated groups and the control group (p<0.05).In conclusion, the study showed that aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum is associated with renal dysfunction with consequent hypernatremia and hyperkalemia, and may also suggest impaired urea clearance by the kidneys in male wistar rats.