Metal-induced toxicity in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is one of the established models for studying neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases. Phytochemicals, especially alkaloids, have been reported to exhibit neuroprotection. Here, we assessed the protective effect of alkaloid extract from African Jointfir (Gnetum africanum) leaf on manganese- (Mn-) induced toxicity in wild type fruit fly. Flies were exposed to 10 mM Mn, the alkaloid extract and cotreatment of Mn plus extract, respectively. The survival rate and locomotor performance of the flies were assessed 5 days posttreatment, at which point the flies were homogenized and assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Results showed that the extract significantly reverted Mn-induced reduction in the survival rate and locomotor performance of the flies. Furthermore, the extract counteracted the Mn-induced elevation in AChE activity, NO, and ROS levels. The alkaloid extract of the African Jointfir leaf may hence be a source of useful phytochemicals for the development of novel therapies for the management of neurodegeneration.

The role of angiogenesis in cancer pathophysiology cannot be over emphasized as this process aids tumor metastasis via nourishment of nutrient deprived tumors with oxygen and nutrients. Thus, it is pertinent to inhibit this process via the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). Most available anticancer drugs that targets VEGFR-2 exerts promising angiogenic effects but they bare several adverse effects. Hence, the need to uncover novel compounds from plants with less or no toxicity that have high efficacy targeting angiogenesis. In this present work, in silico docking studies was employed to reveal the potentials of bioactive compounds isolated from Raphia taedigera seed oil against VEGFR-2 using axitinib and sorafenib as control. The crystal structure of VEGFR-2 and the compounds were retrieved from protein database and pubchem servers respectively. The compounds were subjected to drug likeness and ADMET screening using Discovery studio 2016 and AdmetSAR server respectively. The docking between the compounds and VEGFR-2 was carried out with the aid of AutoDock Vina and visualization of the molecular interactions were done using PyMOL, LigPlot + and Proteinligand interactions profiler's server. The results showed that 3-Methoxy-2,3-dimethylundec-1-ene scaled through the drug likeness screening. All the compounds show good binding affinities with 4,

The processes involved in the conversion of cassava tuber into various products generate large volumes of wastes in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. These wastes when discharged into the environment have serious environmental impacts on the natural composition and structure of soil. The aim of this research work was to investigate the effects of cassava whey on the physicochemical properties and metal contents of soil samples around Gari facrory at Erinfun Village along Federal Polytechnic road, Ado-Ekiti. The physicochemical parameters determined were the pH, moisture content, loss on ignition, organic matter, water holding capacity, bulk density, particle density, total porosity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and cyanide (CN). Heavy metals determined were lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe). The presence of cassava whey in the soil led to increasing soil acidity, moisture content, water holding capacity, CN, Cr, Ni, Pb and As concentrations while reductions were observed in total porosity, organic matter, loss on ignition, particle density, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations. The results show appreciable variations of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contents when compared to the control sample.

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