The study aimed to develop oral capsules from Enterica herbal decoction used in Ghana for the treatment of typhoid fever and produced by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM). The amount of dry extract per dose (30ml) of Enterica and the wavelength of maximum absorption (λmax) of aqueous solutions of Enterica extract were determined. Light magnesium carbonate (LMC) and maize starch (MS) were employed as absorbents at various concentrations in the preparation of granules of the extract. The % loss in weight, size distribution and flow properties of the granules were evaluated. Enterica oral capsules were formulated using LMC at 22 mg/dose of extract and the dissolution properties of the granules and capsules were determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The dry Enterica extract/dose was 190.1 ± 0.12 mg and λmax was 356 nm. The loss of granules was 2.07-7.31 %w/w for LMC and 2.73-7.81 %w/w for MS. LMC granules (22 mg/dose) prepared for encapsulation exhibited good flow properties. The granules for encapsulation exhibited optimal release of extract (86.08 ± 1.64 % at 45 min) in aqueous medium. The formulated capsules passed the British Pharmacopoeia uniformity of weight, disintegration and dissolution tests. Enterica oral capsules can be used as a substitute for Enterica decoction for the treatment of typhoid fever.

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Phyllanthus amarus is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae and commonly known as 'carry-me-seed' or quinine weed. The whole plant was subjected to solvent extractions using petroleum ether and ethanol. Both crude extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi using agar well-diffusion method of sensitivity testing. The crude ethanolic extract showed good inhibitory effect against the bacteria but the petroleum ether extract showed no activity. The crude ethanol extract was subjected to column chromatographic separation using dichloromethane: ethyl acetate (DCM/EA) solvent system. The column was finally eluted with methanol. The fractions eluted from the column were tested against the Salmonella typhi. The organism was sensitive to the methanol fractions at different concentrations (4.37mg/ ml, 8.75mg/ml, 17.50mg/ml, 35.00mg/ml and 70.00mg/ml) with a zone of inhibition of 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, and 22mm respectively. The Salmonella typhi was insensitive to the DCM/ EA fractions. Phytochemical screening tests performed on the crude ethanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, saponins, lignans, tannins and flavonoids.

The extent of heavy metal contamination viz. lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the soil of the University of Cape Coast School of Agricultural farmland, Ghana, were assessed. Thirty soil samples were taken from six demarcated areas in the farm. The mean metal concentrations (mean ± cv) and ranges of the

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