Three green leafy vegetable samples of pumpkin leaves, spinach leaves, and sorrel leaves were collected from a farm in Akwanga and were tested for the presence of residues of organochlorine pesticides. The concentrations of all the pesticide residues in the vegetable samples were determined using GC/MS. Among the organochlorine pesticide p,p'-DDT was detected in pumpkin (0.75 mg/kg), spinach (0.319 mg/kg) and sorrel (0.219 mg/kg). ∂-BHC and ɣ-BHC were detected only in pumpkin leaves (0.359 mg/kg and 0.647 mg/kg respectively). Dieldrin was detected in spinach and sorrel (0.124 mg/kg and 0.053 mg/kg respectively). Endrin was detected in pumpkin (0.732 mg/kg) and Aldrin in sorrel (0.095 mg/kg). All these values were above the maximum residue limit (MRL) value of the pesticides. Endosulfan II was detected in sorrel (0.306 mg/kg) below the MRL. The levels of most of the pesticide residues found in vegetables were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) that call for laws to regulate the use and circulation of such chemicals. Routine monitoring of pesticide residues in this study area is necessary for the prevention, control and reduction of environmental pollution, to minimize health risks.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of four different processing methods on the nutritional contents of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalia). Fresh bitter leaves were subjected to different conventional food processing techniques, namely soaking in water (over night), blanching, abrasion with salt and without salt (Nacl) as well as fresh leave samples replicated three times. The fresh and treated samples were analyzed for antioxidant properties (reducing power and free radical scavenging ability), proximate compositions, mineral contents and antinutrient contents (tannin and phytate). The results obtained revealed that the reducing power of bitter leaf (0.53) was significant decreased with all the processing methods in the study. The free radical scavenging ability of fresh bitter leaf sample (70%) was significantly higher than in other treated samples (53-57%).The protein (6.0-7.3%) and moisture contents (81.5-84.0%) of variously treated bitter leaf were significantly (p≤0.05) lower than that of fresh leaves (8.4%) and (84.4%) respectively. Similarly, there was a decrease in the fat content by blanching and abrasion without salt 1.0% and 0.9% respectively , while soaking and abrasion with salt was increased by 2.2% and 2.3% respectively. The crude fiber content was lower with soaking while it was significantly (p≤0.05) higher with abrasion with salt. Blanching and soaking caused a significant (p≤0.05) decreased in the ash content while abrasions elevated its contents. Also, the various processing methods caused a significant reduction in mineral content of vegetable. The tannin content of v. amygdalina leaf (0.6%) was significantly (p≤0.05) reduced by the various treatments (0.4-0.5%). Similar trend was observed for phytate content with the exception of the soaked sample which showed no decrease. It could therefore be concluded that soaking overnight and blanching caused a significant reduction in the nutritional values of bitter leaf than other processing methods studied.

Albizia chevalieri Hams (Mimosaceae/Fabaceae), mostly found in the Northern Sahel Savannah region of Nigeria as well as in Nigér and Senegal is a tree of the acacia type with a long list of folklore therapeutic claims that include its use as purgative, taenicidal, cough remedy, dysentery, cancer, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis and snake bite remedy. However, many bacterial species have been reported to develop resistance to antibiotics commonly prescribed for dental infections. Therefore, the need to search for natural products for remedy to this problem cannot be overemphasized. The stem was collected, dried and powdered. The powder was thereafter extracted with distilled water and subsequently with methanol. Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods. Agar well diffusion, agar dilution and spread plate methods were employed to determine the zone of inhibition, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and rate of killing respectively. Phytochemical screening of methanol and aqueous extracts of Albizia chevalieri stem revealed the presence of phenol, alkaloid, saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, flavonoids and carbohydrate as secondary metabolites. The two extracts showed broad spectrum of activity but the aqueous extract had larger zones of inhibition of 32 mm against S. mutans while methanol extract had higher zone of inhibition on S. aureus (24 mm). Low MIC and MBC values ranging from 6.25 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml respectively. The results obtained also provided scientific evidence for the use of A. chevalieri in folklore medicine in the treatment of tooth infections.

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Three green leafy vegetable samples of pumpkin leaves, spinach leaves, and sorrel leaves were collected from three different locations in a farm in Akwanga and were tested for the presence of organophosphorus (OP) compounds. The concentrations of all the pesticide residues in the vegetable samples were determined using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The organophosphorus pesticides detected include carbaryl (0.052 mg/kg) in pumpkin, this is below European maximum residues limit (EU MRL) of 0.1 mg/kg, Dimethoate was found in pumpkin (0.165 mg/kg), spinach (0.103 mg/kg) and sorrel (0.250 mg/kg) all above the EU MRL of 0.05 mg/kg. Dichlofenthion was detected in pumpkin (0.308 mg/kg), pirimiphos methyl was detected in pumpkin and spinach (0.428 mg/kg and 0.149 mg/kg respectively), all these were below the EU MRL of 0.5 mg/kg. Chlorpyrifos was found in spinach (0.230 mg/kg) and sorrel (0.192 mg/kg) only spinach was above the EU MRL of 0.2 mg/kg. The pesticide residue Bromophosethyl was detected in all vegetables, pumpkin leaves (0.501 mg/kg), sorrel (1.571 mg/kg) and spinach (7.981 mg/kg) all above the EU MRL of 0.5 mg/kg. The remaining pesticides detected were all below their EU MRL value; these are Ethion found in spinach (0.167 mg/kg), Methyl Parathion in spinach (0.103 mg/kg) and sorrel (0.335 mg/kg). The levels of some of the organophosphorus pesticide residues found in vegetables were above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the European Union. This calls for laws to regulate the use and circulation of such chemicals. Based on the observation made in these studies,