This study investigated nutritive properties of aqueous extract of J. carnea leaves and its effects on haematological and biochemical indices of anaemia induced male Wistar albino rats. In the nutritional study, proximate composition, phytochemicals, antinutritonal factors, minerals and vitamins analyses were carried out using standard analytical procedures. Eighteen male Wistar albino mice were used for the acute toxicity study while 28 male Wistar albino rats were used for haematological and biochemical study. The rats were randomly distributed into seven groups of four rats each with group 1 as normal control. Group 2 was anaemia induced untreated, and group 3 was anaemia induced treated with 50 mg/kg b. wt. of Astyfer. Groups 4-6 were anaemia induced and treated with 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg b. wt. of the extract respectively. Group 7 was non-anaemic rats that received 500 mg/kg b. wt. of the aqueous extract. Nutritional study showed richness of the aqueous extract in proximate composition, phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins contents. The extract caused no adverse reactions or death in the animals indicating it is relatively safe for consumption. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in the levels of haematological indices observed in anaemic rats were significantly (p<0.05) reverted within 4 to 8 d of treatment with the extract when compared with group 2. There were no significant difference observed in the liver marker enzymes activities and renal function indices concentrations of all the anaemic rats treated with the aqueous extract when compared with normal control, which could be attributed to the aqueous extract lacking potentials of causing liver and renal damage. These findings suggest that aqueous of J. carnea leaves is safe, nutritionally rich with no toxic effects on liver and kidney function indices, and possesses anti-anaemic effects due to its blood boosting and replenishing properties.

The nutritive constituents of the seeds of Monodora tenuifolia were analyzed to augment the available information on Monodora tenuifolia research. Blood glucose and lipid profile were investigated on the flavonoid rich fraction of M. tenuifolia in rats. The composition (gkg −1 ) of alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins and flavonoids were 13.3±0

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was obtained from palm wine and used for the extraction of peroxidase. Peroxidase isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was partially purified and characterized. A twelve-day pilot study was carried out which gave the highest activity on day eight. The crude enzyme-specific activity -0.751 U/ mg with 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation of peroxidase was achieved. Peroxidase was partially purified with ammonium sulfate precipitation, following gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Two peaks connoted as fractions (A & B) on the elution profile of the gel filtration were obtained. The optimum operational conditions for peroxidase -substrate reactions were evaluated. A combined purification fold for both fractions yielded 0.657 with specific activity -0.494 U/ mg. A purification fold of 2.470 with specific activity -1.855 U/mg was obtained for fraction A, while 2.269 fold with specific activity -1.704 U/mg was for fraction B. The optimum pH and temperature were 6.5 and 30 °C for fraction A and 6.0 and 40 °C for fraction B. The peroxidase activity was stable at a pH range of 5.5-7.0 and below 40 °C. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K m ) for o-dianisidine and hydrogen peroxide were 0.2 mM, 0.1111 mM, and 0.0833 mM, 0.1428 mM for fractions A and B. The maximum velocity (V max ) for o-dianisidine and hydrogen peroxide were 10 U/min, 7.1428 U/min, and 8.333 U/min, 9.0909 U/min for fraction A and B. considering these characteristics of peroxidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it helps to understand how yeast cells operate during fermentation.

Many consumers of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves claim that the leaves are nutritious and in addition, possess nutraceutical properties that promote good health. Such claims can be misleading since there is no scientific data to validate their claims. This study evaluated the nutritional and antioxidant properties of the aqueous extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves in carbon tetrachloride induced male Wistar albino rats with the aim of validating some nutritional and nutraceutical properties claimed by local consumers. Anti-nutritional factors, vitamins, proximate and mineral compositions were determined using standard analytical protocols. Acute toxicity and antioxidant properties were investigated with 18 male mice and 30 male Wistar albino rats respectively. The data obtained were statistically analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Anti-nutritional analysis revealed presence of alkaloids and phytate in relatively high amounts while glycosides and tannins were undetected. The leaves have nutritionally good proximate composition. High vitamin A, low vitamins B1 and C and undetectable level of vitamin E were also observed in the leaves. Relatively high amount of sodium (402.20 ± 1.97 ppm) and iron (50.67 ± 0.76 ppm) were observed. Acute toxicity study revealed the relative safety of the aqueous extract as no mice exhibited signs of toxicity or death after 24 hours of oral administration. The CCl 4 induction caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities when compared with the normal control, however, treatment with graded doses of the extract resulted in significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and significant (p<0.05) dose dependent decrease in malondialdehyde concentration when compared with the positive control. It is concluded that the leaves are nutritionally rich and possess antioxidant properties that could effectively ameliorate oxidative stress; however, excessive consumption may impair bioavailability of some nutrients due to high phytate content.