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Telfairia occidentalis is a medicinal plant known to exhibit a wide range of biological activities because of the presence of phytochemicals like tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. In this research work, the phytochemical screening and the antioxidant activities of Telfairia occidentalis leaves were evaluated. Also, this research work was designed to evaluate the effect of Telfairia occidentalis on reproductive hormones and sexual behaviour in male Albino Wistar rats using standard analytical methods. Twenty-five (25) sexually matured male rats were divided into five (5) groups of five (5) rats each; groups 1 and 2 were the normal and positive controls and were given distilled water and the standard drug (Manix Capsule) respectively while groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered the ethanol extract of the plant in graded dosages of 400, 200, and 100mg/kg respectively. Also 12 sexually matured female Albino rats were used for the assessment of sexual behavior.The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenes and flavonoids while, the leaves showed a significant free radical scavenging activities with IC50 90μg/ml. The hormonal result showed that the extract cause a dose dependent significant increase (p<0.05) in testosterone when compared with the normal control. However, there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels also in comparison with the normal control. In conclusion, the ethanol leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis increases the reproductive hormones which might increase the reproductive activities of the male rats.

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Disinfection of surface waters for human consumption and use often results in reaction between the disinfectant (generally chlorine) and organic substrates present at the source. These substrates are majorly in the form of aquatic humic materials. This work was designed to assess reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in pig liver and kidney in the presence of chlorinated aquatic humic materials (CAHMs) using biochemical parameters. GSH concentration in pig liver and kidney was investigated following standard procedures using Ellman’s reagent. Effect of chlorinated local and foreign aquatic humic products on the GSH concentration of the two tissues was studied in line with standard methodologies. GSH concentration was found to be higher in pig liver (0.874 ± 0.003µmol/g) than the kidney (0.545 ± 0.002µmol/g). All the chlorinated aquatic humic samples studied were found to deplete the GSH concentration of the two tissues, with the more toxic and concentrated purified chlorinated foreign aquatic humics having higher depletion. Certain amount of GSH was also found to be left in both tissues after conjugation with the chlorinated aquatic humic samples which perhaps could be used for subsequent conjugation and detoxification of water pollutants by the tissues. In conclusion, the liver contains more GSH than the kidney. The levels of this antioxidant in pig liver and kidney were both reduced by the aquatic humic materials used. This study may therefore reemphasize earlier suggestions that the amino acids needed for cellular synthesis of GSH could be supplemented regularly through dietary sources.

Reproductive system has infertility as a disease that affect both sex at equal frequency. A ten percent population of human reproductive age are affected with the phenomenon globally. This study investigated how ethanol crude leaves of Gongronema latifolium affect the reproductive system of female Albino Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard methods. The extract effect on reproductive hormones and estrous cycle were ascertained on experimental rats weighing 140-160g. Matured females; twenty-five in numbers were equally shared into five groups: The normal and positive controls were groups 1 and 2 which were administered distilled water and standard drug; On the other hand crude ethanol leaves of Gongronema latifolium were given to the last three groups in a 200, 300 and 400 in mg/body weight i.e mg/kg. Phytochemical profile revealed saponins, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids including cardiac glycosides. Hormonal results indicated that the low dose and middle dose were decreased significantly (P = .05) in both FSH and Progesterone levels, but increased significantly (P = .05) in LH and Estradiol levels. The high dose had a significantly decreased (P = .05) FSH and LH but a significantly increased (P = .05) Progesterone and Estradiol. The study further demonstrated irregularities of estrous cycle as an effect of the ethanol crude Gongronema latifolium leaves. Also, the crude leaves might distort the process of reproduction of female Wistar rats. The secondary metabolites in Gongronema latifolium leaves could have caused these effects.