No abstract

Vernoniaamygdalina is a perennial shrub. It is a vegetable, commonly used in foods and traditional medicine in tropical Africa. Traditional users report that this plant possesses observable health benefits. It contains many nutrients and phytochemicals such as iodine, alkaloids, anthraquinones, edotides, sesquiterpene lactones and steroid glycosides. These bioactive compounds are associated with the plant's health benefits. This review is a comprehensive update on the composition of V. amygdalina, linked to its food and medicinal uses. Traditional medicinal uses not yet supported by scientific evidence have been indicated. Clinical studies to substantiate the health-promoting effects of this plant product are lacking. More animal models experiments are required to prove the potency of this plant product. Grey areas where research is required to promote effective use of this plant product are indicated. Metadata for the health benefits of this plant product is based on inferences from compositional analysis and animal bioassays. There is a need to establish these claims in humans. Sources of information for this review were obtained from online search engines. The searches were restricted to information available as primary or secondary sources and effort was made to keep to only recent literature. Very important literature before that was not recent was also included. There is only very little information on the food uses of V. amygdalina which has been related to potential health benefits. There are a lot of claims on this plant-based on ethnomedicine and traditional uses. Vernoniaamydgalina is rich in nutrients and phytochemicals and this invariable account for its positive influence on health. Compounds associated with its anticancer effects, antioxidant properties, antimalarial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, antimicrobial properties and hypolipidaemic effects have been identified but most mechanisms of action have not been elucidated in humans.

The present study measured household hunger in South-East Nigeria amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 1209 households (urban and rural locations) were sampled. Household hunger was determined using the Radimer–Cornel hunger scale. Results show that before the COVID-19 lockdown, hunger prevalence in the urban areas was 85.5%, whereas prevalence in the rural areas was significantly lower, at a prevalence of 79.9% (7.3% level of association—X2 = 6.499, p = 0.012). During the COVID-19 lockdown, the prevalence of hunger in the urban areas rose to 98.0% and 99.2% in the rural areas (4.9% level of association was X2 = 2.888, p = 0.089). It was also observed that the COVID-19 lockdown significantly affected food prices. The major coping strategy employed by households was relying on less expensive foods (81.14%). High household hunger was identified as a short-term cost of the COVID-19 lockdown in South-East Nigeria. Only a few households (16.3%) benefited from the food aid programs and 16.9% from the government palliative cash transfer. It is recommended that the government setup a formidable unit that will develop physical and digital plans for effective implementation during a COVID-19 lockdown situation or other emergencies.

Food security is threatened by the global increase of human population, climate change, inequality of wealth distribution, the state of natural resources, peace and sustainability, among others. Aquaculture has become an important part of the food supply, hence contributing to food security. Sustainable fish production, which represents an important affordable protein supply, should therefore involve feed formulation and production techniques that are not dependent on fish meal as the protein source. It is on this basis that bioeconomy becomes very important to promote the resourceful use of biomass for feed, food, biomaterials, and bioenergy. This study presents housefly maggot meal as an efficient alternative protein source to fishmeal and a valuable bioresource. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (male and female) were fed maggot meal supplemented diets for 24 weeks and we assessed their growth and gonadal development. The findings of this study revealed that maggot-meal-enhanced diets promoted growth and faster gonadal development in fish. Maggot meal represents a quality alternative protein source to fish meal and an excellent bioresource, which can help us attain sustainable aquaculture production.

The effects of Vernonia amygdalina leaf on the nutritional and biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rat were investigated. Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf was squeeze-washed, dried, pulverized and mixed with standard feed at 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 20%. The proximate nutrient composition of the standard and prepared rations was determined. The Vernonia amygdalina incorporated rations and standard ration were fed to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 70 consecutive days. Thereafter the nutritional and biochemical parameters as well as the histopathology of pancreas vital organs of the treated rats were determined. The Vernonia Amygdalina at 2.5% inclusion rate significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the nutritional indices and biochemical parameters which were compromised in diabetic rats fed with standard ration alone. The VA also reversed the degenerative changes in the pancreatic islet induced by alloxan. Vernonia Amygdalina has potent antidiabetic activity and its incorporation in excess of 5% in the diet should be avoided.