Concerted efforts in search of alternative sources of protein has grown due to dearth of animal protein in developing countries, as food shortage and poverty become more endemic, people increasingly depend on plants rather than animals for proteins in their diets. This work focuses on untapped indigenous wild savannah tree, Acacia sieberiana (seeds) for its nutritional and economical values. The seeds were collected and processed for proximate compositions, phytochemicals and elemental analysis. The high percentage of crude protein content of 49.7% and absence of toxic elements such as Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (Ar), and very low percentage of Lead (Pb) 0.001ml/g has proven that the Acacia sieberiana seeds are very safe and could serve as an alternative source of protein. The result of the quantitative minerals determination shows the presence of Manganese (3.93mg/g), Calcium (2.02mg/g), and Iron (0.11mg/g). The germination trials of the seeds were also carried out, and the result shows that, soaking, heating the seeds at 60 0 C and even the non treated seeds as well as those planted and mulched gave promising results of the plant's seeds germination. The statistical package for social science (SPSS) software was used to analysed the significant differences between the treatments at critical value (p≥0.05).

The focus of this research work was to isolates and identify endophytic fungi from young leaves and stems (twig) of Azadirachta indica, family (Meliaceae) for the production and assay of the produced secondary metabolites. Altogether 126 segments were used, of which 63 segments each from leaves and stems (twig) tissues were screened, using modified surface sterilization techniques. A total of 12 species of endophytic fungi were purely isolated, Penicillium spp was randomly selected for the extraction and evaluation of its secondary metabolites. The eluent collected from column chromatography mixture of ethylacetate and n- hexane (50:50v/v) was phytochemically screened, and the results showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids and phenols. Based on disc diffusion method of sensitivity, the eluent possessed some degree of antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, in-vitro antioxidant potentiality of the eluent was also evaluated using 2, 2- Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH, Sigma Aldrich). Statistical package for social science (SPSS 3/93) software was used to analyze the results using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which revealed no significant difference, on the effect of concentrations of eluent on test organisms but the eluent showed significant difference on scavenging free radicals at a critical value (p >0.05).

Spoilage of fruits imparts great economic loss and a potential health hazard to the general populace. A research was conducted to identify the different types of fungal flora responsible for the spoilage of fruits in Bwari market, Abuja, Nigeria. Seventy fruits that showed decayed symptomatology and thirty healthy ones were procured from Bwari market. Sections of the rotten and healthy fruits were obtained using a sterile blade, inoculated onto Potato Dextrose Agar and incubated at 27°C for five days. All other mycological techniques were carried out using standard methods. The result showed the presence of Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans, Mucor mucedo, and Fusarium oxysporum. However, Aspergillus niger. (58.06%) was found to be the most dominant spoilage causing organism on fruits vended in Bwari market while Fusarium oxysporum (9.68%) was the least abundant fungal flora. However, the pathogenicity of Rhizopus sp. was found to be higher than that of all the remaining fungal species. This can be attributed to the predisposal and nature of fruits handling and storage in the market. Thus, because all the fungal species identified were known to produce toxins that could impart severe food poisoning, attention of the Original Research Article

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