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Kenaf belongs to the family Malvaceae noted for their economic and horticultural importance. Kenaf seed is a valuable component of kenaf plant. For several years, it has been primarily used as a cordage crop and secondarily as a livestock feed. The potential for using kenaf seeds as a source of food‐based products has not been fully exploited. Consumers are becoming more interested in naturally healthy plant‐based food products. Kenaf seed, the future crop with a rich source of essential nutrients and an excellent source of phytocompounds, might serve suitable roles in the production of value‐added plant‐based foods. At present kenaf seed and its value‐added components have not been effectively utilized for both their nutritional and functional properties as either ingredient or major constituent of food products. This review focuses on the possible food applications of kenaf seed and its value‐added components based on their nutritional composition and functional properties available in literature, with the purpose of providing an overview on the possible food applications of this underutilized seed. The review focuses on a brief introduction on kenaf plant, nutritional function, lipids and proteins composition and food applications of the seed. The review elaborately discusses the seed in terms of; bioactive components, antioxidants enrichment of wheat bread, antimicrobial agents, as edible flour, as edible oil and a source of protein in food system. The review closes with discussion on other possible food applications of kenaf seed. The need for food scientists and technologists to exploit this natural agricultural product as a value‐added food ingredient is of great significance and is emphasized.

Background and Objective: Snake venoms constitute different toxins which display different modes of action. Likewise, venoms from different snake species vary significantly in their toxin composition. Snake venom can cause morbidity and even mortality through tissue destruction. Hence, this research was aimed at evaluating the protective effect of Azadirachta indica leaf extracts on renal and haematological indices in albino rats. Materials and Methods: A. indica leaf was collected, authenticated and extracted using methanol followed by fractionation using hexane and ethylacetate. Albino rats of both sexes were used. They were grouped into 5, normal control, venom control, venom and hexane fraction (100 mg kgG 1 b.wt.), venom and ethylacetate fraction (100 mg kgG 1 b.wt.), then venom and conventional antivenom. Results: The hexane and the ethylacetate fractions significantly rendered protection on the renal and haematological indices probably via inactivation of the venom cytotoxins. Conclusion: This research has provided a scientific proof on the antivenom properties of A. indica leaf and the plant extracts can be used for detoxification of the snake venom toxicity.

Snakebite envenomation occurs due to subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of venom into a victim resulting in complicated pharmacological effects that depend on the combined and synergistic action of toxic and non-toxic components. Hence, this research was aimed at evaluating the hepato-protective effect of Azadirachta indica leaf fractionated extracts against snake venom toxicity in albino rats. A. indica leaf was collected, authenticated and extracted using 95% methanol followed by fractionation using hexane and ethylacetate. Albino rats of both sexes were randomly divided into five (5) groups of six (6) rats each (3 males and 3 females). Group 1 received 1% aqueous solution of Tween-80 orally. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 0.2 mg/kg b.w. of the venom, but 3 and 4 were treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of hexane fraction and ethylacetate fraction respectively. Group 5 received 0.2 mg/kg b.w. of the venom and treated with standard conventional antivenin. The hexane and the ethylacetate fractions significantly provided protection on the liver probably via inactivation of the venom cytotoxins leading to the hepatic protection. Among the two (2) fractions administered to the envenomed rats, only hexane fraction was able to significantly (P<0.05) reduce the activity of serum LDH compared to the venom control group. None of the fractions or the standard antivenin reduced the serum AST, but the levels of total and direct bilirubin were significantly (P<0.05) lowered in the envenomed rat compared to the venom control group. In contrast, the standard antivenin significantly increased the serum TP. This research has provided a scientific proof on the antivenom properties of A. indica leaf, and the plant extracts tested can be used for the detoxification of the snake venom toxicity.