Three varieties of mangoes (Mangifera indica) namely; Adansonia digitata (Durshea) big seed, Durio zubethinus murr (Peter) middle seeded, Foetide lour (Julie) collected within Kaduna metropolis were subjected to proximate analysis. Analysis of the nutritional and anti-nutritional contents of the three varieties of mangoes revealed that moisture content, crude protein, carbohydrate, crude fat, ash content and vitamin c were 79.17, 1.97, 7.16, 1.89, 9.81 and 34.12% respectively for Durshea variety. The findings revealed that Peter (Middle Seeded) mango proximate values for all the nutrients analyzed were not significantly (p>0.05) different from the values obtained from Durshea result. The Julie (Small Seeded) mango's moisture content (72.04%) and carbohydrate contents (16.59 mg/100 g) were significantly (p<0.05) different from Durshea and Peter varieties. The findings also revealed that calcium contents were 0.15, 0.10 and 0.13% for durshea, peter and Julie, respectively. Iron and magnesium contents were present in small amount for all the three variaties. The contents of cyanogenic glycosides (0.28 mg/100 g), oxalates (1.60 mg/100 g) and phytate (0.62 mg/100 g) for durshea were not significantly different from peter and jullie varieties of the mango. The findings revealed that the three varieties of mango contain appreciable amounts of nutrients that the body required for its normal metabolic functions .The anti nutrients contents is negligible. The Durshea variety is the most recommended for human consumption because of its high lipids and calcium contents.

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Aim: To determine the anti-snake venom effect of crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts and separated fractions of Crinum jagus bulb on rats injected with Echis ocellatus venom. Study Design: Evaluation of LD50 of venom, anti-lethal effects of different extract preparations and their effect on neutralising haemorrhage; the hallmark of Echis ocellatus venom toxicity. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry laboratory, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria between March and October 2017. Methodology: venom was collected by the milking method. Fractionation of crude extracts was done by column chromatography separately with benzene/methanol, acetic acid/methanol and ethyl acetate/methanol. Thirty rats were used determine LD50 of venom while twenty-four albino rats were used in the anti-venom study; divided into 6 groups of 4 rats each. Group one served as the normal control, group two served as venom untreated control while groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were injected with 0.2 mg/mL Echis ocellatus venom and treated with 200 mg/kg body weight crude extracts, fractions I, II and III respectively then observed for 24 hours. Results: LD50 of venom was found to be 5 mg/mL; column chromatography of crude extracts gave three fractions each designated I, II and III respectively. Phytochemical analysis of both crude aqueous and ethanolic extract of Crinum jagus bulb revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins and phenolics. Only fraction III of both aqueous and ethanolic extract maintained all phytochemicals from the crude. Both extracts and their fractions were all able to neutralise the venom. For the aqueous extract, the crude extract and fraction III gave the best result while for the ethanolic extract, fractions II and III caused the best neutralisation. Conclusion: Crinum jagus bulb has demonstrated significant anti-venom activity, this can be exploited for the development of new anti-snake venom drugs.

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Aims: This study presents baseline data on the In-vitro and In-vivo evaluation of anti-trypanosomal activity of Carica papaya seed extracts and fractions in Albino Wister rats. Study Design: Mention the design of the study here. Place and Duration of Study Sample: Department of Biochemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, between June 2009 and July 2010. Methodology: 56 Wister rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 8 groups (I – VIII) of 7 rats each were used for this study. Four concentrations (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of different extracts of seed carica papaya were screened for trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei In vitro and In vivo. The effect of the extracts was evaluated for trypanocidal activity in rats infected and not infected with the parasite. Administration of the extract and the drugs was orally daily for 5 consecutive days from day 7 of post infection. Level of parasitemia and body weight was taken daily for 21 days. Results: The extracts inhibited parasite motility and totally eliminated the organisms at the concentrations used In vitro. The extract also showed promising in vivo trypanocidal activity. The observed In vitro and In vivo trypanocidal activities may be due to the presence of bioactive compounds present in the extracts as seen in this study. The extract also improved the observed decreases in haematological parameters of the treated rats, which may be due to their ability to decrease parasite load. The LD50 was estimated to be ≥2,000 mg/Kg (v/v) for acute oral toxicity test (because all the rats survived at the end of the 14-day observation period). This is an indication of very low toxicity, implying that the extract could be administered with some degree of safety. A significant decreased (p<0.05) were observed in weight of rats at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg 400 mg/kg 800 mg/kg negative control and prophylactic at four to eight days of infections, while significantly increased (p<0.05) were observed in weight of rats for berenil control and normal control. Conclusion: The decrease in weight of rats could be as a result of loss of appetite due to severe fever and also the trypanosome.