Proximate composition, extraction, characterization and comparative assessment of Cocos nucifera and Colocynthis citrullus seeds and seed oils were evaluated in this work using standard analytical techniques. The results showed the percentage (%) moisture, crude fibre, ash, crude protein, lipids and total carbohydrate contents of the seeds as 7.51 and 4.27, 7.70 and 5.51, 1.02 and 2.94, 10.57 and 11.67, 47.80 and 50.42 and 32.84 and 29.47 while the calorific values were 553.99 and 567.32 Kcal/100 g for C. nucifera and C. citrullus, respectively. The two seed oils were odourless and at room temperature (30 degrees C) liquids, with a pale yellow to yellowish colouration. Lipid indices of the seed oils indicated the Acid Values (AV) as 2.06-6.36 mg NaOH g(-1) and 2.99-6.17 mg NaOH g(-1), Free Fatty Acids (FFA) as 1.03-3.18 and 1.49-3.09%, Saponification Values (SV) as 252.44-257.59 and 196.82-201.03 mg KOH g(-1), Iodine Values (IV) as 9.73-10.99 and 110.93-111.46 mg of I2 g(-1) of oil and Peroxide Values (PV) as 0.21-0.21 and 1.53-2.72 mg O2 kg(-1) for soxhlet-mechanical extracted C. nucifera and C. citrullus seed oils, respectively. The studied characteristics of the oil extracts in most cases compared favourably with most conventional vegetable oils sold in the Nigeria markets; however, there were some observed levels of significant differences in the values at p < or = 0.05. These results suggest that the seeds examined may be nutritionally potent and also viable sources of seed oils judging by their oil yield. The data also showed that the seed oils were edible inferring from their low AV and their corresponding low FFA contents. Industrially, the results revealed the seed oils to have great potentials in soap manufacturing industries because of their high SV. They were also shown to be non-drying due to their low IV which also suggested that the oils contain few unsaturated bonds and therefore have low susceptibility to oxidative rancidity and deterioration as confirmed by their low PV which also serves as indicators of the presence or high levels of anti-oxidants in the oils.

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Background: Hematological indices are important factors for the evaluations health status. Plant materials are often used as feed supplements by farmers to combat animal health challenges and have been a source of relief for the management of anemia in developing countries; for example, Whitfieldia lateritia is used in folklore medicine as anti-anemic agent. The hematopoietic, electrolyte and glycemic activities of Whitfieldia lateritia leaf decoction and vitali supplement on phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anemic cockerels were investigated. Methods: A total of 60 cockerels were purchased and allowed to acclimatize for two weeks. Thereafter, classified into 12 groups (designated as T1….T12) of 5 cockerels each, where T2, T3 and T4 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight W. lateritia leaf decoction, respectively. Anemia was induced in groups, T5……T12 by the administration of 10 mg/kg body weight PHZ for 3 consecutive days; thereafter, T5, T6 and T7 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight W. lateritia leaf decoction, respectively; T8, T9 and T10 were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight vitali supplement, respectively; while T1, T11 and T12 were the normal control, negative control and baseline control, respectively. The treatment lasted for 30 days. Conclusion: Saponin, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and steroids were detected. The glucose concentrations and hematological indices of the cockerels treated with the W. lateritia leaf decoction and the vitali supplement compared with the normal control. The W. lateritia leaf decoction displayed positive hematological, electrolyte and glycemic activities, thus may justify the use in maintaining animal health.