Malaria is an Anopheles mosquito-borne transmissible illness that afflicts other animals and humans globally, particularly in tropical Africa. The investigation of the phytochemical, acute toxicity and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the leaves of Ficus elastica Roxb.exHornem was carried out to examine its impacts on mice infected with the malaria parasite. The presence of glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoid, phenolics, tannins and eugenols with no traces of steroids was revealed by the phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Fiscus elastica. The acute toxicity investigation revealed that the plant extract is comparatively harmless within the 14 days of administered doses of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/ kg and 1000 mg/kg. In vivo, cell-growth inhibition assessment of the graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the F. elastica tree bark methanol extract (FBME) against Plasmodium berghei strain revealed a significant rise in the inhibitory activity (68%, 70% and 71%) as the concentration of the methanol extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem increased. For the prophylactic study against P. berghei, the level of significance also increases as the administered doses of the FBME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) increased when compared to the control (0.2 ml distil water and 10 mg/kg chloroquine). The result signifies that methanol leave extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem posses' significant antiplasmodial activities and could be used for treating malaria parasites.

Malaria is an Anopheles mosquito-borne transmissible illness that afflicts other animals and humans globally, particularly in tropical Africa. The investigation of the phytochemical, acute toxicity and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the leaves of Ficus elastica Roxb.exHornem was carried out to examine its impacts on mice infected with the malaria parasite. The presence of glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoid, phenolics, tannins and eugenols with no traces of steroids was revealed by the phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Fiscus elastica. The acute toxicity investigation revealed that the plant extract is comparatively harmless within the 14 days of administered doses of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/ kg and 1000 mg/kg. In vivo, cell-growth inhibition assessment of the graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the F. elastica tree bark methanol extract (FBME) against Plasmodium berghei strain revealed a significant rise in the inhibitory activity (68%, 70% and 71%) as the concentration of the methanol extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem increased. For the prophylactic study against P. berghei, the level of significance also increases as the administered doses of the FBME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) increased when compared to the control (0.2 ml distil water and 10 mg/kg chloroquine). The result signifies that methanol leave extract of F. elastica Roxb.exHornem posses' significant antiplasmodial activities and could be used for treating malaria parasites.

The heat transfer enhancement is of importance in the low Reynolds number flow, because small heat exchangers with narrow flow passages are required recently. In this study, we investigate the heat transfer enhancement effect by ordinal feedback control techniques in a channel flow by means of direct numerical simulations. As control technique, the blowing and suction are imposed based on the near-wall velocity and the control is designed to promote turbulence and enhance the heat transfer. As results, the skin-friction drag and heat transfer are sustained at the fully turbulent level when an amplitude of the blowing and suction is small. On the other hand, these are larger than that when the amplitude is comparable to the near-wall normal velocity.

Heavy metals possess toxic effects that leads to serious health and environmental problems, anthropogenic activities are chiefly responsible for metal exposure, and they manifest toxic effects on a biological cell. The peels of Citrus sinensis have been reported to have medicinal effect. However, these benefits have not been adequately investigated against metals toxicity. This study evaluated the antioxidant and chelating effect of Citrus sinensis peel extract (CSPE) on wistar rats administered with lead and cadmium. Forty-five (45) rats were separated into nine (9) groups of 5 rats each. The group under control was given distilled water daily, group 2 and 3 received 8mg/kg of cadmium and 15 mg/kg of lead per body weight respectively. Animals in group 4 received 8 mg/kg of cadmium and 100 mg/kg of EDTA treatment per body weight. Group 5 were given 15 mg/kg of lead and treated with 100 mg/kg of EDTA. Group 6 and 7 were respectively treated with CSPE of 250 and 500 mg/kg and administ...

Background and Purpose: Peperomia pellucida (Piperaceae) is a plant used in ethnomedicine to treat asthma, colds, coughs, and other illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate the antitussive, expectorant, and analgesic activities of a 70% methanol extract of the plant. Methods: Citric acid and ammonia-induced rodent cough models; and phenol red dye expectorant models in mice were used to evaluate the antitussive and expectorant properties of the orally administered extract. The hot plate and acetic acid-induced mouse writhing models were used to evaluate analgesia. Results: Dihydrocodeine (25 mg/kg); and 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract significantly reduced the frequency of cough bouts and increased the percentage suppression of cough-in citric acid and ammonium hydroxide-induced cough models compared with control (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). Bromhexine (15 mg/kg); 100 and 400 mg/kg of the extract increased the secretion of phenol red dye in mice when compared with the co...

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of storage time at ambient temperature on pH and iodine value of palm oil and groundnut oil using appropriate standard methods. The iodine value of palm oil decreased from 45.69 ± 0.01 a to 45.11± 0.00 k while that for groundnut oil decreased from 56.72 ± 0.01 a to 56.22 ± 0.01 k during the period of storage indicating loss of unsaturation due to oxidation. On the other hand, the pH of both palm and groundnut oils showed a more impressive decrease from 6.85 ± 0.05 a to 4.19 ± 0.00 j and 6.40 ± 0.00 a to 4.40 ± 0.00 h ., respectively, due to autoxidation of the oils. A trend of decreasing order of iodine and pH value as the number of days of storage increases for both oils (palm and groundnut oil) was observed. This study shows that the storage time has a high significant effect on the iodine Value and pH value of both oil (palm and groundnut oil) with p ˂ 0.00 as against p ≤ 0.05. It was also observed that there was loss of unsaturation in both oils but higher in palm oil. However, groundnut oil had a higher iodine value, implying that groundnut oil had more of unsaturated fatty acid than palm oil which tends towards saturation due to high level of decreasing iodine value. However, from literature, it has been stated that groundnut oil is likely to be healthier for consumption due to the presence of unsaturated fat it contains.

Sensitive vegetables grown in heavy metals polluted soils tend to accumulate heavy metals which are harmful to the human body even at low concentrations. In this study, the bioconcentration factor (Transfer Factor) was used to assess the accumulation of some heavy metals in Talinum triangulare grown in the vicinity of an automobile workshop in Oluku, Benin City. Physical and chemical parameters found to affect the interactions and mobility of heavy metals in the soil mass were also examined. A pH of 6.17±0.2 was obtained for the topsoil while the middle and bottom soil samples were 5.93±0.4 and 6.00±0.1 respectively, The values of CEC obtained for top, middle, and bottom soil samples were 5.58±0.54, 4.56±0.11, and 3.65±0.14 meq/100g respectively. Soil samples were randomly collected from three depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm with the aid of a soil auger; and T. triangulare were collected within the soil sampling locations. The concentrations of heavy metal were evaluated t...

In Edo State, Nigeria, geophagia ('Eko') is highly prevalent, and men and women, especially pregnant women, are believed to indulge in its consumption as a remedy for vomiting (nausea) and some other related inconveniences in pregnancy. Others are due to a natural craving. These practices are associated with varying health complications; as such, it is pertinent that the physical and chemical composition of the clay be known. In this study, we assessed the levels of heavy metals and trace elements of clinical importance in 'Eko', as well as their physical and chemical properties using standard protocols. Tests conducted include: colour, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total dissolved solids (TDS), particle density, and concentrations of metals [chloride (Cl), sulphate (S), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)]. The results obtained showed that some of the elements (Cl, Ca, Na and Mg) are present in moderate concentrations (353.33, 182.33, 216, 111.33 mg/kg) respectively. However, concentrations of some of the heavy metals [(Cd, Pb and Cr) (0.30, 0.26, 0.42 mg/kg) respectively], were higher than the permissible limits (65, 35, 25 µg/kg) set by WHO. Though some of the moderately present trace metals may play important biological roles, the high concentrations of some heavy metals could have detrimental health effects. Results from this study suggest that 'Eko' can predispose consumers to health hazards. As such, the continuous consumption of "Eko" should be discouraged.