Natural products such as plants remains the most readily available remedy to many of human problems. The free oxygen we breathe in comes from plants and many more nutritional and health benefits which are yet to be discovered. This is why the proximate analysis, phytochemical screening and mineral content of Ficur sur forssk leaves and stem bark were investigated. The proximate analysis, phytochemical screening and mineral content analysis were carried using standard methods. The proximate analysis of the leaves of revealed; 36.45%, 20.41% and 20.22% for carbohydrate, crude fibre and moisture content while that of the stem bark was 60.12%, 20.35% and 8.37% for carbohydrate, crude fibre and moisture content respectively. The presence of active phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, phenolics and eugenols were detected in both leaves and stem bark. Among the minerals present in both leaves and stem bark was potassium which gave the highest concentration of 19.3ppm and 17.7ppm respectively. Others were Na (15.90ppm, 12.60ppm), Ca (1.86ppm, 5.62ppm), Mg (2.91ppm, 1.63ppm), Fe (2.60ppm, 5.30 ppm) and Cr (0.08ppm, 0.05). This study suggests that the plant samples have useful phytochemicals and minerals which can have useful pharmacological effects and also serve as nutritional supplements.
Today, food safety is a global primary priority determinant, surpassing nutritional quality and cost, in foods choices. Contaminants such as bacteria and heavy metals are regarded as highly disturbing and of primary health concern. This study examines the quality of road side sold cassava flakes in Makurdi. Samples from five major markets were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, for the respective heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn. And subsequently their potential human health risk: Daily intake of metals (DIM), Health risk index (HRI), Target hazard quotient (THQ) and Total target hazard quotient (TTHQ). Plate count bacteriological analysis was employed. In this study, Cd, Cu and Zn were detected in the respective mg/kg ranges; 1.00 - 2.25, 0.25 - 0.75 and 0.50 - 9.00. DIM (mg/kg/person) values for Cd, Cu and Zn were found to be in the ranges of, 0.011 - 0.025, 0.003 - 0.009 and 0.006 - 0.103 respectively. Further analysis showed that only Cd had HRI values > 1. On the contrary, all the metals have THQ and TTHQ values < 1. Bacteriological assessment revealed the presence of Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., and Proteus spp. in the samples in the percentage prevalence of 51.85, 18.52, 18.52 and 11.11 % respectively. Cumulative bacteria prevalence for Wurukum, North-Bank, High-Level and Wadata and Modern Market were thus; 25.93, 22.22, 18.52, and 14.81 % respectively. With Cd values above threshold limit and the prevalence of these pathogenic bacteria species, potential of metal toxicity, typhoid and Diarrhea outbreaks is imminent.
The synthesis, characterization and the antifungal activities of some selected transition metal complexes (Cu2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+) were carried out. The salts of these metals were complexed with the Schiff base obtained from 5-Bromosalicylaldehyde and 2-Nitroaniline yielding the compound; 5 – Bromosalicylidene – 2- nitroaniline complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II). The new compounds were characterized on the basis of physicochemical properties, spectral analysis (FTIR, UV-visible), molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility and PXRD analysis. The metal complexes exhibited various range of colours such as dark green, dark brown and milk white with the Schiff base being dark yellow; giving yields of 69.2, 56.7 and 62.5 % respectively; high melting points (126, 320 and 128 0C) and molar conductance values (591, 620 and 631 Ω-1cm2mol-1) for the Cu(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) complexes respectively. The synthesized complexes were soluble in ethanol, methanol, DMSO, acetone, slightly soluble in DMF but insoluble in water and n-Hexane. The IR spectra of the synthesized complexes showed bands characteristic of azomethine (C=N) vibration mode as well as evidence of azomethine carbons, protons and formation of the M-N, M-O, O-H bonds. The spectral study also showed the complexes obtained as monomeric structures and the central metal moieties are four-coordinated, with tetrahedral geometry, except for the Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes, which had square planar geometries. The complexes formed were of the general formula ML where L is the ligand and M is the respective metal ions. The PXRD studies revealed average crystallite size of 34.75, 69.75 and 39.11; the FWHM value of 0.23, 0.13 and 0.21; the hkl value of 101and 201. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes were tested using Agar-well diffusion techniques for zone of inhibition while Agar dilution techniques were used for minimum inhibitory concentration and fungicidal concentration. The metal complexes of Schiff base showed broad spectrum antifungal activity against certain range of fungi; A. flavus, A. fumigates, A. niger, R. stolonifer, R. bataicola and C. albicans. The results showed that the complexes exhibited a higher fungicidal property than the ligand.
This study investigated the effects of 15% and 20% NaOH treatment on clay samples with the aim of improving the surface characteristics and adsorption capacity for wastewater treatment. The morphological, chemical composition and molecular properties of the raw and modified clay samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled energy dispersive Xray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results obtained showed that the 15% and 20% NaOH treatment improved the surface properties of the clay samples. Additionally, the absence of peak at 3059 cm-1 in the raw clay spectrum was notable in the FTIR spectra, as it corresponds to O-H bending due to adsorbed water. Also, a similar outcome was observed for 15% and 20% modified clay samples, the peaks observed between 3200-2500 cm-1 indicated O-H stretching vibration, while those between 2160-2120 cm-1 signify -N stretching vibration. Thus, we believe the modification of surface properties of the modified clay samples will improve the adsorption capacity of different contaminants present in wastewater.
Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are a well-known class of man-made chemicals frequently used to protect crops against pests giving rise to accumulation of these chemicals in foods. In the present study, the residual levels and potential health risk associated with four (4) organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion) in cereals (maize, millet, wheat and rice) samples collected from Ngalda agricultural area, Fika Local Government Area, Yobe State were analyzed. Extractions and clean-up of the samples were carried out using standard procedures. The levels of the OPPs in cereals samples were determined using GC-MS coupled with flame photometric detector. The analysis of OPPs residues in maize, millet, wheat and rice revealed that the residual levels of the studied OPPs were highest in maize samples ranging from 3.97E-01 – 6.83E-01 mg/kg. On the contrary, rice samples had the least concentrations range of 1.09E-02 - 1.06E-01 mg/kg. The detected OPPs in all the maize, millet and wheat samples exceeded corresponding maximum residue limits (MRLs). However, the levels in rice samples were all lower than the recommended MRLs. The hazard index (HI) through consumption of maize for adults (1.60E+01 - 2.23E+03) and children (2.87E+01 - 3.99E+03); millet for adults (1.11E+01 - 5.96E+02) and children (1.99E+01 - 1.07E+03); wheat for adults (7.72E+00 - 1.71E+03) and children (1.39E+01 - 4.20E+01); and rice for adults (1.46E+00 - 3.61E+02) and children (2.62E+00 - 6.47E+02). HI values were all > 1, suggesting that consumption of these cereals by both age groups from the study area might pose danger of potential health risk. Furthermore, higher risk indices were recorded for children through crop consumption than adults.
