CHEMISTRY

The synthesis of Manganese Oxide (MnO) nanoparticles using plant extracts has acquired attention as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical methods. This study explores the synthesis of Manganese Oxide nanoparticles using Dacryodes erulis seeds extract, investigating their antioxidant and phytochemical properties. The Phytochemical composition of
Dacryodes erulis seeds, along with the reduction and stabilization properties of plant-based compounds, played a crucial role in the synthesis of nanoparticles. The synthesized Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the MnONPs were crystalline in nature. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) indicated its polydispersity with a PDI value of 0.250 and an average particle size of 48.78nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH), Carbonyl (C=O), and carboxyl (-COOH) functional group. Antioxidant activities of the Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles were assessed using DPPH, while phytochemical properties were evaluated through quantitative analysis. The results suggested that the synthesized Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles exhibited significant antioxidant properties making them promising candidates for applications in medicine, environmental cleanup, and energy production. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of using African bush pear seed extract for the green synthesis of MnONPs

This study investigates the influence of phenol-based oxidative discoloration on the raw rubber properties of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). Three fresh latex samples namely samples A, B and C (control) were collected randomly on the Rubber field at the Rubber Research Institute, Benin City, Nigeria and processed. The discoloration was observed immediately after tapping, resulting from the oxidation of naturally occurring phenolic compounds present in the latex upon exposure to air. Evaluation of the three samples’ raw rubber properties - dirt content, volatile matter, ash content, nitrogen content, initial plasticity (P₀), plasticity after 30 minutes (P₃₀), and plasticity retention index (PRI) – were done and compared with the standard ISO procedures. Results showed that the phenol-oxidized samples A and B exhibited a slight increase in volatile matter (0.34–0.41%) and nitrogen content (0.47–0.56%), alongside a reduction in PRI values (76–82%) compared to the control but all three samples remained within the acceptable ISO acceptable range for the raw rubber properties. However, dirt (0.020.05%) and ash (0.39–0.43%) contents remained within the acceptable limits specified by ISO standards. These findings indicate that natural oxidative discoloration caused by phenolic compounds slightly reduces the oxidative stability and elasticity of raw rubber but does not significantly compromise its conformity to industrial quality standard

Palm wine is a beverage both alcoholic and non-alcoholic depending on whether fermentation has commerce. Some tropical plants including; date palm(Phoenix dactylifera), coconut palm ( cocos nucifera), nipa palm(nypa fruticans), kithulpalm and raffia palm (Raphia), and palm tree(Elaeis guineensis). The palm wine used was from freshly tapped palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), samples of which where obtained from Uhe and Ugbeghe both in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Edo. The samples were collected in clean sterile bottles and kept in a cooler containing ice block, and taken to the laboratory where selected physicochemical properties of the palm wine samples were examined. The examined physicochemical properties including; pH, specific gravity, alcohol levels, and mineral elements contents were investigated using standard methods. Qualitative analysis of alkaloids, saponnis, phenols, flavonoids, anthraquinone, terpenoids and Tanins in the palm wine studied was carried out using standard method. It was gathered from result that the pH values of the 4 samples ranges from 5.10 – 5.21, 4.18 – 4.04, 3.56 – 3.07, and 3.90 to 3.63 from1to5hrsinterval. Specific gravity (NTU) were 1.20, 1.14, 1.23 and 1.96 Electrical conductivity (μScm-1) were 0.36x104, 0.34x104, 0.31x104 and 0.33x104 in all samples. The alcohol content range were 3.7% - 3.2%., 4.3%- 3.9%, 4.9%-4.5%, 5.3% - 4.9% and 5.9% - 5.3%. Findings also indicate the following respective values for the examined mineral elements; Ca [1.3-0.5], Zn[0.04-0.13], mg [1.58-1.51], Fe [0.37-0.41], Cu [0.15-0.08], K[1.46-1.42] ppm. It was also observed that the following phytochemicals were present in the studied palm wine alkaloids, saponnis, phenols, flavonoids, anthraquinone, terpenoids. However Tanins was not observed. From findings, it would appear that the consumption of palm wine will help meet the dietary needs in the examined nutritional induces.

The study was designed to assess the concentrations of zinc and chromium in some commercially available green and Black sold teas they include Lipton, Top tea, Richmond tea, Cinnamon Tea and Natural green tea within Benin City, Nigeria. Five of the most popular brands among consumers were purchased in the open market. They were digested, infused (cold and hot) and analyzed for their heavy metal content using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The heavy metal concentration varied among the different brands of tea in the study. In the tea samples zinc concentration ranged between 35mg/ kg to 70mg/kg while chromium gave the lowest value of 0.65mg/kg and maximum concentration of 22mg/kg. The cold and hot infusion samples revealed very low concentrations of both zinc and chromium (most of them below detectable limits) ranging between 0.03 mg/l to 0.10 mg/l. In conclusion, the risk of heavy metal exposure via the consumption of these tea is low, with no significant health implications to onsumers and thus does not pose a threat to food safety

Production of African Black soap using cocoa pod husk ash (alkali base) and palm kernel oil is essentially crude soap obtained from the process of Saponification. The cocoa pud husk were carbonized (burnt to ashes ) and the Alkali was extracted from it by dissolving in water and later filtered. The suitability of the Cocoa Pod husk ash as an alkali source for soap production was evaluated, the Alkali extracted was made to react with hot palm kernel oil and the resultant mixture is the African Black soap. The soap formed was analysed. The values of the pH test, foamability test and Lather volume analysed were 9.0, 300ml and 6.33 minutes. The analysis however has revealed that the African black soap can compete favourably with other toilet soaps in the market and can also be improved on. So therefore, using cocoa pod husk for the production of the African black soap, can be modelled to preserve this age-old craft and guarantee that future generations continue to use the traditional methods of creating soap which serve as job opportunities for local and modern communities and women's cooperatives.
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White Yam and Soya Beans is one of the commonly consumed carbohydrate staples. This work determined the Carbohydrate and Amylopectin content and glycemic index (GI) of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) varying with soya beans (Glycine max). Yam tubers were obtained (peeled, sliced, washed) and beans were also obtained ( washed) then some yam and beans were dried, while some were boiled in water.
The cooked yam and beans sample were eaten by 1 individual about the age of 23. A glucometer was used to measure the blood glucose concentrations of the test individual before consuming the yam and beans diets and after the 15 th, 30th, 45th, 60th, and 90th, of consumption which was found to be 108mg/dl, 142mg/dl, 150mg/dl, 145mg/dl,120mg/dl, while for that of soya beans to be 91mg/dl, 105mg/dl, 115mg/dl, 100mg/dl and 111mg/dl. The average incremental area under the curve (IAUC) obtained from the recorded blood concentrations were used to calculate the GI of various White Yam and Soya Beans diets and the combinatrion of both is 210mg/dl for White yam and 585mg/dl for Soya Beans.

Water is one of the elements and the necessity that most major global to the daily life. The physico-chemical properties of the upstream, midstream and downstream of Udu River in Delta State, Nigeria were investigated in this work. The properties
were compared to the World Health Organization (WHO). The physico-chemical properties considered and their average values are pH (7.06 ± 1.01), temperature (31.33 ± 0.58℃), turbidity (10.22±1.10 NTU), alkalinity (8.77±0.68 mg/L), electrical conductivity (140.03±62.50 𝜇S/cm), dissolved oxygen (2.67±0.25 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (1.65±0.35 mg/L), total dissolved solids (79.82±35.61 mg/L), total suspended solids (0.87±0.56 mg/L), nitrate (5.19±0.51 mg/L), chloride (6.67±2.96mg/L), bicarbonate (2.51±0.27 mg/L), sulphate (1.13±0.32 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (16.00±5.29 mg/L), phosphate (8.06±4.34 mg/L), total hardness (15.61±2.13 mg/L), iron (0.77±0.12 mg/L), zinc (0.01±0.01 mg/L), Chromium (0.18±0.07 mg/L), manganese (0.07±0.06 mg/L), copper (0.03±0.00), sodium (0.70±0.00 mg/L) and potassium (0.82±0.00 mg/L). The values of the
physico-chemical properties in comparison with the WHO standards of portable water indicate that Udu River needs to be constantly monitored in order to preserve its quality for safe consumption.

This research study aimed to produce 1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-thiol. Initially, N,N-diethyloxamide (Compound 1) was created through the reaction between diethyloxalate and ethylamine. Following this, 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole
(Compound 2) was formed by treating N,N-diethyloxamide with phosphorus pentachloride. Compound 2 underwent nitration to produce 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methyl-4- nitroimidazole. The subsequent reaction of Compound 3 with thiourea resulted in the
formation of 1-ethyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-thiol. The purity of the compounds was assessed using thin-layer chromatography, recrystallization, and melting point determination methods.

Acalypha indica Linn. stem, a widely utilised medicinal plant in traditional health systems, was investigated for its phytochemical composition, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) activities. The stem bark was successfully extracted with ethyl acetate using cold maceration techniques. The phytochemical examination, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory activity, glucose adsorption assay, and in vivo anti- BPH evaluation were carried out using established analytical methods.Phytochemical profiling using GC–FID revealed appreciable levels of phenolics, flavonoids and alkaloids, including ephedrine (19.21 mg/g), cortisol (10.06 mg/g), rutin (0.64 mg/g) and quercetin (0.50 mg/g), alongside phenolic compounds such as resveratrol (1.43 mg/g). The antioxidant potential were examined using Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) Assay. The extract
displayed concentration-dependent total antioxidant capacity, increasing from approximately 15%-19.7% across near 0–80 mg/mL concentration. In anti-inflammatory assessment, the extract significantly inhibited heat-induced haemolysis, with values increasing from approximately 45% to 55% inhibition at the highest concentration, indicating potent membrane-stabilising ability. In anti-diabetic evaluation, the glucose adsorption capacity of the extract ranged from 1.38–0.17 mM/g at (0–80 mg/mL glucose) concentration, having higher adsorption at 20mg/ml lower than acarbose (4.84–10.78 mM/g), but showing inconsistent adsorption behaviour across concentrations. In testosterone-induced BPH rats, the extract produced significant modulation of prostate biomarkers. Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) decreased from 2.40 ± 0.64 ng/mL in testosterone induced BPH control to 1.37 ± 0.03, 1.07 ± 0.09 and 1.17 ± 0.15 ng/mL at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, approaching values similar to normal control at higher doses. dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels reduced from 66.23 ± 11.03 ng/mL in testosterone induced BPH control to 47.70 ± 3.91, 38.40 ± 4.33 and 42.30 ± 5.08 ng/mL, while prostate volume and weight were markedly lowered, with 100 mg/kg producing the greatest reduction (0.06 ± 0.01 mL and 0.190 ± 0.01 g), comparable to finasteride -a standard control drug. All extract-treated groups showed consistent increases in body weight over 14 days, particularly at 50 and 100 mg/kg, indicating
good tolerance. The combined antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities demonstrated the protective ability of the extract against BPH-associated changes. These findings conclude that Acalypha indica stem extract possesses promising therapeutic
potential as a natural agent for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia, warranting further toxicological and clinical investigations.

This study focuses on investigating the physiochemical properties of soap derived from blends of palm kernel and palm oil. The oils underwent an initial analysis to determine their saponification and acid values using established methods. Subsequently, the oils were mixed in various ratios: palm kernel to palm oil (100:0, 0:100, 50:50, 70:30, and 30:70). Each blend was used to produce soap using the hot method approach, followed by the analysis of the resulting soaps for moisture content, pH, hardness, harshness, cleaning properties, and foam ability. The results indicated the saponification and acid values for palm kernel oil were 283.305 mgKOH/g and 4.488 mgKOH/g,
respectively, while for palm oil, they were 221.595 mgKOH/g and 6.732 mgKOH/g, respectively.
The moisture content, pH, hardness, cleaning properties, and formability of the various blends
were as follows: moisture content (35%, 33.5%, 36%, 39.5%, 30.5%), pH(8.95, 8.57, 8.81, 8.99,
9.34), hardness 4.0, 2.8, 3.6, 3.8, 3.4 cm, harshness (all soaps were mild and gentle to the skin
and hands), cleaning property (more effective, effective, more effective, more effective, most
effective), and formability 7.3, 11.4, 12.6, 9.8, and 13.3 cm, respectively. The results demonstrate that soap produced from the 30:70 blend exhibited superior physiochemical and functional properties. Consequently, it is recommended that this particular oil blend be employed
for soap production with sodium hydroxide using the hot method.