DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

To determine the extent of physicochemical concentrations in the research area, a groundwater quality evaluation was conducted in Edo State's Ikpoba Okha LGA. Fifteen (15) boreholes were randomly selected from the study region and their physicochemical characteristics were examined. This study also used statistical and cluster analysis techniques. The most significant
component of the cluster analysis is the Dendrogram, which showed the Euclidean distance level at which a combination of elements and clusters was present. Four clusters were found, and Cluster 1, which is primarily composed of heavy metals, showed correlation and similarities among the relevant parameters. Among the parameters that were looked at were the water
sample's pH, turbidity, TDS, electrical conductivity, salinity, and TSS. An atomic absorption spectrometer was used to identify heavy metals and cations, such as Na, K, Ca, and Mg, whereas
sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, and carbonates were detected as anions. The results of the study indicated that the water samples had a pH range of 5.28 to 5.98, indicating that they were acidic. The research region's pH ranged from 4.51 to 5.22, while TDS varied from 5.34 to 6.22 mg/l. There were 1.54 mg/l to 2.12 mg/l of nitrate in the research area. Every water sample was
collected and compared to the WHO threshold of 10 mg/l. The research area's copper concentration ranged from 0.039 mg/l to 0.086 mg/l. The sample with the highest recorded value
was BH9, and the sample with the lowest recorded value was BH15. The study region's manganese concentrations range from 0.05 mg/l to 0.35 mg/l, with the mean, lowest, and highest
values included in these data. The WHO criterion is 0.1 mg/l, and just one sample (BH8) was higher than that. Some of the wells' water samples and those from a few boreholes are
contaminated with too high amounts of certain parameters to be consumed by humans. Therefore, it has been established that human activities (refuse dumping, sewage disposal, etc.) have had an impact on the quality of the groundwater in that area.

This study was carried out to determine the toxicity level of heavy metals at Egor Local Government Area of Edo State (Uwelu Mechanic/Spare-parts Market) in Benin-City, by
evaluating the soil pollution accumulation and distribution resulting from the activities of automobile spear parts market and workshops in the study area. Nine (9) sample points including control were profiled at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15cm and 165-30cm. The control site which was east of the study area was situated about 1km away, and instruments used for sample collection are hand auger, Global Positioning System (GPS), ruler, sample bags, marker, and masking tapes. Laboratory analysis carried out revealed the physicochemical properties and heavy metals presence. Statistical analyses employed to investigate the heavy metal concentration, accumulation and distribution in the soil samples were performed using Pearson Correlation analysis and ANOVA analysis. Thereafter, Contamination factor, Geoaccumulation Index and Pollution Load Index. At profile depth 0-5 cm and 15-30 cm, there is no significant difference with control values. At profile depth 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm, there was significant difference between control and Chromium, Vanadium, Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Electrical Conductivity. There was positive strong correlation between all the heavy metals except Nickel and Chromium which showed only significant correlation. Cadmium, Vanadium, Lead, Zinc and Chromium showed Contamination Factor value greater than 1.5 in all the profile samples which translates to Contamination from
anthropogenic sources. Cadmium and Lead recorded high geo-accumulation index values which implies moderate to heavy contamination. Pollution Load Index of the profiles revealed that the sub soil at 10-15 cm and 15-30 cm where the most contaminated with the highest PLI values. In conclusion, the soil within the study area is heavily polluted with heavy metals due to the spilling of spent oil and dumping of scrap metals.

This research study was carried out to evaluate the fat soluble vitamin contents (vitamin A, D, E and K) in solvent extracted melon seed oil and to determine the Amino acid profile of whole melon seed flour over a period of time. Results on fat soluble vitamins shows that, vitamin A had the highest value, followed by vitamin E, K and vitamin D had the lowest value of the fat soluble vitamin content and they were all relatively stable from month 0 to month 1. Result on whole melon seed flour shows that, it contains eleven essential amino acids and seven non-essential amino acids. Therefore solvent extracted melon seed oil
contains fat soluble vitamins and whole melon seed flour contains the basic essential amino acids.

Air is essential for sustaining life on Earth. It provides us with oxygen to breathe, and regulates the Earth’s climate. Clean and healthy air is needed for our overall well-being and the environment. Unfortunately, our environment has been exposed to different air pollutants because of various daily activities. Most of these day-to-day activities of human occur in an indoor environment, as people spend more of their daily time indoors; hence, the tendency to be exposed to indoor air pollution is considerably high compared with the outdoor air pollutants. For young children, classrooms are a major indoor environment where they spend approximately 90% of their daily active time in a day, as such indoor air quality become crucial. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have been linked to serious health issues. PM2.5 is a particulate matter which has an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 or less and has the capacity to penetrate deep into the lungs, generated from transportation (Vehicular exhaust fumes, wear and tear of roads, brakes, and tyres) and industrial combustion processes such as cooking. It therefore becomes necessary to conduct a study on the atmospheric air condition of the indoor environment. The interaction between PM2.5 and meteorological parameters in schools is paramount as it plays a crucial role in air pollution analysis due to health implications on school children

Recycling fruit peel trash has not only helped to reduce solid waste concerns, but it has also assisted in the discovery of key compounds that have been found to have significant uses. Fruit peel wastes may contain useful components similar to those found in fruit. These beneficial compounds can be employed to create pharmaceutical/medicinal, nutritional, and energy-rich formulations. The study seek to evaluate of Avocado peel extract as a potential agent for ameliorating cardiotoxicity induced by lead and cadmium. The fresh avocado fruits were obtained from a local market (Oba market Oredo) Local Government of Edo state. The seed was extracted, cleaned and prepared. The following test was carried out lipid profile and antioxidant and lipid peroxidation. The level of heavy metal present in the heart showed least in lead and cadmium concentration in group four and five compared the other groups. In the administration of the extract showed increase in uric acid, HDL, LDL, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin in the heart on male albino rat when compared to control. From the result, the administration of the extract showed decrease in triglyceride level in all doses when compared to control except for the avocado peel extract with a 100 mg/ml showed increase when compared to control. From the result, the administration of the extract showed increase at significant (p < 0.05) in Creatinine and Albumin level on male albino rat when compared to control. The administration of the extract showed increase at significant (p < 0.05) in MDA, SOD and CAT level in the heart on male albino rat when compared to control. The administration of the avocado peel extract with doses of 75 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml showed significant decrease in MDA, SOD levels in the blood on male albino rat when compared to control and also, the avocado extract at dosage of 75 mg/ml showed significant increase in CAT levels in the blood on male albino rat when compared to control. While at dosage of 100 mg/ml showed decrease at significant (p < 0.05) in CAT levels in the blood on male albino rat when compared to control. The avocado peel extract showed significant decrease in MDA in the testes on male albino rat when compared to control. The ethanol avocado peel extract showed significant increase in, SOD, and CAT levels in the testes on male albino rat. The protective effect of avocado peel against cadmium and lead toxicity, owing to its polyphenol and flavonoid content represents a potential avenue for treating heavy metal-related health conditions.

Since the beginning of time, people and animals have used plants as a source of medicine. Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by loose, watery stools occurring more frequently than usual. This work aimed at evaluating the anti-diarrhoeal property of the polyherbal aqueous extract on bacterial induced diarrhea in Wistar rat. Diarrhea was induced in twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats, orally administered with Shigella dysenteriae and Escherichia coli bacteria isolated at 1 ml. Graded doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) of the polyherbal plant extract reduced the effect of the bacteria induced diarrheoal. The results showed a slight reduction in the number of wet stools, weight of stools and total number of stools when compared with the control. The peripheral blood smear showed no deteriorative effect on the blood cells, with no significant difference across the treated groups when compared with the control. In conclusion, the antidiarrhoeal activities of the polyherbal aqueous extract effect could be implicated due to the presence of the phytoconstituents in the plants. Thus, this finding supports the claimed ethnomedicinal use of the polyherbal plant extract for the management of diarrhea.

Diarrhoea is the excretion or passage of watery stools at least twice or three times within 24-hour. Traditional medicines are largely underused as a source of health care. Insights and innovative approaches from traditional medicine can also directly impact the economy and public health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of Chrysobalanus icaco (coco plum) fruit methanol extract in Swiss mice. Diarrhoea was induced in Swiss mice using castor oil model. Parameters such as consistency, frequency, and duration of stool were investigated and compared with the control groups. The results obtained from this study showed that C. icaco fruit methanol extract elicited an inhibitory effect in castor oil induced diarrhoea across graded doses of the extract when compared with the untreated control. Also, a significant decrease in the number of diarrhoea compared with the untreated group p <0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrated that C. icaco fruit methanol extract possessed a significant anti- diarrhoeal activity. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and to determine its long-term safety and efficacy in human subjects

Diarrhea is a common medical condition that is characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements and increased liquidity of stool (Gidudu et al., 2011). Diarrhea is responsible for 2.5 million fatalities worldwide per year. It is responsible for one out of every nine deaths in children globally. When combined with other illnesses, diarrhea is considerably more lethal; the death rate is many times that of the rate without other complications.

All thanks to God almighty for giving me the grace, wisdom and strength to complete this my project work and also for His provision, protection and unmerited favour throughout the period of my study. To my supervisor Dr. F.I Okolafor, I want to say thank you for taking out time to ensure that this work was a success and for your unending support, love and care. May the good Lord continue to bless and reward you accordingly. My warm regards goes to my H.O D; Dr. E.O Oshomo and the entire lecturers and staffs of the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Benin for their services rendered in making me a better person. Thank you all. Special gratitude to my parents Mr. and Mrs. Monday Aludu for being there always as regarding the spiritual, financial and all round support. May the good Lord continue to grant you many more years. I say a very big thank you to my sweet and lovely siblings, Obokparo, Eroure, Ajiri and Edafe thank you all for your support and care. I am forever grateful. To my friends Ejobona Mike and Victor who stood by me in the thick and thin of my project period and my entire five years of study in University of Benin, I want to say I love you all and may God grant you your heart desires. Lastly, I wish to express my gratitude to my course mates who assisted me at one point or the other. God bless you all

Five (05) marble samples were obtained from Ubo and Ikpeshi areas Southwest Nigeria with the aim of identifying the chemical composition, mineralogical characteristics, and geological origin of the marble. The samples were subjected to X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Fluorescence analysis. Findings revealed the presence of Calcite (1.6-65%), Quartz (14.1- 44.0%), Muscovite (3.0-37%), Orthoclase (2-30%), Anorthite and Anthophyllite with modal abundance of 8% and 18% at UB1 and UB2, respectively. The result from geochemical analysis reveals the presence of SiO2 (3.91- 47.3wt.%), Al2O3(2.61-8.20wt.%), Fe2O3 (0.17- 7.04wt.%), CaO (31.4-88.8wt.%) and MgO, MnO, K2O, P2O2 having <1wt.%. The low values of the total alkali content in the marble samples from the two sites suggest that the environment of deposition of the original carbonate material that underwent metamorphosis to become marbles from both sites must have been that of a shallow, highly saline environment. The marble deposits are not good raw materials for cement production due to its relatively low value of silica and alumina. However, they are suitable for pesticide production and soil liming. Further geochemical analysis can be achieved to determine their trace elements constituents.