FACULTY LIFE SCIENCE

Palm oil is widely consumed worldwide, particularly in Africa and Asia, where improper storage often leads to increased levels of free fatty acids (FFA). Elevated FFA levels can induce oxidative stress and impair organ function, including the heart. The study aimed to determine the influence of varying FFA levels in palm oil on body weight, total ATPase activity and the histopathological integrity of cardiac tissue in rats. Palm oil samples with FFA levels ranging from 0.4% to 42.7% were fed to six groups of Wistar rats for four weeks. The study observed significant differences in weight gain across groups consuming palm oil
with different FFA levels, the control group show moderate weight gain as baseline for
comparison, the low level FFA group (0.4% FFA) show a significant weight gain suggesting optimal intake of nutrient while the higher level FFA group (28.4% FFA) showed reduce weight gain particular in the 8.4% FFA group. Total ATPase activity was assessed using standard spectrophotometric methods, while histopathological analysis of cardiac tissue was conducted to evaluate structural changes. The study revealed an initial increase in ATPase activity in groups fed moderate FFA levels (4.8%), reflecting potential adaptive metabolic responses. However, higher FFA levels (≥8.4%) led to suppressed ATPase activity, likely due
to oxidative damage. Despite the increase observed in ATPase activity and tissue structure ,no evidence of acute myocardial damage was found in the control and experimental groups. Histopathological analysis showed normal cardiac architecture in the control and palm oil fed groups. The finding underscore the importance of proper palm oil storage to limit FFA accumulation and prevent potential adverse effects on cardiac health.

Virtual reality (VR) has become a mainstay with it’s increasing application in diverse fields. The use of head-mounted display (HMD) provides a more immersive computer generated world when compared to other video formats. It is therefore essential to understand the effects of VR on oculomotor function. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of VR on oculomotor function. A total of 29 participants with mean age 24.41 ± 1.98 comprising 14 males and 15 females, who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study. The clinical accommodative and vergence measurements linked to the oculomotor system that were of interest in this study were collected before and after watching a 3D movie with a VR-HD for 45 minutes. The Baseline measurements were analyzed using the One-Sample t test. The Paired- Samples t test was used to compare the mean values of the baseline measurements with those recorded after the virtual reality. The study revealed significant change in AOA in the right eye (p=0.005), no significant difference in the left eye (p= 0.199) and other accommodative measurements (p=0.076 and p=0.725 for NRA AND PRA respectively). PFV break at near showed a significant difference (p=0.003) but there was no significant difference for other vergence measurements’ break components (p=0.414 and p= 0.257 for NPC and NFV ). There
was no significant difference for vergence measurements’ recovery components (p= 0.191 for NPC, p= 0.361 for NFV and p= 0.561 for PFV). In conclusion VR-HMD was found to have significant effect on certain occulomotor functions.

Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional African medicine for managing kidney-related ailments, largely due to their rich phytochemical compositions and therapeutic potential. This study investigated the effects of methanol leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on renal and electrolyte parameters in Wistar rats. A. grandiflora, a member of the Gentianaceae family, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic properties attributed to its bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, iridoids, saponins, and tannins. Fresh leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control and three treatment groups receiving 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the extract orally for 28 days. Biochemical parameters including urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were analyzed using standard diagnostic methods. Results indicated no statistically significant (p > 0.05) alterations in serum urea and creatinine concentrations across all groups, suggesting that the extract did not impair renal excretory function or protein metabolism. Similarly, electrolyte values remained within normal physiological limits, confirming the maintenance of acid–base balance and tubular integrity. Slight fluctuations in sodium and potassium were non-dose-dependent and within safe reference ranges. The extract demonstrated renal safety and stability across the measured biochemical parameters. The findings imply that methanol leaf extract of A. grandiflora exerts no nephrotoxic effects and may instead support renal homeostasis through its antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing mechanisms. These results validate its ethnomedicinal use in managing renal and urinary disorders and support its potential as a safe natural therapeutic agent for kidney protection. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive constituents responsible for its renoprotective effects.

Rice and beans are staple foods consumed in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, where they are a common part of daily meals and it is prepared in various ways. Rice is a cereal grain, classified under carbohydrates, providing mainly energy in the form of starch, containing carbohydrates, some proteins and fiber, while beans are a legume, rich in protein, antioxidants, iron, potassium, and folate. Rice is richer in iron, folate, and vitamin B3, while beans provide more fiber, copper, phosphorus, and potassium. Rice and Beans together are considered a balanced diet because they complement each other nutritionally providing a complete protein source by combining the essential amino acid that each lack on its own. This combination is rich in fiber and protein, provide several health benefits that contribute to overall well-being, the digestive health, heart health, blood pressure regulation, diabetes management, colon cancer prevention, maintaining glycemic index etc.

Antimicrobial resistance is mainly caused by the overuse, underuse or misuse of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is defined as a microorganism's resistance to an antimicrobial drug that was once able to treat an infection by that microorganism The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of MRSA among outpatients presenting Evboutubu primary health center, Egor LGA Benin city, Nigeria. A total of 11 urine and swab samples were studied between February 2021 to April 2021. This study was extrapolated from a wider study of MDRE and MRSA prevalence among patients in health centers in Benin-city, Nigeria. Microbial enumeration and identification were carried out using cultural and biochemical methods. Microbial counts were carried out using cultural characterization, Gram staining techniques and biochemical tests including; oxidase, indole, sugar fermentation, citrate, motility, methyl red, catalase, urease and antimicrobial susceptibility test (using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique). Most of the samples tested were positive for S. aureus and MRSA. From the study, it was observed that, patients between the ages of 18-24 and 25-34 had the highest percentage of MRSA (45.5%), while females had a higher percentage (54.6%) than males, other works had the highest frequency of 36.4% and Patients receiving between 11,000-99,999 had the highest percentage of 77.8%. Findings from this study revealed that both S. aureus and MRSA had high prevalence in the distribution by participants’ social demographic characteristics. Therefore, MRSA poses a potential public health risk and ntimicrobial sensitivity and resistance must ultimately be understood at the population, organism, cellular, and molecular levels if
antimicrobial resistance is to be reduced.

Alchornea Cordifolia commonly known as the Christmas bush or “Ewe ira” in West Africa, isamedicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections, wounds, andinflammatory conditions. This study investigates the phytochemical compositionandantimicrobial properties of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extracts. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of major bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and phenolic compounds, which are known to possess therapeuticand antimicrobial potential. However , terpenoids was absent in the cause of this work. Theantimicrobial activity of the ethanolic leaf extracts was evaluated against selected bacterial isolates including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosaandBacillus substilus. The study employed the agar well diffusion method to assess bacterial susceptibility to varying concentrations (1000 mg/ml, 500 mg/ml, 250 mg/ml,125 mg/ml and62.5mg/ml) of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extract. The results showed no significant degreesorzones of inhibition exhibited by the extract and so suggest further research is needed. Theobserved activity is attributed to the synergistic effects of the identified phytochemicals. Thesefindings support the ethnomedicinal use of Alchornea cordifolia leaves and suggest that theplant could serve as a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents for developing alternativetherapies against resistant microbial strains.

This study investigated the effects of Acanthus montanus leaf extract on kidney function in an experimental animal model. The research also aimed to scientifically validate the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in managing renal disorders. Fresh leaves of Acanthus montanus were collected, authenticated, air-dried, and extracted using distilled water. The animals (Male Wistar rats) were divided into control and treatment groups, respectively. The extract was administered at graded doses, and serum biochemical parameters, including Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, urea, and creatinine, were measured. Results indicated significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent reductions in elevated serum enzyme levels and improved renal function markers among treated groups compared to the control. The study provides scientific support for the traditional use of Acanthus montanus in managing kidney disorders. The results highlight its potential as a natural source of therapeutic agents for oxidative stress-related organ damage.

This study investigates and compares the antioxidant, phytochemical, and antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) leaves. Fresh leaves of C. citratus were collected, shade-dried, pulverized, and extracted using distilled water and 70% ethanol. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screenings were conducted to determine the presence and levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids. The antioxidant activities were assessed using DPPH,and FRAP assays, while antimicrobial activities were evaluated using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods against Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus Niger, Klebsiella pneumoniae, seudomonasaeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Preliminary findings suggest that ethanolic extracts of C. citratus contain higher concentrations of total phenolics and flavonoids compared to aqueous extracts. Consequently, ethanolic extracts demonstrated stronger antioxidant activities and broader antimicrobial spectra. These results highlight the influence of extraction solvent
polarity on phytochemical yield and biological activity. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents derived from lemongrass for use in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food preservation.

Turmeric belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae and natively grown in India and Southeast Asia.Turmeric plant contains rhizome which has several secondary metabolites including steroids, curcuminiods and sesquiterpenes with cucurmin being the principal component of the yellow pigment and the major bioactive substance curcumin. Enteric bacteria are Gram negative bacteria
found in the human and animal intestine.Examples are Shigella sp, Salmonella sp and Eschericha coli. Antibacterial property of turmeric requires the use of its rhizomes. The rhizomes were shade dried and grounded to powder.90g of the sample was measured and mixed with 150ml ethanol (ethanol extract), while 150g of powdered sample was mixed with 270ml of water (aqueous extract). Using Muller Hinton agar, cultures of test bacteria were swabbed on the Muller Hinton agar plates, a hole was drilled at the middle of the culture and then 0.01ml of the extracts was poured into the hole.The culture was incubated at 370C for 24 hours in an upright position. Results from both extracts (aqueous and ethanol) on test bacteria (Eschericha coli, Salmonella sp and Shigella sp) showed that turmeric has antibacterial property because it was able to Inhibit the growth of test bacteria. Ethanolic extract of turmeric (curcumin) showed more effects on enteric bacteria and it's because the ethanol helps to boost the antibacterial activities of turmeric than aqueous extract. Phytochemical screening was carried out on turmeric and it shows the presence of saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid and steroid chemical compound. The presence of curcumin inhibit the growth of enteric bacteria such as Eschericha coli, Salmonellasp and Shigella sp. Curcumin posses invitro antimicrobial potential against a wide range of microorganisms. Curcumin possesses a synergistic effect with important antibiotics such as cefixime, vancomycin and tetracycline against enteric bacteria. Turmeric destroys the bacteria cell membrane through penetration and therefore distortion of the cell shape happens as a result of exposure to curcumin. Thus, the damage of the cell membrane is the key mechanism of curcumin in enteric bacteria.

Fertility is the natural capacity to conceive a child. Some people find fertility difficult to achieve and around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need (World Health Organization, 2023). According to the National Institute of Health (2017), Infertility is defined clinically as not being able to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of having regular, unprotected intercourse, or after 6 months if the woman in 35 years of age.