FACULTY LIFE SCIENCE

Cadmium is a toxicant that is not just harmful to the gonads but also the liver. In this study, the ameliorating potentials of Cyperus esculentus on cadmium induced toxicity in Liver was evaluated. Thirty-five male albino wistar rats divided into five groups consisting of seven rats each were used for this experiment. All rats were treated orally via gavage for 28 days. The
group 1 served as the control group was administered normal saline while group 2 was treated with Cadmium only (3 mg/kg body weight). Groups 3 and 4 were co-treated with cadmium and Cyperus esculentus extract at doses of 2 and 4 mL/kg body weight respectively. Following this, histopathology were analysed for all the rats. Biochemically, SOD, CAT and
MDA activities were significantly altered (p<0.05) in cadmium treated group. Group 3 rats showed no significant alteration in SOD, CAT and MDA level. However, there was a significant increase in CAT activities in all rats. Histological section through the liver showed inflammation and necrosis in rats in group 2. However, the histology cross section in group 4 and 5 appeared to have recovered from the damages induced by cadmium. These results showed that Cyperus esculentus ameliorated the toxic effects induced by cadmium on the liver by restoring the morphology of the liver in a dose dependent manner.

The effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of Solanum macrocarpon (African eggplant) was investigated. Declining soil fertility remains a major challenge to agricultural productivity, necessitating the exploration of effective fertilization strategies. This research aimed to evaluate and compare the growth performance of Solanum macrocarpon under different fertilizer treatments, including poultry dung (organic manure), NPK (inorganic fertilizer), and a combination of both. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed, with plants subjected to varying concentrations of the fertilizers. Growth parameters such as seed germination, chlorophyll content index, leaf number, leaf area and stem girth were monitored over the study period. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 20. Duncan Multiple Range (DMR) was used for Analyses of variance (ANOVA) to separate the means and report statistical significance among treatments. The findings revealed that plants treated with inorganic fertilizer (NPK) exhibited the highest initial growth rate and yield, attributed to the rapid availability of essential nutrients. However, poultry dung-treated plants demonstrated sustained growth over time due to improved soil structure and microbial activity. The combination of poultry dung and NPK resulted in optimal growth performance, indicating a complementary effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers

Cadmium (Cd) is a pervasive environmental toxicant known to induce hepatotoxicity through oxidative stress. This study investigated the protective effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) rind against cadmium-induced liver damage in Wistar rats. Twenty five rats were divided into five groups: control, negative control (CdCl₂ only), Vitamin C, and two groups receiving C. lanatus extract (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg). After 60 days, biochemical liver markers were analyzed. The negative control group showed elevated levels of AST, ALT, and total bilirubin, indicating hepatocellular injury. In contrast, treatment with the C. lanatus extract, particularly at 500 mg/kg, significantly ameliorated these alterations, bringing the enzyme and bilirubin levels closer to those of the control and Vitamin C groups. The extract also counteracted the growth-suppressive effect of cadmium, with treated groups showing significantly higher body weight gain. There were no significant changes in liver cadmium concentration or liver to body weight ratio across groups. This can imply that the hydroethanolic extract of C. lanatus rind possesses potent hepatoprotective properties against cadmium toxicity, likely mediated by its antioxidant phytoconstituents, which stabilize hepatocyte membranes and improve metabolic function without altering cadmium accumulation.

Mushrooms are good degraders of wastes and plant litters. Marasmiellus inoderma is an edible and medicinal mushroom that usually grows on leaf litters and wood wastes. To test for the suitability of plant wastes on the vegetative growth of the mushroom, extracts from selected wastes were used to prepare media for its growth in the laboratory. Six plant wastes were
selected for this study. They include Oil palm fruit fiber (OPFF), Banana leaves, Terminalia catappa leaves (TC), paper wastes , cotton wastes and melon husk wastes. The extracts of each these wastes were prepared by weighing 100g of the waste into 1L of water and boiling for 15 minutes. The extracts were amended with Dextrose sugar and PDA and then inoculated a 10mm
agar plug of a 7day old culture. The results obtained indicated that the extract from cotton waste (75.75 ± 12.71 mm) and cotton amended with PDA gave the highest mycelia extension (74.33 ± 1.61 mm) followed by Oil palm fruit fiber extract amended with PDA (73.5 ± 3.04 mm) and the least extension was observed in the extract of waste paper amended with PDA (39.33 ± 29.17 mm). The extract of cotton amended with PDA gave the highest biomass yield after 12 days of inoculation. The pure extract of Banana leaves compared well with PDA in the mycelia extension of the mushroom while Melon amended with PDA compared favorably with PDA in biomass yield of the mycelium. The density and morphology of the mushroom on the extracts
differed considerably. While the mycelia growth and form was dense in pure banana and cotton extracts, it was slightly dense in the pure extracts of OPFF and Terminalia catappa leaf and very dense in melon husk and cotton waste extracts when both were amended with PDA. This study shows that the fungus can be cultivated on these wastes and can therefore be used to reduce the waste and convert these wastes into food. These substrates can also be useful in generating the mycelia of the fungus Marasmiellus inoderma to produce other value-added products

This study aimed to isolate and identify airborne bacteria present in the Hall 2 reading room using the passive settle plate method. Ten nutrient agar plates were exposed at different locations within the room, while a control plate was kept sealed to ensure sterility. After 24–48 hours of incubation, all exposed plates showed visible bacterial growth. This growth indicates
spatial variation in airborne microbial load likely influenced by airflow, human activity, and proximity to ventilation sources. A total of seven distinct bacterial isolates were obtained through subculturing and were characterized based on colony morphology, including size, color, shape, elevation, and texture. Cream to off-white colonies were the most common, while golden
and yellow colonies suggested the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus, respectively. Slimy or irregular colonies pointed to the presence of encapsulated or motile species such as Bacillus spp. Gram staining and microscopic examination revealed that 6 of the 7 isolates were Gram-positive, with both rod- and cocci-shaped bacteria present. Rods in singles,
chains, or clusters were indicative of Bacillus species, while cocci in clusters suggested Staphylococcus spp. The only Gram-negative isolate, Sub 10, appeared as rod-shaped cells loosely clustered, consistent with environmental bacteria such as Escherichia coli or Enterobacter. The predominance of Gram-positive bacteria reflects their ability to survive desiccation and environmental stress, making them common in indoor air. The presence of a Gram-negative species, though limited, may indicate localized moisture or surface contamination. Overall, the study demonstrates that the Hall 2 reading room contains a diverse
airborne bacterial population, primarily originating from human activity and environmental sources. These findings emphasize the need for routine microbial air quality assessments in public and academic spaces to maintain hygienic indoor environments.

Fish is a vital source of dietary protein for many Nigerians, but domestic production has not kept pace with population growth, leading to increased reliance on imports. Traditional preservation methods like smoking play a key role in ensuring year-round availability, but also raise concerns around contaminants and health risks. This study investigates consumer preferences and perceptions regarding fresh versus smoked fish in Benin City, Nigeria. The background highlights that fish is highly perishable, requiring techniques like drying, smoking, freezing, and brining to extend shelf life. Smoking remains the dominant preservation method in Nigeria, offering benefits in accessibility and shelf-life, but also potential quality and safety issues. Limited research has explored consumer choices between fresh and smoked fish products, especially in inland urban areas. This study assesses the extent to which cultural, economic, and health/safety factors influence consumer preferences for fresh versus smoked fish. It also identifies key demographic segments and their buying behaviors. Surveys will be conducted with fish consumers at major markets and the university community in Benin City. The findings can provide important insights to help the fishing industry, retailers, and policymakers better meet evolving consumer demand for fresh and processed fish products in Nigeria.

Digestate from cattle rumen is composed of microbial biomass, organic Matter and inorganic compounds derived from anaerobic digestion, can be used as an inorganic fertilizer or raw materials for biofertilizer production. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of temperature and time relationship towards reduction of bacteria in cattle rumen digestate and its resultant safety as biofertilizer. Cattle Rumen Digestate slurry (CRD) was obtained from National Centre for Energy and Environment in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria . The digestate was subjected to varying degrees of temp 28+2, 55, 60, 70
and 80 ℃ for a duration of 0,20,30, 40 and 60 min. The analysis carried out were for bacterial load using nutrient agar (NA) and Salmonella Shigella agar (SSA), physicochemical and heavy metal content. From the results, the lowest bacterial load of ( 0.5±0.00×10⁵cfu/ml) was recorded for exposure at 80 ⁰C after 60min and Salmonellae load recorded with (NO GROWTH) were from digestate exposure at 70 and 80 ⁰C after 40 and 60 mins respectively (for both temperatures) . Concentrations of nitrate, TK, TKN were highest at 60 ℃ and 80 ℃, TAN and TP were highest at 70 ℃ and 55℃ respectively, while 70 oC, heavy metals were lowest. This study study shows that digestate posses potential concerntration of nutrients and useful minerals which makes it suitable for agriculture land application.

Clay minerals are naturally occurring fine-grained materials composed primarily of hydrous aluminum silicates, formed through the prolonged weathering and hydrothermal alteration of feldspathic rocks under diverse environmental conditions. This study was aimed at investigating the synergetic effect of Ubiaja clay and Uzala black clay and their antibacterial properties against clinical isolates. The clays were collected from Edo State, Nigeria and investigated for parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, organic carbon, and metal content. Antimicrobial assays were conducted using the agar disc diffusion method, while minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined through serial dilution techniques. Results revealed that Uzala black clay exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than Ubiaja clay, attributed to its higher organic matter and iron content. The combined sample demonstrated synergistic enhancement, showing the lowest MIC (25 mg/mL) and highest inhibition zones (up to 4.2 mm), particularly against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Physicochemical data showed that Ubiaja clay had higher mineralization, whereas Uzala black clay was richer in redox-active components, both contributing to their antibacterial potency. The clays also inhibited multidrug-resistant isolates that exhibited resistance to β-lactam antibiotics but sensitivity to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The findings suggest that locally sourced clays possess promising antimicrobial potential and could serve as cost-effective complementary agents in managing infections, especially in regions affected by antibiotic resistance.

The study assessed the levels of heavy metals in soils near sand mining sites in Iyuku, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria and evaluated associated non-carcinogenic health risks through incidental ingestion. Soil samples were collected from ten locations, air-dried, sieved and analyzed for Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Cr and Co using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after aqua regia digestion. Mean concentrations were highest for Fe (56.24 mg/kg), followed by Zn (27.15 mg/kg) and Cu (18.76 mg/kg), with Cd and Co at trace levels (0.45 mg/kg and 0.32 mg/kg, respectively). All values fell below World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) and United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1992) soil quality guidelines, indicating limited contamination. Chronic daily intake (CDI) via ingestion was calculated for children and adults, revealing higher exposure in children due to behavioural factors. Hazard quotients (HQ) for individual metals and the hazard index (HI) for combined exposure were all below 1, suggesting negligible non-carcinogenic risks. However, elevated Fe and Zn near active pits highlight the need for ongoing monitoring. The findings underscore the importance of regulatory measures to prevent future escalation of risks in similar mining communities, emphasizing sustainable practices to protect vulnerable groups.

This study investigates the antimicrobial effects of the essential oil extracted from Ocimum gratissimum commonly known as scent leaf on selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. With increasing concerns over antibiotic resistance, the search for alternative natural antimicrobial agents has intensified. Ocimum gratissimum is a well-known medicinal plant used traditionally in many African and Asian communities for treating infections and inflammatory diseases. The essential oil was extracted using standard distillation methods and tested against bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) using the agar well diffusion method. The results showed that the essential oil demonstrated considerable inhibitory effects on both bacterial types, with slightly higher activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The study confirms the potential of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil as a natural antimicrobial agent and supports its traditional use in treating bacterial infections. Further studies are recommended to isolate active compounds and evaluate theirmechanisms of action