FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a vital food and oilseed crop in Nigeria, contributing significantly to dietary protein and economic livelihoods. However, long-term storage in sealed plastic or glass bottles applicable in a common household and small-scale trader practice creates a microaerobic, high-humidity environment conducive to fungal proliferation and aflatoxin contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic efficacy of a ternary essential oil blend derived from cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) which are all Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) botanicals
against fungal isolates from heavily infested groundnut samples. Fungal enumeration on Potato Dextrose Agar revealed a mean contamination level of 1.42 × 10⁷ CFU/g (replicates: 1.38, 1.42,
1.46 × 10⁷ CFU/g), exceeding the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) safety threshold (<10⁴ CFU/g) by 1,420-fold. Morphological and microscopic
characterization identified six fungal species, with Aspergillus parasiticus (30.6%), A. flavus (28.2%), and Emericella astellata (18.8%) dominating the mycoflora. Coconut Extract Agar (CEA) under UV 365 nm and Ammonia Vapor Test (AVT) confirmed 88.2% of isolates as aflatoxigenic, indicating high risk of B- and G-group aflatoxin synthesis. The methanol extract of the spice mixture exhibited strong, concentration-dependent antifungal activity in disc diffusion assays, producing inhibition zones of 7.7–23.2 mm across 25–100% concentrations, with maximum efficacy (23.2 mm) against E. astellata at 100%. The essential oil blend demonstrated complete fungicidal action, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 1.0% (E. astellata) to 7.0% (A. parasiticus) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) from 3.0% to 9.0%. The MFC/MIC ratio (≤4) confirmed fungicidal rather than fungistatic activity. Mechanistically, the blend disrupts fungal cell membrane integrity, inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis, and suppresses aflatoxin pathway genes. The GRAS-compliant essential oil blend presents a promising, safe, and natural antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic agent for groundnut preservation. Future research should focus on in-situ validation and quantitative aflatoxin reduction using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Pentaclethra macrophylla belongs to the Mimosaceae family, the different parts have been used traditionally for a host of different diseases and ailments over the years including dysentery, influenza, diabetes and jaundice. The antibacterial assessment of the bark part of Pentaclethra macrophylla was carried out against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) as well as gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). The tree bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla was extracted with methanol and water (aqueous), at concentrationns of 500 mg/ml 250 mg/ml, 125 mg/ml, 62.5 mg/ml and 31.25 mg/ml. Antibacterial assay was carried out using Agar Well Diffusion method (A.W.D.). Statistical significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the antimicrobial activities between the methanol and aqueous extracts and the standard antimicrobial drugs. The results of this study revealed that the methanol exhibited more significant antimicrobial activities in both gram positive and negative microorganisms. The results obtained revealed that both extracts could contain active antimicrobial compounds which may inhibit the growth of microorganisms associated with infectious diseases in in-vitro conditions. This study has provided the basis for the use of Pentaclethra macrophylla bark in the treatment of diarrhoeal, dysentery, and wound infection. This study does not only show the scientific basis for some of the therapeutic uses of this plant in traditional medicine, but also confirms the fact that ethno-botanical approach should be considered when investigating antimicrobial properties of plants. There is also need for the incorporation of its methanol and aqueous extracts of P. macrophylla bark in the manufacture of new drugs against common infections caused by the organisms whose growth was inhibited. Thorough works still needs to be done to harness the full antibacterial potentials of this plant for an improved health status of man as well as its nutritive potentials. These findings therefore justify its high acceptability in traditional medicine and the therapeutic uses.

A field experiment was conducted on the effect of the mixture of compost and cow dung manure on the growth of Vigna unguiculata for a period of 5 weeks. Each treatment had 3 replicates making it a total of 15 bags. Five (5) seeds were planted in each bag and
germination reading was taken for 7 days after which readings for plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and girth were taken weekly for 4 weeks. At the end of germination study, control, A, B, C and D recorded 86.67%, 86.67%, 60.00%, 86.67% and
46.67% respectively. At the end of the experiment (31DAP), height values calculated for control, A, B, C and D were 14.33 ± 1.67, 24.67 ± 0.44, 29.00 ± 1.53, 30.25 ± 1.25 and 34.00 ± 3.00 cm respectively and at the same time, the number of leaves values recorded for control, A, B, C and D were 7.00 ± 1.73, 23.33 ± 3.48, 28.00 ± 2.00, 30.50 ± 0.50 and 22.50 ± 3.50 respectively. The results gathered for girth and number of branches were inconsistent. From data gathered, it will appear that the optimum concentration of the manure mixture for growth of Vigna unguiculata lies within the range of treatment C

This study was conducted to investigate the reservoir quality of outcropping sediments in the Lokoja Basange Formation, which is located in the Anambra Basin and specifically determine sieve analysis and characterize the reservoir qualities of the sediments by inferring the porosity of the Lokoja Basange Formation. A total of fourteen (10) samples were collected and analyzed for the study. Freshly obtained samples for sieve analysis were systematically retrieved from different layers on each outcrop in the study area. The reservoir porosity and permeability of the sandstone units of the Lokoja Formations were estimated from sieve analysis. The predictive tools for the determination of reservoir quality of the outcropping sediments in Lokoja Basange which are porosity and textural characteristics and textural parameters of the sediments. The result showed that the mean size of sediments in all ten locations from the area of study ranges from 2.94 - 4.03mm. The highest mean was observed at L9, while the lowest mean was observed in L14. The results from Table 4.11 also showed that at locations L9, L10, L11, L12, and L13, the sediments exhibit coarse characteristics, as indicated by their relatively higher grain sizes, which exceed 2mm. The result showed that the porosity values across all locations are consistent (0.255), indicating that regardless of the variations in grain size distribution, the overall volume of void space within the sediment remains the same. It is recommended that further studies be carried out on this basin so as to determine the provenance of the sediments.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of the extracts of selected sawdusts of Brachystegia nigerica and Bombax buonopozense, Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder, a combination of Brachystegia nigerica and Bombax buonopozense Sawdust, making up a mixed known sawdust, Mixture of unknown sawdust and PDA Control were used in the preparation of media for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus tuberregium. The pure culture of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus tuberregium were gotten from the African Center for Mushroom Research and Technology Innovation (ACMRTI), Uniben. The pure cultures were inoculated into the sterilised extracts of Brachystegia nigerica sawdust, Bombax buonopozense sawdust, Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder, and a mixture of known sawdust and unknown sawdust and PDA Control. After the first day of inoculation, mycelium growth of Ganoderma lucidium was highest for PDA (3.47±0.03) and the least was Mixed known sawdust (2.30±0.60). However, after five days of inoculation, mycelia extension of Ganoderma lucidium was highest for PDA (5.65±0.60) with a morphology of an appressed density, and the least mycelia extension was observed in mixed known sawdust extract (3.38±2.50) with a morphology of a wooly density. In Pleurotus tuberregium, it was also observed that after the first day of inoculation, mycelium growth was the highest for B. buonopozense sawdust extract (3.62±0.21), and the least was observed in mixed known sawdust extract (1.28±0.14). However, after five days of inoculation, mycelium extension for Pleurotus tuberregium was highest for B. buonopozense sawdust extract (7.3±0.78) with a morphology of a wooly density and mixed known sawdust was the least (2.15±0.62) with a morphology of a wooly density. These results revealed that Ganoderma lucidium and Pleurotus tuberregium can be grown on the various subtrates material tested. The study has also shown that local material tested can be used to cultivate mushrooms when synthetic media are not available. There is the need to further test for the substrate materials for the production of spawn and fruit bodies of these mushrooms for mass production.

Amaranthus hybridus , a significant crop in arid and semi-arid regions, faces substantial challenges due to drought stress. This study investigates the morphological responses of A. hybridus to waterlimited conditions. The research involved controlled experiments where plants were subjected to different treatments (40mg/l, 200mg/l, 360mg/l, 17.61mg/l, 88.06mg/l, 176.12mg/l) and growth regulators (SA and AA). Morphological traits such as plant height, stem girth, root length, and weight of seed, number of leaves were meticulously measured and analyzed. The results revealed significant increase in plant height, number of leaves and weight of seed under drought stress, indicating a strategy to minimize water loss. In contrast, root development showed an increase, suggesting an adaptive response to enhance water uptake from deeper soil layers. These morphological adaptations demonstrate the plant's resilience and ability to survive in drought environments. The findings underscore the importance of understanding these responses for improving drought tolerance in A. hybridus, thereby enhancing its productivity in water-scarce regions.

A parasite is a living organism that lives inside or on another living organism, the host upon which it relies on for the resources necessary for its survival. A parasite depends on the host for its growth and reproduction. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of parasitic contamination in fruits from Efehi Street, New Benin Market and how the location affects it. The fruits examined were Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Carrot (Daucus carota), African pear (Dacryodes edulis), and Garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum). The overall prevalence of parasitic contamination recorded in this study was 91.7%. Parasitic contamination was highest in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) with Overall prevalence of 96.7% while the least contaminated was African Pear with prevalence of 86.7%. The parasites recovered from the fruits were Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Trichostrongylus sp., Taenia sp., Heterophyes heterphyes, Entamoeba sp., Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia intestinalis, Balantidium coli, Unidentified nematode larvae and unidentified nematode egg. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasite and it was recovered from 60% of the samples. Most fruit samples got contaminated due to the unhygienic means of storage and transportation

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disorder, affecting over 100 million people worldwide, which accounts for approximately 6% of the global population. It is caused by either a deficiency in insulin production or the body’s inability to effectively use insulin, leading to abnormal blood glucose levels. This condition can damage multiple body systems, particularly
the blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves (Ismail, 2019). Diabetes mellitus is classified into two main types: insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, Type I) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, Type II). Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation and destruction of insulin producing cells in the pancreas, while Type II diabetes is marked by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion

This study investigated the isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus species
isolated from Mason’s Natural Probiotics and the production of bacteriocin with
antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The isolate was identified as a Gram-positive, catalase- and oxidase-negative rod that fermented galactose, lactose, and D-fructose without gas formation. Bacteriocin activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, while enzyme (trypsin) and hydrogen-peroxide neutralization (sodium pyruvate) tests confirmed the proteinaceous nature of the compound. The absence of blue-black coloration in the potassium iodide–starch assay indicated that no hydrogen peroxide was produced. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including catechin, naringenin, and caffeic acid, which may contribute synergistically to antimicrobial activity. The bacteriocin demonstrated notable inhibition of S. aureus comparable to some standard antibiotics. These findings indicate that bacteriocin from Lactobacillus sp. possesses strong antibacterial potential and could serve as a safe, natural bio-preservative and alternative to synthetic antimicrobials

The study accessed and documented plants used by Igbanke people. The study area was delimited into 6 sites which were selected using the geographical assortment of the villages found in the community. The 6 sites where within the following villages Omolua, Ottah, Idumuodin, Ake, Olije, and Igbontor. Within the six site three areas where randomly selected for sampling. A reconnaissance visit was first made to the sample area and questionnaire were administered to key informants. Data collected via questionnaire were retrieved from the informants and analyzed quantitatively and documented. Descriptive statistics was used
to present the results using Microsoft Excel 2019. A total of 70 (Seventy) plant species from 33 families were observed in the sampled area. This number comprises 49 (72%) cultivated
and 21 (31%) semi-wild. Among these plants, life form observed include herbaceous life from 26 (38%), 13 (18.0%) shrub, 24 (35.0%) trees and 6 (9.0%) climbers. Omolua and Ottah had the highest diversity of plant species. Solanaceae was the most dominant, comprising seven species, reflecting its significance in both symbolic and practical contexts, including use as food, medicine, and in spiritual offerings. This was followed by Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae and Malvaceae with six species; Dioscoreaceae had four; Poaceae had three species and others had two and one species. About 80% of the plants had food use while 20% had non food use is the study area. The group of fruits and nuts included 25% of the species which was the highest use. This This was closely followed by Medicinal and Vegetable use accounting for 14% each. 9% of the species were used for traditional worship and other cultural / deity. while 6% of the species were used as Roots and tubers. It is recommended that further studies be carried out in different locations in other to enhance conservation efforts globally.