FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES U

This study assessed the levels of heavy metal contamination in artesian well water in Ikpoba Slope, Benin City, Nigeria. A community dependent on shallow artesian well water for essential domestic needs. Water samples from eight artesian wells (well sample 1–8) were analyzed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Lead concentrations ranged from 0.008 ± 0.0001mg/L in well 7 to 0.015 ± 0.002mg/L in well 8, with well 2 (0.013 ± 0.001 mg/L) , 5 (0.013 ± 0.0004 mg/L) , and 8 (0.015 ± 0.002 mg/L) exceeding WHO (2011) and NSDWQ (2007) recommended permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L. while chromium ranged from 0.017 ± 0.001 mg/L in well 8 to 0.037 ± 0.002 mg/L in well 4, iron from 0.017 ± 0.0003mg/L in well 1 to 0.264 ± 0.002 mg/L in well 3, copper from 0.019 ± 0.001 mg/L in well 3 to 0.038 ± 0.001mg/L in well 7 , and manganese from 0.012 ± 0.001mg/L in well 8 to 0.018 ± 0.001mg/L in well 7. They were all within WHO (2011) and NSDWQ (2007) recommended permissible limits. Cadmium was below the detection limit across all well samples. These findings offer critical data for public health interventions and sustainable water management in Ikpoba slope.

Medicinal plants have been essential to medicine for millennia, both modern and traditional. Nature's Gift® (Allium sativum, turmeric, ginseng, and bilberry) was tested for antidepressant and properties. The forced swim test, tail suspension test, and elevated plus maze were used to study antidepressants and anxiolytics. Twenty-five 20–30 gram mice were split into five groups of five. Group 1 received 10 ml/kg distilled water, Groups 2, 3, and 4 received 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg Nature Gift® extract, and Group 5 received 20 mg/kg oral fluoxetine. The mice were placed in an inescapable transparent cylinder filled with water at 25°C for one hour after receiving Nature's Gift® and fluoxetine. Animal immobility was recorded after 5 minutes of swimming. Twenty 20–30 gram mice were randomly assigned to five four-animal groups. Group 1 received distilled water (10 ml/kg), groups 2–4 Nature Gift extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), and group 5 diazepam (10 mg/kg). An hour after receiving Nature's Gift® extracts and diazepam, the animals explored the central maze for five minutes. The number of entries and open arms time were recorded. Compared to the control, Nature's Gift® extract at 200 mg/kg and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) reduced immobility time in the forced swimming test (p<0.05). Compared to the control, Nature's Gift® extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) reduced tail suspension immobility time (p<0.05). Both Nature's Gift® extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) and diazepam (10 mg/kg) increased time spent in the open arm compared to the control (p<0.05). Nature's Gift® Supplement is an antidepressant and anxiolytic.