FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES

Meat is a nutritive-rich food that contributes vital protein, vitamins and minerals to higher bioavailability than other food sources thereby making it a suitable medium for the growth of microorganisms which serve as a great source of meat contamination and food borne disease. Among the various microorganism that are implicated with meat contamination, staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent as it a natural floral in skin and nasal cavity of humans and animal. Due to the unhygienic practices from meat handlers, from the abattoirs to the market places and also vehicles which are in most cases unclean and unfit
to convey meat and meat products. This study was conducted to access staphylococcus aureus from raw beef sold in open markets in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria. A total amounts of 45 samples were collected from the meat, tables and knives. Where the meat samples were collected into a sterile container and the table top and knife sample were collected using a sterile swabs. From 5 different markets in benin city, 26 S. aureus isolates were obtained and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method . The result of the prevalence staphylococcus aureus from the meat,table ans knife sample
were [2/15 (13.3%)], [12/15 (80%)] and [12/15 (80%)] respectively. Having Gentamycin (n=5, 100%) the most effective antimicrobial where all isolates were susceptible to it. Followed by Erythromycin and Nitrofurantoin (n=5, 60%). Although, these isolates also shows resistance to Cefepime (100%) followed by penicillin (80%). Unhygienic practices of meat handlers such as dirty hands, unfit display tables and cutting tools and also improper handling of meat products triggers a very high level of S. aureus in open markets which may eventually affects the health of the consumers. Hygiene sanitary practice is recommended in meat market to prevent the consumers from the risk of acquiring these diseases.

The research was carried out to evaluate the risk assessment and antibiotic resistant of E.coli and Salmonella spp in abattoir waste water in Benin city. Standard bacteriological methods were used to enumerate the total bacterial count (E.coli and Salmonella spp) of abattoir waste water using pour plate methods after serial dilution. The bacterial isolates were characterized and identified using morphological and biochemical methods and sugar fermentation test. The percentage distribution and frequency of the isolates were evaluated using statistical method. From the result the total Escherichia coli colony count in cfu/ml ranges from 0.7 x 103 – 0.8 x 103 (cfu/ml) while that of Salmonella spp ranges from 0.7 x 103 – 0.8 x 103 (cfu/ml). Following the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of bacteria from abattoir waste water samples, the result revealed that Salmonella enterica, 2 Escherichia coli strains, Salmonella spp, and Salmonella typhi. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all isolates found in this study were multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria. The multiple antibiotic resistant index of these isolates ranges from 0.5 to 0.525 as against the recommended 0.2 by WHO.

Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant with varied pharmacological effects. The present study evaluated the antioxidant properties of methanol extract of the leaves of Justicia carnea in Wistar rats. Mature Wistar albino rats (n = 36) were assigned to six groups of 6 rats each: group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (diabetic rats treated with standard anti-diabetic drug,
metformin), group 4 (diabetic rats + 100mg/kg bwt of methanol extract of Justicia carnea), group 5 (diabetic rats + 200mg/kg bwt extract) and group 6 (diabetic rats + 500mg/kg extract). The plant leaves were extracted with absolute methanol. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats via intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg body weight STZ. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), body
weight, acute toxicity and oxidative stress markers were measured. Acute toxicity study showed that at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg bwt, methanol extract of J. carnea did not produce any mortality in the rats. Graded doses of methanol extract of J. carnea leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (p < 0.05). The greatest
weight increase was observed in the control group when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The plant extract significantly increased the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), but it reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly when compared with the diabetic control group (p < 0.05). This study has provided
evidence to support the claim that methanol extract of J. carnea is effective in ameliorating oxidative stress induced by STZ in diabetic Wistar rats.

This research focuses on the Multivariate Chemometric Classification of Ocimum gratissimum essential oils obtained from grasslands within three urban local government areas (LGAs) of Benin City Oredo, Egor, and Ovia north-east. The study aimed to determine the chemical variability and structural functional groups of O. gratissimum grown in different grassland environments and to understand how local environmental conditions influence the chemical profiles of the plant’s essential oils. The work involved plant collection, sample preparation, extraction of essential oils, analytical identification, and data interpretation. Fresh leaves of O. gratissimum were collected from uncontaminated bushy sites in the three LGAs, air dried for five days, oven-dried at 45°C for 30 minutes, blended, and stored in airtight brown bottles. Soxhlet extraction using analytical-grade n-hexane served to obtain the essential oils, which were then concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The extracts were analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). GCMS provided molecular identification and quantification of chemical compounds, while FTIR determined the functional groups present in the essential oils. Chemometric methods were employed to classify similarities and differences in the oils based on their chemical fingerprints across the study areas. A total of over forty compounds were detected across the three samples, with the most dominant being Decane (25.04%), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (17.17%), and Thymol (12.65%), along with other bioactive components such as Caryophyllene, Squalene, Phytol, and several aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. These compounds are known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, indicating that O. gratissimum from all study sites retains medicinal relevance. Variations in compound concentrations were observed between locations, suggesting environmental or soilbased
influences on secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The FTIR results revealed prominent absorption peaks around 3350 cm⁻¹ (O–H), 2950 cm⁻¹ (C–H), and 1740 cm⁻¹ (C=O), indicating the presence of alcohols, alkanes, and esters common to essential oils
of Ocimum species. The results demonstrated that although the three O. gratissimum populations share core chemical identities, their quantitative differences are significant enough to allow chemometric differentiation

Spondias mombin is a plant used in various medicinal practices and varieties of traditional medicinal practitioners employ it as a raw material in phytomedicine. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antimicrobial sensitivity, antioxidant activity and the mineral profiling of the stem bark of Spondias mombin plant. The quantitative estimation of the phytochemical compound and the proximate analysis was done using a well-established method. The phytochemical and proximate analysis of the ethanolic extract of Spondias mombin revealed the presence of metabolites and compounds such as carbohydrate (74.404), crude protein (3.563 ±0.6), flavonoid (16.500µg/ml), saponin (17.868 µg/ml) tannin (26.346 µg/ml), alkaloid (0.8%). Theproximate analysis gave a moisture content of (38.20 ± 1.56) and ash content of (11.46±0.27). Some of the compounds identified in the phytochemical analysis were found to possess anti inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-ageing properties, protection against allergies, ache and joint
pain reduction etc. The mineral constituents were also evaluated using a well-established method: sodium (0.80), potassium (65.00), calcium (2.100), magnesium (2.460), manganese (72.85), copper (0.200), zinc (0.100), iron (1.500), nitrogen (0.570) and the ascorbic acid was analyzed using a spectrophotometer, which revealed a high vitamin C content of (1664.714). The antimicrobial activity was checked against some selected bacteria and fungi which revealed high antimicrobial activity against the selected test organisms hence Spondias mombin stem bark and its bioactive chemicals are effective in treating various illness and these studies therefore support its traditional medicinal use

Ecological study of seasonal distribution of weeds in oil palm plantation at Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, was carried out during therainyand dry seasons of 2020. Quadrats measuring 10 m2 were laid at random and informationontheweed species were gathered and used to generate diversity indices as well as other ecological statistics. During the dry season the taxa ranged from 27 - 50, individual abundance (376–2821), Dominance_D (0.1819 – 0.4248), Simpson index (0.5752 – 0.962), Shannon Wiener idex(1.469 – 3.468), Evenness index (0.132 - 0.7635), Brillouin (1.437 – 3.268), Menhinickindex(0.7073 – 2.116), Margalef index (3.569 – 6.914), Equitability (0.4301 – 0.9278), Fisher_alpha(4.705 – 8.632), Berger-Parker (0.07979 – 0.6424) and Chao-1 was (27.38 – 50.5). In termsofmost abundant species, density, relative density and importance index value in dry seasonindecreasing order were Poaceae > Selaginellaceae > Arecaceae > Melastomataceae>Bromeliaceae > Asteraceae. Diverse families in decreasing order were Poaceae > Asteraceae>Fabaceae = Rubiaceae = Malvaceae > Amaranthaceae = Connaraceae > Acanthaceae=Cyperaceae = Euphorbiaceae = Polypodiaceae = Tiliaceae = Gentianaceae with 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2 species respectively. While in the rainy season taxa ranged from32- 57, individuals (312 – 2178), Dominance, Simpson, Shannon Weiner, Evenness, Brillouin, Menhinick, Margalef and Equitability indices were (0.04491 – 0.4904; 0.5096 – 0.9551; 1.488–3.454; 0.10390 – 586; 1.426 – 3.284; 0.7037 – 2.887; 4.061 – 8.706) respectively. Equitability(0.4182 – 0.866), Fisher_alpha (5.373 – 17.31), Berger-Parker (0.1197 – 0.6944) and Chao-1were(32 – 62.08) respectively. In terms of most abundant species, density, relative densityandabstractimportance value index in rainy season, six weed families namely Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae and Connaraceae were predominant. Similarly, the most diverse families in decreasing order were Poaceae > Asteraceae, = Fabaceae, > Rubiaceae, =Malvacee, > Connaraceae = Amaranthaceae, > Acanthaceae = Cyperaceae = Euphorbiaceae=Gentianaceae = Polypodiaceae = Tiliaceae with 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2speciesrespectively.The knowledge of weed flora will enable us to know the appropriate methodtoeliminate them from our agricultural farms to reduce competition with our valuable crops

The issue of managing solid waste in cities across Nigeria is becoming increasingly concerning. There has been a significant rise in the amount and variety of solid waste produced on a daily basis in the country, mainly due to population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and overall economic development. In order to evaluate the impact of solid waste management, a study was conducted using a cross-sectional design, focusing on the Lagos Municipal area.The study found that households primarily disposed of their solid waste in communal skip containers followed by dumpsites and private waste management firms. Additionally, it was discovered that residents expressed a desire to dispose of their waste properly but faced obstacles in doing so. The study's results suggest that it is crucial to address the solid waste management issue in Nigerian cities. This can be done by implementing measures such as educating residents, providing skip containers and dustbins, and enhancing the local authority's policies to ensure effective solid waste management

This study investigated the occupational health risks at an airport, focusing on air pollutant concentrations, their spatiotemporal variation, and the associated respiratory health effects among airport workers (N=129). Air quality monitoring was conducted in four areas (Runway, Parking Lot, Departure area, and Reception) during the morning and afternoon periods for carbon dioxide (CO2 ), coarse particulate matter (PM10 ), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ). The data were analysed via ANOVA and paired samples t tests. A survey collected data on workers' sociodemographic, workrelated risks, and self-reported respiratory symptoms. Environmental monitoring identified PM2.5 as the primary air quality hazard. The highest observed mean PM2.5 concentration (24.1 μg/m3) exceeded the strict WHO 24-hour guideline. Statistical analysis confirmed significant spatial variation in PM2.5, with the Runway and Parking Lot acting as hotspots and a highly significant temporal spike in the afternoon (p=0.001). Coughing was the most prevalent reported symptom (57.4% of workers). Chi-square tests revealed a strong correlation between respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, and chest pain) and both smoking and a family history of chronic respiratory issues (p≤0.007 for all). Furthermore, workers demonstrated critical systemic failure in safety protocols, with 83.7% lacking knowledge of the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 96.9% unaware of routine air quality monitoring. The airport environment presents a substantial and avoidable health risk driven by noncompliant PM2.5 levels and systemic safety management failures. Recommendations include implementing mandatory, hands-on PPE training, establishing a transparent PM2.5 monitoring system in hotspots, and creating an occupational health program to screen and counsel high-risk

Contamination of soils due to spent engine oil is an important environmental issue affecting soil characteristics and plant growth. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of spent engine oil on growth parameters of Saccharum spontaneum L. for potential use in phytoremediation of oil polluted environments. Spent engine oil from a motor service garage was prepared in five concentrations of 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64ml/Kg. Tillers of S. spontaneum were planted in top garden soil and allowed to stabilize for four weeks before treatments were added. A control experiment in four replicates was also set up. The control had a significantly higher number of tillers compared to the different concentration treatment groups. The higher concentrations of 16, 32 and 64ml/Kg of spent engine oil contaminated soil did not produce any tillers at all. Total aliphatic hydrocarbon content was lowest in the control and highest in the 64ml/Kg treatment. Total polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon was highest in the 32ml/Kg treatment. Soil chemical parameters did not show a dose dependent response to increase in treatment with spent engine oil. This report demonstrated that lower concentrations of spent engine oil enhanced the number of leaves, plant height and leaf area of S. spontaneum. Results showed that S. spontaneum was tolerant to, and thrived at low concentrations of contamination with spent engine oil but declined in growth and development at high concentrations and for extended periods

Background: N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-quinone or 6PPD-Q), a pervasive transformation product of tire-wear antioxidants, has been identified as a highly toxic contaminant in urban stormwater runoff, responsible for acute mortality in sensitive salmonid fish. However, its sublethal, chronic, and mechanistic toxicity on non-salmonid freshwater species, such as the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), remains less understood. Objective: This study investigates the toxic effects of 6PPD-Q on the antioxidant defense system—specifically glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)—in Clarias gariepinus under sub-chronic exposure. Methodology: Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were exposed to environmentally relevant and higher concentrations of 6PPD-Q [0, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 g/L] for a period of 28 days under controlled conditions. Liver tissues were analyzed for GSH levels, GPx activity, and SOD activity at 7, 14, and 28 days of exposure.
Results: 6PPD-Q exposure induced significant dose- and time-dependent oxidative stress in C. gariepinus. Initial exposure (days 7–14) resulted in a compensatory increase in SOD and GPx activities and GSH levels. However, prolonged exposure (day 28) to higher concentrations (1.0–5.0 g/L) led to a significant decrease in GSH levels and inhibited GPx and SOD activities, indicating an overwhelming of the antioxidant defense system. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that 6PPD-Q is highly toxic to Clarias gariepinus, inducing severe oxidative stress that disrupts key detoxification pathways. The inhibition of GSH, GPx, and SOD suggest that 6PPD-Q can trigger severe hepatic cellular damage and long-term health risks in this species, necessitating tighter monitoring of tire-derived pollutants in freshwater ecosystems.