E.O. Oshomoh

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

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.

The use of medicinal plants such as Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) is widespread, but the therapeutic capability of its essential oil is highly dependent on its chemical profile, or chemotype. Global urbanization introduces specific microenvironmental stresses (e.g., pollution, heat, and soil alteration) that can disrupt plant metabolism, leading to inconsistent oil composition and quality. This study investigated the effect of built-up microenvironments on the chemotype of O. gratissimum essential oil harvested from three distinct Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Edo State, Nigeria: Oredo, Egor, and Ovia North-East. Fresh ocimum. gratissimum leaves were collected from built-up microenvironments in the three selected LGAs. Essential oils were extracted using the Soxhlet method with 99% HPLC-grade hexane, and their chemical compositions were determined using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). GC–MS analysis showed that the essential oil from all three LGAs belonged to a thymol-rich chemotype. However, the concentration of the key active compound, thymol, varied across locations: Egor had the highest thymol content (7.75%), while Oredo was richest in its precursor, o-cymene (12.89%). Ovia North-East exhibited the lowest thymol concentration (5.12%). The presence of high percentages of non-essential oil components (decane and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) was noted as a potential artifact of the extraction process. FTIR analysis further revealed the consistent presence of nitrogen-containing amine functional groups across all samples, suggesting a stress-induced shift in secondary metabolism. The built-up microenvironment significantly influences the chemical profile of O. gratissimum essential oil. The variation in the o-cymene/thymol ratio and the presence of nitrogenous compounds suggest that local environmental stressors (such as pollution or soil conditions) may disrupt the final stages of the monoterpene biosynthetic pathway. These findings highlight the critical need for standardizing growing conditions in pharmacologically driven cultivation to ensure a consistent and high-quality essential oil chemotype.

This study explores the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of four medicinal plants Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Citrus aurantiifolia (lime), and Curcuma longa (turmeric)—to assess their potential in treating throat infections. The research aims to determine their antimicrobial effectiveness, identify bioactive compounds, establish optimal dosages, and scientifically validate traditional medicinal use. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plants were tested against bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acdophilus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) were evaluated, showing that the extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. The inhibition zones increased with higher concentrations, though the extracts were less potent than ciprofloxacin, the control antibiotic. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and alkaloids, with phenolics being the most abundant. Elemental analysis identified essential macro- and microelements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and iron, which may contribute to the therapeutic potential of these plants. The study concludes that these plant extracts exhibit notable antimicrobial properties, likely due to their rich phytochemical composition, and could serve as complimentary or alternative treatments for throat infections. However, further studies are necessary to refine formulations, elucidate mechanisms of action, and assess clinical applications. This research highlights the relevance of medicinal plants in combating antibiotic resistance and underscores their potential role in natural healthcare.