C. O. OKIEIMEN

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a gradual form of hair loss driven by oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance, remains a major dermatological issue. Conventional synthetic treatments often lead to undesirable side effects, creating the need for safer, plant-based alternatives rich in bioactive compounds that can promote hair regrowth and scalp health. This study aimed to investigate the extraction, optimization, and characterization of bioactive compounds from Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Moringa oleifera (moringa) for potential application in natural formulations targeting androgenetic alopecia.Extraction was optimized using a mixture design approach in Design Expert® software, where the proportions of the three plant materials were systematically varied to maximize total phytochemical yield. The experimental data were fitted into a quadratic model that exhibited strong predictive accuracy with an R² value of 0.9633, while the predicted and adjusted R² values were closely aligned, 0.9268 and 0.9560 respectively, confirming the model’s reliability and significance (p < 0.0001). Optimization results showed that the best formulation was gotten using 3.553 g of cloves, 2.389 g of rosemary, and 4.057 g of moringa, yielding 15.108 with a maximum desirability value of 1.000. Phytochemical screening and quantitative analysis revealed that the optimized blend possessed very high concentrations of phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further confirmed the presence of crucial functional groups such as hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (C=O), and C–O linkages, characteristic of polyphenolic and terpenoid compounds.The results indicated that the combined extract showed synergistic phytochemical enrichment, suggesting improved bioactive potency. The dominance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds implies strong antioxidant and 5α-reductase inhibitory potential, thereby reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced follicular shrinkage. Terpenoids and steroids were also found to contribute to follicular nourishment and stimulation of keratinocyte activity, enhancing overall hair growth. In conclusion, the optimized mixture of Syzygium aromaticum, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Moringa oleifera extracts exhibited promising bioactive and functional properties, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic formulation against androgenetic alopecia.

The earliest vertical gardens extend back 2000 years to the Mediterranean region, and ornamental roof gardens were first created by the civilizations that inhabited the basins of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (the most famous examples of which were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in the seventh and eight centuries B. C.). Northern European regions, such as Norway's sod roofs or the Mediterranean basin's climbing plants for shading vertical surfaces, have a number of examples of green roofs and façades dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. To support sustainable construction practises, modern building envelopes also contain cutting-edge materials and other technologies.

Given Nigeria's abundant agro-industrial wastes, the study focused on optimizing a ternary blend of cassava peels (CP), coconut husk (CH), and sawdust (SD) to maximize bioethanol yields. Unlike previous studies that examined these feedstocks individually, this work investigated their co-processing potential to overcome disposal challenges and enhance their utilization. The characterization of the feedstocks revealed diverse compositions: CP was rich in hemicellulose, CH presented a balanced composition, and SD was cellulose-rich but highly recalcitrant due to its high lignin content. Utilizing a {3,2} Simplex Lattice Design (SLD) across 15 experimental runs, a Special Quartic model was developed to elucidate the relationship between blend ratios and sugar yield. This model demonstrated high significance (F-value = 88.93, p < 0.0001) and an excellent fit (R² = 0.9916), highlighting substantial synergistic interactions, especially between CP and CH. The optimized blend, consisting of 66.7% CP, 16.7% CH, and 16.7% SD, yielded an impressive experimental sugar yield of 370.31 mg/g, which significantly surpassed the yields from individual feedstocks. Subsequent validation of this optimized blend involved acid pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in an experimental ethanol yield of 0.0644 g ethanol/g biomass. This achievement represents 85.4% of the theoretical yield, confirming a high fermentation efficiency and validating the strategic blending as an effective waste-to-wealth strategy for sustainable bioenergy production