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The present study was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Annona squamosa L. using Allium cepa test and Brine Shrimp Lethality assay. Fresh and ripe sugar apple fruits were collected from an orchard at Ota-Efun, Olorunda Local Government, Osogbo, Nigeria (07° 32' 30.2496' N, 04° 31' 41.7036' E) and their identity authenticated at IFE Herbarium, Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo, University, IleIfe, Nigeria. The seeds were collected, fermented locally for 7days, and ovendried. The cotyledon was separated from the seed coat, pulverized, defatted, and exhaustively extracted with 80% ethanol. The extract was concentrated and air-dried and named Annona squamosa Fermented Cotyledon Hydroalcoholic Extract (AFCHE). The extract was screened for phytoconstituents on GC-MS machine. Allium cepa test and brine shrimp lethality bioassay were used to screen for the cytotoxic potential of AFCHE. The root length and protein concentration of the onion root after 7 days of exposure showed a significant decrease with an increase in AFCHE concentration and an increase in percentage growth inhibition of the root. The LC50 obtained from the brine shrimp lethality bioassay qualified AFCHE as a highly toxic substance and a good anticancer agent worth screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limitations against propagation of Cola nitida include pronounced dormancy of between 1 and 8 months after sowing (MAS) leading to uneven germination and seedling growth. This experiment was conducted in a screenhouse, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, to evaluate the effects of mini-nut and nut-color on germination and seedling growth of C. nitida nuts. The experiment was in a completely randomized design replicated 3 times. Treatments comprised two factors: nut/seed-colored biotype (white, pink, and red) and mini-nut (embryonic portion of cotyledon) [excised embryonic portion cotyledon (EEPC), 25% embryonic portion cotyledon (EPC), 50% EPC, 75% EPC, and 100% EPC (whole nut/seed)], giving 15 treatment combinations sown in plastic cups of 50 cl filled with sawdust. Germination percentage and morphological growth of plantlets (plant height (cm), number of leaves, dry matter yield (g/plant)) were monitored; data subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparisons done (p ≤ 0.05). As early as 4 WAS, the EEPC and 25% EPC had 67.78% and 54.44% germination, respectively. Within the same period, 51.33%, 48.00%, and 31.33%, respectively, of white-, pink-, and red-colored seeds germinated. At 6 WAS, the white-, pink-, and red-colored seeds had mean germination of 80.67%, 92.00%, and 72.67%, respectively. At 12 WAS, germination was observed to complete with the pink-, red-, and white-colored nuts having 97.33%, 92.61%, and 91.33%, respectively. Within the same period, the mini-nut sizes had between 92.22% and 95.56% germination. Combining the two factors, 50% EPC, 25% EPC, and EEPC of white-nut biotype germinated earliest with 50.00–76.67% at 4 WAS and 73.33–80.00% at 5 WAS. The EEPC of pink-colored biotype attained 100% at 6 WAS, while other treatments were between 56.67% and 93.33%. Thus, while earliness in germination pattern follows the order: EEPC > 25% EPC > 50% EPC > 75% EPC > whole nut, the plantlet morphological growth followed a reverse order. With mini-nut technique therefore, timely and even germination of kola nuts were obtained and 50%EPC would be recommended for conventional propagation while EEPC would require nutrient amendment for improved growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four varieties of lima bean seeds with accession number NSWP100, NSWP98, NSWP47 and NSWP96 were subjected to standard analytical techniques to evaluate the physical, proximate, mineral and amino acids composition. Significant (p≤ 0.05) variations existed among the varieties with respect to their proximate composition, mineral constituent and amino acid profile. NSWP98 showed higher hydration indices (0.70) and percentage cotyledon (87.27 g/100 g). Proximate result revealed low moisture and high protein contents (3.71 to 7.45 g/100 g and 25.91 to 30.29 g/100 g) respectively. The most abundant mineral elements were potassium and sodium (7.53 to 360.80 mg/100 g) and (7.53 to 80.73 mg/100 g) respectively; calcium was in the range of 11.13 to 2014 mg/100 g and iron 11.30 to 18.17 mg/100 g. However, high content of amino acids were also detected, lysine (6.85 to 7.25 g/100 g protein), leucine (8.2 to 8.64 g/100 g protein) and phenyalanine (5.63 to 6.24 g/100 g protein). Highest concentration of total essential amino acids (52.65 g/100 g protein) was observed in NSWP98. Increase in utilisation of lima bean will improve livelihoods and value-added food products that can serve as important driver for economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]