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Nigeria ranks third among countries with the highest burden of Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection in the world. The 2019 Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey showed that 1.9 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria as of 2018 [1].

Globally, as human population and industries grow, so does the creation of agricultural, industrial, and demolition waste. When these wastes are not properly recycled, reused, or disposed of, they pose a threat to the environment. The importance of this study lies in the beneficial use of coconut fibre and mineral wool in the form of fibres in cement mortar production. This study examines the use of coconut and mineral wool fibres in the production of fibre-reinforced mortar. Five different mortar mixtures were prepared, having one control mortar along with four fibre-reinforced mortars. The control mortar is denoted as CM while 1% and 1.5% of mineral wool are incorporated into this mortar mix and denoted as RMM-1.0 and RMM-1.5, respectively. Additionally, the mortar sample configurations contain 1% and 1.5% coconut fibers, designated as RCM-1.0 and RCM-1.5. These samples were subjected to different strength and durability tests to determine their suitability for use in mortar production. The testing findings show that mortar containing 1.5% mineral wool has better compared flexural strength and durability properties. The investigation results will form part of the database for the efficient utilization of natural and waste fibres in the construction and building sectors.

Background and Objectives: The developments of fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic instrumentation, and application, over the years has made it a powerful analytical tool in the study of oils and fats. This work has explored fourier transform Infra-Red for characterization of plant oils from selected cultivars grown in Nigeria. The selection of these plants oils that flourishes in Nigeria aside their used primarily for nutritional applications, is dependent on the fatty acid (FA) composition of triacylglycerol (TAG which make them potential for bioenergy and biofiuel production considering the explosion of energy demand through alternative energy sources. They are also needed for the preparations of chemical feedstocks, biopolymer and composites, skin care products. Oils from these plants can provide renewable sources of high-value fatty acids for both the chemical and health-related industries. We report here several areas where these plant oils can have a significant impact on the emerging bioeconomy. Materials and Methods: The samples were each placed in contact with KBr disc and FT-IR spectra were collected in frequency 4500-400 cm-1 by coadding 32 scans and at resolution of 4 cm-1. All spectra were rationed against a background spectrum. In each scan, a new reference background spectrum was detected. Results: The spectra of oils of the present investigation revealed the following bands 1522, 1449.55, 1364.68, 1444.73, 1364.68, 1445.09, 1369.50, 1447.62, 1362.75, 1449.55, 1371.43, 1447.62, 1366.54, 1447.62, 1450.5, 1360.82, 1370.47, 1446.66, 1246.06, 1364.47, 1448.59 for Adansonia digitata, Ricinus communis, Sesamum indicum, Jatropha curcas, Allium cepa, Cucumis melo, Lannea microcarpa, Lagenaria vulgaris and Sesamun indicum seed oil respectively. 1450 cm-1- 1444 is related to bending vibration of CH2, and CH3; (cis =C–H bending) and at 1360 - 1370 cm-1 is concerned with the bending vibrations CH2 groups which showed total unsaturation. The results obtained shows that all the oils are unsaturated because there is no band around 3005- 3009 which is the band that normally determine the index of degree of unsaturation. Conclusion: The FT- IR spectroscopy proved to be an important technique for identification, analysis, determination of degree of saturation of fatty acids in oils suitable for industrial applications.

This study is sought to determine the antioxidant activity and protective ability of aqueous and methanol extractible phytochemicals from Euphorbia heterophylla leaves on lipid peroxidation induced in rat brain by pro-oxidant, in vitro. The extracts of the leaves were prepared, and the ability of the extracts is to inhibit 25 µM FeSO4 induced lipid peroxidation in isolated rats’ brain, were determined. Thereafter, total phenol content, reducing power (FRAP), Fe (II) chelating, and DPPH* free radical scavenging ability of the extracts was determined and considered as an index of antioxidant activity. The results revealed that the extracts inhibit malondialdehyde (MDA) production in the basal and pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidised rats in a dose-dependent manner, [methanol 80.11%, aqueous 70.3%] with the methanol extract (MEE) significantly (P< 0.05) than that of aqueous extract (AEE). The methanol extract (0.74 ± 0.6 mg/g) had higher total phenol contents than the aqueous (0.57 ± 1.2 mg/g); likewise the methanol extract had higher reducing power (0.08 ± 0.2, 0.03 ± 0.1 mg/g), but had no significant difference in Fe (II) chelating ability (EC50= 0.34, 0.36) with DPPH* scavenging ability (EC50=0.075, 0.075). This antioxidant properties and the protective effect of this leaf could be harnessed in the management and prevention of degenerative diseases in association with oxidative stress.

Talinum triangulare leaf flavonoid extract (TTFE) was evaluated for its effects on streptozotocin-hyperglycemia and associated complications especially as it relates to dyslipidemia, lipid peroxidation, and renal dysfunction in rats. Two normoglycemic rat groups designated: control (administered distilled water) and control + TTFE (administered 10 mg/kg b.w. TTFE) and two streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rat groups designated: STZ-control (administered distilled water) and STZ + TTFE (administered 10 mg/kg TTFE). The treatment was given orally once daily for 21 consecutive days. Body weight and insulin concentration showed significant improvement while blood glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and total bilirubin concentrations were significantly reduced in diabetic rats administered TTFE compared to diabetic untreated rats. Furthermore, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lowered in diabetic rats administered TTFE compared with diabetic untreated rats. Key enzymes involved in carbohydrate breakdown and cholesterol synthesis, α-amylase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, respectively, were significantly inhibited in TTFE-treated diabetic rats compared to diabetic control. Results presented in this study suggest that administration of TTFE for 21 days normalized STZ-induced hyperglycemia and its associated dyslipidemia by a mechanism involving inhibition of α-amylase and HMG-CoA reductase activities, respectively, in rats. KEYWORDS diabetic dyslipidemia, flavonoid extract, HMG-CoA reductase, hyperglycemia, Talinum triangulare

The present investigation on this study was to assess the antioxidant and toxicological potentials of Tapinanthus globiferus leaf extract and its effects on inherent antioxidant enzymes. The leaf extracts of the plant were prepared with both aqueous and ethanolic solvents at 5% concentration levels. Antioxidant indices such as free radical scavenging ability [DPPH], iron chelation ability [Fe2+], hydroxyl radical scavenging ability [OH*], which are indices for radical scavenging potential of Tapinanthus globiferus were assessed. Toxicological effect of the plant extract was equally investigated on defensive antioxidant enzymes in rat liver. The results indicate that the extracts exhibited antioxidant properties at significant (P2+ chelation, (17.5 – 34.2) % OH*. Hence, highest percentage inhibition was observed against Fe2+ where the extract demonstrated high level of iron chelating ability at relatively low extract concentration (1.0mg/ml). Also the results from toxicological assay indicate synergistic effect of the extract on defensive antioxidant enzymes with concomitant increase in their activities corresponding to increase in extract concentration. The results suggest that Tapinanthus globiferus could serve as reliable antioxidant dietary supplement and perhaps not toxic at the concentrations investigated.

This study aims at investigating the antiplasmodial activity of methanolic extract of Asparagusofficinalis L. stem on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. To investigate this, the mice were infected withP.berghei to cause malaria. The mice were simultaneously given oral doses (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg bodyweight) of methanolic extract of A. officinalis L. stem. The phytochemical constituents of the extractrevealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoid and steroid. Theextract administered to the infected mice significantly suppressed the parasite. The extract also significantly(P

Hematological and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Extract was administered at doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight by an intragastric tube once daily for 14 d starting from the fourth day after parasite inoculation. At the end of treatment period, mice in each group were sacrificed and blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. A significant (P

The combined effect of two linear inhibitors of rat liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP). vanadate (Van) and L-phenylalanine (L-phe) were studied using a modification of the common Yonetani-Theorell procedure proposed for studying synergistic inhibition. The modes of inhibition of ALP by Van and L-phe as analysed using the double reciprocal plots of the Michaelis-Menten equation were mixed and uncompetitive inhibition respectively. Analysis of the combined effect of the two inhibitors showed that their inhibitory effects were mutually enhanced. The mechanistic aspects and practical applications of the procedure are discussed.Key words: alkaline phosphatase, synergistic inhibition

3 Abstract: The effects of three isocaloric leguminous based diets on the digestibility of neutral lipids and phospholipids in albino rats were investigated. Proximate analyses of each of the beans and formulated diets were carried out to determine crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total ash, moisture and carbohydrate contents. A total of thirty (30) albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used for the study. The rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each and maintained on Soyabean-Based Diet (SBD) (Control), Cowpea-Based Diet (CBD) and Hyacinth Bean-based Diet (HBD) for a period of five weeks. At the end of the experiment, the brain, liver, heart and the kidney of the rats were isolated and the neutral lipids and phospholipids contents of each organ were estimated. Rats maintained on Cowpea-Based Diet (CBD) had the lowest weight gain when compared with those fed on the HBD and SBD respectively. The results revealed that the neutral lipids and phospholipids of CBD show a significantly reduced (p

2 Abstract: The effects of dietary saturated fat on blood lipid and lipoprotein composition and lipid peroxidation were studied in rats. Male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were maintained either on diets with 5% fa t supplements made of 5% soyabean oil or 5% coconut oil. Similarly, two other groups were fed diets that were isocaloric with the former but contained 25% fat supplements made of 25% soyabean oil or 25 % coconut oil. The concentration of triacylglycerols in the plasma of the high coconut oil fed rats was three to six-times those of the others. The concentration of free cholesterol was much higher in the plasma of the coconut oil-fed rats. There were significant decreases in the plasma level of chylomirons, VLDL and HDL, but a significant increase in the LDL level of the coconut oil-fed rats. In all the tissues studied, the malondialdehyde level increased significantly in the coconut oil fed rats and most prominently in the liver and the kidney, while the reduced glutathione levels decreased significantly in the coconut oil-fed rats. It i s considered that ingestion of coconut oil for a considerably long time may affect lipid metabolism and alter the structure and function of the enzymes responsible for converting the essential fatty acids to prostaglandins or their endoperoxide precursors. The increase in the malondialdehyde level and the decrease in the reduced glutathione level are indications of the lipid peroxidative effect of saturated fat diet, while the reduced HDL and high level of LDL can be major contributory factors to atherogenesis.

3 Abstract: Sixty day-old broiler chicks were used in a 4-weeks feed trial to determine the status of raw , roasted and fermented bambara groundnut. The raw and processed bambara groundnuts were used as the sole source of protein in a basal broiler chick starter diet. Soybean based diet served as the control. There were four (4) experimental groups each made up of five birds in three replicates, allocated to th e experimental diets. Application of roasting and fermentation techniques were able to reduce the levels of some antinutrients in the bambara groundnut except for oxalate that increased significantly for the fermented sample. The results showed that the serum parameters like total protein, uric acid and creatinine levels indicated that both roasted and fermented based diet fed to the birds were unable to efficiently make available the nutrients in the diets to the birds. Serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed significant (p

Groundnut oil was thermally oxidized at the temperature range of 180-200 C in open air for a period o of 10 days at 4 hours per day. The extent of deterioration of thermoxidized groundnut oil were investigated spectroscopically, using infrared, ultra violet and atomic absorption spectroscopy and compared with fresh oil. The themoxidised oil samples differed in composition to the fresh oil, which served as control. Weanling rats were fed diet containing thermally oxidized groundnut oil while control rat were fed diet containing unheated fresh groundnut oil at 15% dietary level. The activity of Na K ATPase were studied in the brain, liver, + + kidney, lungs and heart of experimental animals. The brain and the kidney had a relatively higher enzyme activity when compared to other tissues. Na K ATPase activities of the liver, lungs and heart were not + + significantly affected (P> 0.05) while the ingestion of thermoxidised oil led to significant reduction (p< 005) of Na K ATPase activity in the brain and kidney. It is considered that (a) thermoxidized oil causes reduced + + synthesis and structural changes in membrane phospholipids and (b) a probable impairment of kidney active transport and cerebral transmission of nerve impulse might have occurred due to reduced Na K + +

The effect of low-protein diet on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (Catalase and Superoxide dismutase) and the status of lipid peroxidation as assessed by malondialdehyde levels in the brain, liver kidney, lungs and heart of rats were studied. Male weanling rats were maintained on low protein diets (2% of protein in diet instead of 25%) for a period of four weeks. Malondialdehyde contents (levels) of tissues of animals fed low protein diet was significantly increased (P

The effects of some processing technique on the proximate and antinutritional factors in Leucaena leucociphala seed were evaluated. The crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash content and nitrogen free extract were estimated on raw, roasted and cooked samples of Leucaena leucociphala milled seed. The antinutritional factors such as phytate and tannin were also determined in the raw and processed samples of the seed. The nitrogen free extract of the raw sample was observed to be significantly lower (p

The effect of promethazine on peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3', 5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine was investigated at pH 5.4. Promethazine dose dependently introduced a lag in the appearance of tetramethylbenzidine charge-transfer complex monitored at 652 nm. Increasing concentrations of tetramethylbenzidine however decreased the lag period proportional to the tetramethylbenzidine concentration. Addition of promethazine to preformed charge transfer complex caused rapid bleaching of the blue-colored complex. Titration of promethazine with the yellow-colored diimine gave rise to the blue charge-transfer complex and the complete reduction of the species to the colorless parent amine compound. The available evidence suggests that promethazine is oxidized via redox mediation by tetramethylbenzidine peroxidase-oxidized products.

Zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies manifest similar syndromes provoking investigations into the mechanisms underlying their metabolic interactions. This article presents a lucid and concise review of literature on the possible connection between these important dietary nutrients as exemplified by the role of zinc in modulating intestinal lipid transport and prostaglandins metabolisms as well as maintenance of membrane structural and functional integrity. Reports of investigations on zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies, regarding their pleitropic effects on clinically important enzymes, from the laboratory of the authors were also considered.

In vivo Evaluation of Antimalarial and Cytotoxic Properties of Crude Aqueous Extract of the Fruiting Body of Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.) P. Karst in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice This study was aimed at investigating the in vivo antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of crude aqueous extracts of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom with well established medicinal properties. Plasmodium berghei (1×107) was inoculated intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice. The extract was then administered by an intra gastric tube once daily for four days starting from the day of parasite inoculation. Chloroquine (CQ) (used as standard drug), was administered through the same route.

The effect of short-term storage on the protein, phosphorus and phenolic content as well as peroxidase and o-diphenolase activities of cut, harvested Jamaican yam (Dioscorea sp) tubers (D rotundata. D alata and D cayenensis) was studied. There was an initial increase in the total phenolic content up to the third week of storage followed by a gradual decrease to the sixth week. Phenolic content was found to be highest in D cayenensis followed by D rotundata and D alata. The activities of peroxidase (EC 1. 11. 1. 7) and o-diphenolase (EC 1. 10.3.1) increased steadily up to the third week of storage and thereafter decreased to the fifth week. The intensity and rapidity of browning in tubers when cut, correlated very closely with the tuber o-diphenolase and phenolic content levels while the onset of rotting correlated with the peroxidase activity levels in the species studied.

The effects of dietary deficiencies of zinc and essential fatty acids (EFAs) or both on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated in young growing rats. Four groups of albino rats were fed diets deficient in either EFA (4% hydrogenated coconut oil) or zinc (6 ppm) or both. The control diet was adequate in EFA (4% soybean oil) and zinc (100 ppm). The feeding trial lasted eight weeks and the activities of AST and ALT were determined in the liver and serum. EFA deficiency had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on liver AST. However, zinc and the double deficiencies depressed AST activity in the organ. Deficiencies of EFA, zinc and their combination depressed ALT activity in the liver significantly (p < 0.05) with a concomitant increase recorded in the serum. The data suggested alteration in endothelial permeability of the plasma membrane and thus leakage of membrane constituents in the tissue studied. It is therefore considered that these deficient diets may affect liver tissue negatively in view of the role of these enzymes in amino acid metabolism.

Changes in the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in the heart following the consumption of diets deficient in zinc and essential fatty acids (EFA) by rats were investigated. The study was a 2 x 2 factorial design in which rats were fed diets deficient in zinc (5 micrograms/g) or EFA (4% hydrogenated coconut oil) or both. The control diet was adequate in both zinc (100 micrograms/g) and EFA (4% soybean oil). The experimental diets were fed for forty-two days after which time the activities of the enzymes were terminally determined in the heart of the rats. The result showed that the activity of ALP was markedly elevated in rats consuming either zinc or EFA deficient diet and slightly in the group deficient in both EFA and zinc. LDH and GDH activities were significantly depressed by EFA only. An interactive effect of zinc and EFA was indicated only for ALP activity. The data indicate a resistance of cardiac tissue to moderate zinc deficiency. However, the effects of EFA were apparent.