Nutritional Qualities of Three Medicinal Plant Parts (Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra) commonly used by Pregnant Women in the Western Part of Nigeria

The nutritional potentials of three medicinal plant parts used by pregnant women in the western part of Nigeria Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were evaluated through their proximate compositions as well as percentage mineral elements composition. Blighia sapida was high in crude fibre (44.09±2.20%) compared with Parinari polyandra and Xylopia aethiopica that were 4.21±1.10% and 12.14±0.70% respectively. Moisture contents of Xylopia aethiopica and Blighia sapida were 16.04±1.25% and 10.17±2.60% respectively while that of Parinari polyandra was 30.65±5.02%. The total ash contents of Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were 2.53±1.20%, 3.66±1.20% and 4.37±0.85% respectively. The total fat of Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra were 9.55±2.10%, 1.25±0.20% and 0.53±0.15% respectively while the total protein of Blighia sapida, Xylopia aethiopica and Parinari polyandra were 2.1±0.25%, 2.1±0.20% and 7.09±0.20% respectively. The total carbohydrate of Xylopia aethiopica was 55.80±4.26%, that of Parinari polyandra was 54.27±3.20% and that of Blighia sapida was 39.45±2.20%. Xylopia aethiopica can be a good source of magnesium (2.236±0.095), phosphorus (0.620±0.04) and potassium (0.510±0.04) as the amount of these mineral elements were higher than that of the other plant parts with the exception of Parinari polyandra having 0.690±0.11% phosphorus. Blighia sapida is also a good source of phosphorus (0.400±0.20), magnesium (0.430±0.20) and calcium (0.348±0.15). Other mineral elements detected in reasonable amounts were calcium, zinc and sodium. Further tests revealed that heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium were not detected. The results of this research indicated that the three plants parts have nutritional qualities that could provide the users with additional nutrients

Iron Deficiency Status and Anaemia among Athletes in Osogbo, Nigeria

Background: Athletes are highly at risk of minimal iron consumption due to the nature of their diet which is mainly based on calorie consideration without regard for an iron-embedded diet. This study determined the iron deficiency status and anaemia in athletes across all sports in Osogbo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Seventy (70) subjects comprising 55 and 33 age-sex matched athletes and healthy non–athlete controls respectively, were recruited into this study from Osogbo City Stadium Nigeria. Parameters assessed include packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and the red cell indices; serum iron; total iron-binding capacity; and ferritin. Results: There was a general and gender-specific significant reduction in the mean ±SD level of all haematological parameters (p<0.05) of the athletes compared with the controls with the TIBC, serum iron and ferritin reduced though statistically insignificant. Moderate anaemia was generally observed (64%) in the entire populace while those with severe anaemia, mainly the females (5%). Iron deficiency was present majorly in the female group with one male displaying iron depletion features. Conclusion: Iron deficiency, depleted iron store and anaemia are well observed in the athletes with the females presenting more anaemic conditions than the male counterparts all of which result from their dietary constituents, non-supplementation of haemoglobin, mechanical induced intravascular haemolysis, uncompensated blood loss due to menstrual flow in females and exercise-induced inflammatory cytokine

Entrepreneurs Response to the 2020 Pandemic: Impact on Business Activities of SMEs in Lagos State.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) have always been faced with various challenges in their journey to attain success. Researchers have identified these challenges to include inadequate funding, inadequate information management and recording keeping, poor infrastructure, lack of managerial skills and many others. With the 2020 pandemic, SMEs had to encounter a new set challenges that seems to threaten the very existence/sustenance of the enterprises. The 2020 pandemic came with attendant negative consequences on both human lives as well as the institutional structures and systems that have been put in place for the functioning of the economy. This study set out to examine the immediate and far-reaching impact that 2020 pandemic had on the activities of SMEs and also measures that could be put in place for the continuous survival of SMEs being the engine and catalyst of growth and development of economies of many countries. The research design for the study is Survey. To guide the study four research questions and three hypotheses were generated. The sample for the study were 101 SMEs located within the Lagos State Metropolis. The instrument for data collection is a questionnaire titled, “Questionnaire on Entrepreneurs Response to Pandemic 2020: Impact on Business Activities of SMEs in Lagos State” which had a Cronbach Alpha coefficient value of 0.60. Data collected from the study was analysed using regression statistical tool on the SPSS version 20. The result from the study revealed that entrepreneurs’ response to 2020 pandemic significantly impacted the product/service package cycle, patronage, profitability and innovative tendency of SMEs. It is recommended that all efforts be geared towards creating an enabling environment for the sustainability of entrepreneurial activities of SMEs in the state as they have been identified as the engine of growth and development of all economies

Incidence of Lipolytic Mycoflora in Domestic Wastewater

The decomposition of domestic effluent by mycoflora was investigated. The microbial load enumerated for the period of 13 days, using standard microbiological techniques revealed the average total bacterial count between the range of 1.97 x 106 CFU/ml and 1.25 x 107 CFU/ml, the total coliform count have a mean range between 1.29 x 106 CFU/ml and 0.56 x 107 CFU/ml while the total fungal count showed a mean range of 3.17 x 106 CFU/ml to 2.14 x 107 CFU/ml. One hundred and twenty fungal isolates were obtained from the wastewater with the highest occurred organism as Fusarium moniliforme (19.2% occurrence), followed by Fusarium oxysporium (14.2%) and the least occurred organism Aspergillus versiculor (0.8%). The acidic pH and turbidity values obtained ranged from 3.41 - 5.98 and 1.63 - 1.79 respectively. Only 39 (32.5%) of the fungi isolates showed ability to degrade lipids with varying potentials; of which four (10.3%) were grouped among high and slight lipolysis. Among the lipolytic fungal isolates, Aspergillus spp. showed the highest occurrence of 79.5%, followed by 5.1% occurrence of Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp. and Rhizopus spp. while Absidia spp. and Thermophillus spp. showed the laeast occurrence (2.6%). It is significant that fungi associated with oil-rich wastewater also attribute the potentials of degrading the lipid component of sewages, an advantage in the treatment process. Keywords: Mycoflora, oil-rich wastewater, lipolytic, fung

Assessment of Compliance with Development Regulations in Abeokuta-West Zonal Planning Area, Nigeria

Development control is a medium through which the land use is licensed for building and other purposes backed-up by planning laws and regulations. Despite the importance of development control measures in physical and environmental balancing, a series of factors still hinder its effectiveness. The paper examines the compliance with development regulations in Abeokuta-West Zonal Planning Area, Nigeria. Primary and secondary sources of data were used. A questionnaire and personal interview were both used. Multi-stage sampling method was adopted because the buildings in the planning area are numerous and spatially located. The planning area was divided into nine zones which were classified into three; from which Obada-Oko, Oke-Ata, and Bode-Olude areas were considerably selected. The number of buildings in the selected areas was 668 buildings, and 40% was used to select the sample for each area, the research then had a sample size of 267 buildings The selection of sample size was carried out systematically for the administration of questionnaires by the residents (building owners). The data collected were presented and analysed through the use of descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that 78.7% of the residents were aware of the existence of penalties for building without permission; 68.5% of the resident did not obtain a development permit, while 15.6% out of the 31.5% that obtained a development permit deviated from the approved building plan; and 58.3% of the residents were not satisfied with the procedures involved in obtaining development permit, because it is cumbersome and expensive.  Regulatory measures were recommended for the improvement of development control practice in the study area. These include the provision of the framework as a guide for physical development; effective public awareness; and enlightenment programmes. Also, various socio-economic classes (high, medium, and low classes), especially the low-income earners, should be given considerate attention in the course of policy formulation and planning implementation

Perceived Benefits of Improved Practices in Pre Harvest Tomato Production among Farmers in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State

This study was designed to investigate the perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production among farmers in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select respondents in the study area, with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential (PPMC) statistics were used to analyze the data. Majority of the respondents (88.5%) perceived that it has lots of benefits. Also, 82.7% perceived that improved practices minimize post-harvest losses on a medium scale.  Furthermore, 85.6% perceived that improved practices minimize disease infestation on a medium scale, while 84.6% perceive it protects tomato from decaying. Also, 76.9% of the respondents perceive that improve practices helps to retain nutritional content of tomato on a medium scale.  Also, the category of the respondents that had high awareness considered the improved practices to be highly beneficial to them.  The study further concluded that the benefits derived by minority of the respondents influenced most of the respondents to have favorable perception to derivable benefits embedded in improved practices of tomato in the study area.  In addition, the result also revealed significant relationship between awareness and perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production (r=0.280, p=0.004).  The study therefore recommended that the extension agents should properly train the farmers on the benefits and use of these improved practices. Adequate information should be made available to the tomato farmers on the most recent developments in tomato farming and production (pre harvest and post-harvest). The government should be able to provide adequate and glitch free loan to the farmers to enable them utilize the information and training

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A METALLIC BIO-DIGESTER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS FROM COW DUNG

Biogas production has contributed greatly as an alternative source of fuel power to solving various developing nations’ problems including high dependency on petroleum products. This gives a clear objective why its production is seriously needed, as it plays a significant role in destroying and converting municipal and agricultural wastes into a useful fuel which can be used in homes and on farms for lighting, heating and moving equipment by supplying the fuel power needed This work focused on design and construction of a metallic bio digester for the production of biogas. Cow dung was mixed with water in ratio 1:2 of particulate mass. The experiment was carried out in a metallic digester under mesophilic temperature. The average retention time for the experiment was 30days. The average internal temperature of the biogas digester was 32.3oC. The total volume of biogas produced was 5.208 m3. The concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in the biogas produced were found to be 59% and 40% respectively. The developed metallic bio-digester has been found to be appropriate for the production of biogas from cow dung at mesophilic temperature

Phytochemical Screening and in vitro Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Blighia sapida Stem Bark

Blighia sapida is a plant belonging to the family of Sapindaceae. In this study we aimed to carry out the phytochemical screening of hydro-ethanolic (15%) extract of Blighia sapida stem bark and evaluate its in vitro antioxidant activity. It was found that the hydro-ethanolic extract of Blighia sapida stem bark showed the presence of saponin, flavonoid, alkaloid, phenols and ascorbic acid. It also contains trace elements zinc and selenium. Furthermore it showed some scavenging activity but not as such could be compared with the various standards used except for nitric oxide scavenging activity. Keywords: Blighia sapida, phytochemicals, antioxidant, trace elements DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-16-04 Publication date: August 31st 201

Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Blighia sapida Stem Bark in the Pancreas of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Blighia sapida is a plant belonging to the family of sapindaceae. In this study we aimed at investigating the possible antioxidant activities of hydro-ethanolic extract of Blighia sapida stem bark in the pancreas of  alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Administration of the extract at 100mg/kg body weight significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the pancreas of diabetic rats. Also the concentration of reduced glutathione increased in the pancreatic tissues of the diabetic rats while the levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl generally decreased in the pancreas of alloxan-induced diabetic rats during the course of the experiment. These are indications of antioxidant properties of the stem bark of Blighia sapida with 100mg/kg body weight of the hydro-ethanolic extract showing good antioxidant activities by comparing favourably well with metformin, a standard antidiabetic drug. Keywords: Blighia sapida, diabetes mellitus, antioxidants, antioxidant enzymes DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-16-03 Publication date: August 31st 201