ACUTE TOXICITY, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, AND ANTIMICROBIAL INVESTIGATION OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SODOM APPLE TREE (Calotropis procera Ait.F) LEAF OBTAINED WITHIN ANCHOR UNIVERSITY, LAGOS

Calotropis procera is a species of flowering plant, in the family Apocynaceae, the investigation of Calotropis procera for its medicinal usefulness has not been fully documented in the literatures. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity, phytochemical screening and acute toxicity of Calotropis procera. The antimicrobial activity, phytochemical screening and acute toxicity of the leaf was carried out using standard methods for the analyses. The antimicrobial activity of Calotropis procera leaf extract for bacterial showed that Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus candideus were resistant to the plant extract, while Penicillum corylophilum showed susceptibility to the plant extract. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and reducing sugar in the aqueous leaf extract of the leaf, while alkaloids and phlobatannins were absent in the extract of Calotropis procera. The acute toxicity investigation showed that Calotropis procera concentration at 1424 mg/kg body weight resulted in scratching and shivering but was not toxic to cause death of the mice, while lower concentrations of 142, 352, and 712 mg/kg body weight did not cause any observable negative reactions. The plant of Calotropis procera therefore showed that the aqueous extract of the plant contained viable phytochemicals compounds, potent antimicrobial activity to some organisms while the studied concentrations for acute toxicity were observed to be safe

Food Price Spikes and Volatility in Local Food Markets in Nigeria

Beside the mixed evidences on transmission of international food price volatility to local markets and the desirability or otherwise of reliance on stabilisation policy to cushion the effects, very little is known about the key drivers of price spikes and volatility in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper is an attempt to bridge this gap, by focusing on the patterns, drivers, and policy responses to food price spikes and volatility across in Nigeria. The study was based on 16 years panel data on average monthly prices (2001:1 – 2016:12) of major food commodities across local markets in the 36 States of Nigeria, supplemented with monthly series of relevant domestic policy variables, and international prices, among other factors. Data analysis was mainly within the framework of fixed effects models. Findings suggest that food price upsurges in an average Nigeria market is more strongly related to spikes than volatility. International factors such as crude oil price, international food prices, and global beginning stock to use of coarse grains, and domestic policy variables such as real exchange rates, monetary policy rates and narrow money are strong influencers of spikes in the price of one or more food commodities in Nigeria’s local markets. Higher petrol price and food production variability may substantially advance price instability in local food markets. Government policy actions at addressing volatile food prices immediately after the 2007/2008 food crises appeared to enhance food price stability. These findings call for greater attention on management of monetary policy, including the exchange rates, ensuring stable petrol price, limiting food production instability, mitigating spill-over of price upsurges from international markets and building farmers and consumer’s resilience against food price changes, among others, as important pathways to address short and medium-term food price upsurges

Effects of Food Price Spikes on Household Welfare in Nigeria

The dramatic global food price upsurges of 2007/2008 and the resurgence of 2010/2011 have kept the welfare effects of food price shocks at the epicentre of policy discussions worldwide. Studies have found heterogeneous impacts, but empiricallylittle is known in Nigeria. The key objectives of this study are to examine the welfare, i.e. food quantity consumption, dietary diversity, and economic welfare effects of food price spikes among households in Nigeria. Using the 2012/2013 and 2015/2016 Household Survey Panel Data, the linear individual (fixed) effects models were estimated while controlling for participation in safety net interventions and other factors to achieve the stated objectives. Findings suggest that higher spike in the price of cereals consistently has negative effect on food quantity (including calories) consumed, dietary diversity, and economic welfare of households, spikes of price of other staples, animal proteins, fats and oils, fruits and vegetables exert heterogeneous influence. Female headed households advance calorie consumption and dietary variety. Findings suggest that food distribution may be more effective in improving welfare of households than direct cash transfers.Efforts to mitigate extreme spikes in the prices of staples (especially cereals) are relevant for improved food security, nutrition and overall household welfare. However, if policy actions are complemented with food distribution and sensitively guided welfare related gender interventions, more improvementsfor livelihoods can be achieved

Effect of Conflict and Food Price Shocks on Calorie Intake and Acute Malnutrition in Nigeria: A Micro-Panel Data Analysis

Food insecurity and malnutrition are being worsened in countries that are exposed to armed conflict. Nigeria has witnessed a decade of protracted armed conflict and civil unrest. Many civilians have died and some farming communities have been sacked as a result. This study uses fixed-effect and random-effect models on a nationally-representative household panel data–Nigeria Living Standard Measurement Survey and Armed Conflict and Event Location Data, to examine the linkages between conflict, food price shocks, and calorie intake and acute malnutrition (wasting) among children. The prevalence of calorie intake inadequacy and wasting increase across the years in conflict-prone areas. Empirical results suggest that increases in food prices, especially staples have a depressing effects on calorie intake and increasing influence on wasting prevalence. Surprisingly, there appears to be a decrease likelihood of wasting among households in conflict-prone areas despite relatively low level of calorie intake. This result may be indicative of access to certain nutrition-related non-food factors capable of reinforcing the available calorie intake in the areas. Although sensitively guided food pricing policy and prevention of conflicts are critical for improve calorie intake and nutrition outcome, greater reduction in wasting prevalence may be achieved if other nutrition-related factors are considered

How Do Trade and Domestic Policy Variables Stand among Influencers of Grain Price Volatility in Nigeria?

Food price volatility has become an issue of great concerns to researchers, policy makers, governments and development workers worldwide, Nigeria inclusive. Against the background of limited, and mixed findings on the nature, and drivers of price volatility in Nigeria (and some other African countries), developing effective policies to calm food price instability remains a speculation. Consequently, this study examined the potential roles of trade and domestic policies, including certain external and local factors on price volatility of specific grains in Nigeria. Time time series data from different secondary sources were used for analysis with a dynamic panel data (fixed effects) model as the main econometrics model. Except for domestic price of imported rice, price volatility in grain markets have not increased markedly in the wake of global food crises. Whereas tariffs and trade openness play insignificant role in explaining volatility in grain markets, political stability, narrow money supply, petrol price, interest and exchange rates, and volatile crude oil price, exerts significant influence, howbeit differently, on price volatility of specific grains. While challenging the idea of volatility increase in general food prices, and the notion that international price upsurge is the dominant drivers of food price volatility in Africa, the findings call for greater attention on domestic factors such as political stability, management of monetary policy, including exchange rates as well as definitive actions to ensure stable petrol price as important pathways to address short and medium-term food price volatility in Nigeria

Effects of food price changes on child undernutrition among agricultural households in Nigeria

This study examines the effects of changing food prices on the nutritional outcomes of children under five years old in Nigeria, utilising data from the 2013 and 2016 Nigeria Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). We applied correlated random-effects probit and fixed-effects regression models to analyse the data. Results indicate an increase in stunting and decreases in wasting and underweight conditions among children over the years studied. Specifically, higher prices for fish, eggs, beef, rice, and cooking oil have a significant association with increased stunting, while increases in the prices of maize and garri are associated with greater wasting. Underweight increase with higher prices of milk, maize, and rice. In contrast, modest increases in yam and beans prices have not exacerbated undernutrition. The study also highlights the importance of household income growth and women's involvement in financial decisions in reducing child undernutrition. We advocate for agriculture-led, nutrition-sensitive policies that address the high costs of animal proteins and staples such as rice, maize, and garri, while monitoring and carefully regulating upticks in the prices of yam and beans

Mother's nutrition-related knowledge and child nutrition outcomes: Empirical evidence from Nigeria.

BackgroundNutrition outcomes among young children in Nigeria are among the worse globally. Mother's limited knowledge about food choices, feeding, and health care seeking practices contributes significantly to negative nutrition outcomes for children in most developing countries. Much less is known about the relationship between mother's nutrition-related knowledge and child nutritional outcomes in rural Nigeria. This paper investigates therefore: (i) the association of mother's nutrition-related knowledge with nutrition outcomes of young children living in rural Nigeria, where access to education is limited, and (ii) whether mother's education has a complementary effect on such knowledge in producing positive child nutrition outcomes in such settings.MethodsUsing the Demographic and Health Survey data for Nigeria, we employ both descriptive and regression analyses approaches in analyzing the study's objectives. In particular, we apply ordinary least square (OLS) to investigate the association of mother's nutrition-related knowledge with child HAZ and WHZ while controlling for maternal, child, household and regional characteristics. An index was constructed for mother's nutrition-related knowledge using information on dietary practices, disease treatment and prevention, child immunization, and family planning.ResultsWe found that mother's knowledge is independently and positively associated with HAZ and WHZ scores in young children. Higher levels of mother's education, typically above primary, have a significant, positive association with child HAZ and WHZ scores. We argue that mother's knowledge of health and nutrition may substitute for education in reducing undernutrition in young children among populations with limited access to formal education. However, the present level of mother's education in rural Nigeria appears insufficient to reinforce knowledge in producing better nutrition outcomes for children.ConclusionsThis study suggests promotion of out-of-school (informal) education, such as adult literacy and numeracy classes where women without formal education can gain health and nutrition knowledge, and practices that could enhance child nutrition outcomes in Nigeria

Correction: Mother's nutrition-related knowledge and child nutrition outcomes: Empirical evidence from Nigeria.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212775.]