Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties of Soil under Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia senegal L.) Wild Plantation in Sahel Zone of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Acacia senegal (L), a nitrogen fixing tree and a drought resistant species with potentials to improve infertile soils was planted in Sahel zone of Jigawa State, Nigeria for the production of gum arabic. However, information on the soil physico-chemical properties under plantation in Nigeria is scanty, hence the objective of this paper was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of soil under gum arabic tree (Acacia senegal L) wild plantation in Sahel zone of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from four 30 x 30m plots in the plantation and another plot in open land (control). Three replicate soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-60 cm soil depths, analysed for micro and macronutrients using standard methods. Soil texture of the plantation is loamy sand but with slight textural differentiation under the open land. Mean soil bulk density ranged from 1.6 g/cm3 in the plantation to 1.8g/cm3 in the open woodland. The high values of soil bulk density might be ascribed to loss of organic matter as a result of soil erosion and animal grazing which are common occurrences. Results obtained indicated that the ECEC decreased as the soil depth increased and is low in values while the CEC of soils range from 5.57 to 5.97. The physicochemical properties of soils under the plantation were significantly different at P < 0.05 compared with the control an indication that Acacia senegal can gradually improves soil quality and productivity especially in Sahel zone of the northern part of Nigeria

Ethnozoological Study of Wild Bird Species Body Parts Supply in Traditional Medicine Markets, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The paper examined the ethnozoological study of wild bird species' body parts supply of eighty-three traditional medicine marketers in six traditional medicine markets in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria using snowball and convenience sampling techniques through the administration of a set of structured questionnaire to 83respondents. The result showed that four-fifths of the total respondents were females (85.54%), two-thirds of the total respondents (68.68%) were less than 50 years and 91.56% of the total respondents had formal education. A total of 21 bird species had their body parts and products on sale in the different markets studied in the study area. Due to the belief and faith of the people, the respondents agreed that there were some bird species that are regarded as being sacred or forbidden and thus, the birds and their bird body parts are used and sold in traditional medicine to treat different ailments and for sacrificial activities of their clients. It was concluded that the existence of bird species cannot be over-emphasized because they are important in believed resources for curing specified types of ailments and sacrificial offerings in traditional medicine. It was recommended that since birds significantly contribute to the natural ecosystem, human health and nutrition, forest and wildlife conservation campaign should be strengthened

Effect of phyto-components of Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum on the performance and biochemical indices in grower broiler chickens

The potentials of Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum on the performance and immunocompetence of grower broiler chickens was focused in this study. A total of one hundred and five (105) day old broiler chicks(Anak breed) were used in the study. Broiler starter diet was used to managed the birds until they attained five weeks of age. Thereafter, they were randomly allotted to seven treatments of 15 birds of three replicate each. To the treatments T1- T5: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g Kg-1 garlic-clove blend was supplemented, while 5g Kg-1 garlic alone (T6) and 2g Kg-1 clove alone (T7) were supplemented to the diets. Water, and supplemented feed were offered ad libitum. The duration of the experiment lasted to five weeks. Phytochemical analysis of the two spices revealed the presence of Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenols, terpenoids, anthraquinones and tannins, while, quantitative phytochemical screening showed high amount of Alkaloids (7.20 ± 0.05mg/100g), tannins (4.80 ± 0.03mg/100g), saponins (4.30 ± 0.02 mg/100g), flavonoids (2.18 ± 0.03), and anthraquinones (1.40 ± 0.03 mg/100g). The proximate analysis of Syzyginum aromaticum also revealed high amount of Carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) (52.2 ± 0.02), fibre (20.00 ± 0.1), fats (12.1 ± 0.45) and ash (5.2 ± 0.01). The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) in all the treatments was comparable to the control and better in T2, T5, T6 and T7. There was no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the serum Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and serum Glutamate Oxalate Transaminase (SGOT) between the treatments and the control group. The serum total protein and the serum albumin in the treated groups were not significantly different ((P≤ 0.05) while the serum globulin differ (P≤ 0.05) between the treatments and the control groups. The performance characteristics and serum biochemical indices displayed by the experimental birds clearly showed the potency of these spices in improving the immuno-competence of the experimental birds

In vivo Trypanostatic Activity of Tephrosia linearis Extract on Trypanosoma evansi

In vivo antitrypanosomal activity of 70% methanol extract of Tephrosia linearis was evaluated. Mice infected with Trypanosoma evansi in different groups were administered 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight/day of the seventy percent (v/v) (methanol/water) crude extract of T. linearis intraperitoneally. The positive control group was treated with standard drug, berenil, while the negative control was infected and treated with normal saline. Doses of 300 and 400 mg/kg bw i.p. per day were found to significantly reduce the parasite loads and sustained the animals in the respective groups up to 3 and 4 weeks beyond the experimental period. There is drop in the percentage PCV during the first six days of the treatment but this was reversed in the subsequent days, except in the negative control group. The animals administered the highest effective (trypanostatic) dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days prior to infection were observed to develop infection 72 h post inoculation. The LD50 determined was found to be 2800 mg/kg bw. It is obvious that, higher doses of 300 and 400 mg/kg bw has trypanostatic effect. Though, the extract could not show any prophylactic activity, further purification may possibly yield a fraction with trypanocidal effect. Keywords: Tephrosia linearis, Methanol extract, Trypanosoma evansi, Antitrypanosomal activity, In viv

Female sexual dysfunction in women of reproductive age group in Nigeria, West Africa

Introduction: Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is a real physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural problem in Nigeria, yet greatly understudied. There is plethora of information about male sexual dysfunction but paucity of research on female dysfunction.Objectives: This study aims to assess the prevalence of FSD and correlates among women of reproductive age presenting at the General Outpatient Department of Kwara State Specialist Hospital.Method: This was a hospital based, cross sectional, descriptive study of three hundred female of reproductive age group. Blood pressure was measured. Classification of hypertension was made according to the JNC 7. BMI was calculated as (kg/m2).The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess the major components of sexual function. Participant were considered to have difficulties in a particular domain if they demonstrated scores <4.28 on the desire domain, <5.08 on the arousal domain, <5.45 on the lubrication domain, <5.05 on the orgasm domain, <5.04 on the satisfaction domain and <5.51 on the pain domain. The data were analyzed using the epidemiological information (Epi-info) 2005 software package. The 2 by 2contingency tables were used to carry out Chi-square test and to find out the level of significance and values less than 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.Result: Of the 300 female patients interviewed, 285 (95%) had sexual dysfunction while 15 (5%) did not. Types of sexual dysfunctional include, disorder of desire 273(91%), arousal 267(89%), lubrication 297(99%), orgasm 276(92%), satisfaction 258(86%) and pain 297(99%).Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that female sexual dysfunction is a significant problem that affects a substantial number of women in this environment. The most common dysfunction amongst women was in the pain and lubrication domains. The commonest cause of sexual dysfunction was aging, closely followed by socio-demographic predicament.Keywords: Female Sexual Dysfunction, Reproductive Age Group, Nigeria, West Afric

Toxicity effect of African mesquite (Prosopis africana) seed on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles

Toxicity test of African Mesquite (Prosopis Africana) seed on African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was carried out to determine the acute lethal concentration (LC50) in 24 – 48 hours. Two hundred and fifty (250) juveniles were acclimatized in the laboratory for 14days. Ten (10) fishes were placed in each of the experimental plastic containers, containing test concentrations of 0 ml, 10 ml, 20 ml, 40 ml, 80 ml, 160 ml, 320 ml and 640 ml/liter of water. The 24 and 48 hours LC50 of Prosopis africana applied to Clarias gariepinus juvenile were 118.25ml/l and 53.70ml/l respectively. Toxic reactions exhibited by the fish include erratic movement, air gulping, and loss of reflex. Mortality increased with increase in concentration of Prosopis africana and time of exposure in Clarias gariepinus juveniles. The acute toxicity that killed all the fish within 24 hours was discovered to be the highest concentration (640ml/l) of the extract. It is then recommended that Prosopis africana plant should be used as organic piscicide and further study on the toxicity of Prosopis africana plant on other commercially viable fish be studied.Keywords: Bioassay, Extract, Toxicity, Concentration, Mortalit