Assessment of Selected Heavy Metal Content on Dumpsites Soil and Vegetables Grown in Muwo Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria

This study examines the concentration of heavy metals in soil samples and some vegetables (spinach, water leaf, bitter leaf and jute mallow) cultivated around dumpsites in Muwo Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria. The soil samples and vegetable were analyzed for Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd using AA500 spectrophotometer after acid digestion. Data obtained show that, the Pb (1.684 mg/kg of Jute) content was high compared to other metals study in this work. Concentration of Zn was 1.993, 0.862 and 0.443 mg/kg for water leaf, soil and control sample respectively. The content of Pb was 1.727, 1.738 and ND mg/kg for water leaf, soil and control sample respectively. Also, the concentration of Pb was 1.736, ND and 0.457 mg/kg for spinach, soil and control sample respectively. However, the content of Zn was 0.786, 0.751 and 0.554 mg/kg for spinach, soil and control sample respectively The accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils is of increasing concern because of, potential health risks, food safety as well as its detrimental effects on the soil ecosystem and human health. The pollution indexes of Ni contents are 0.439, 0.378, and 0.083 for jute, soil and control sample respectively. While Zn concentration was 1.117, 0.858 and 0.492 for jute, soil and control sample respectively. The result of this study shows that Pb concentrations are present in high levels in the study area at the different level of contamination

Proximate, Minerals and Functional Properties of Bombax buonopozense Cclyx

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2021, 7(2): 126-133 Monday Musah,  H. I. Muhammad,  J. T. Mathew,  Y. Azeh, M. T. Umar, S. N. Goshie Received: 09 May 2021/Accepted 25 June 2021 The nutritional constituents of Bombax buonopozense calyx were determined using standard methods. Results obtained from the proximate analysis indicated the presence of moisture (4.70±0.51 %), ash (5.50±0.47 %), crude protein (7.20±0.29 %), crude lipid (3.10±0.14 %), crude fibre (18.00±0.18 %), carbohydrate (66.20±0.27 %), and caloric value (279.85±0.31 kcal/100g). Mean concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus were 25.00±0.09, 160.00±0.13, 48.10±0.47, 28.13±0.33 and 163.00±0.21 mg/100g respectively while measured values for functional properties were bulk density (0.52±0.01 g/cm3), water absorption capacity (2.35±0.35 %), oil absorption capacity (2.20±0.19 %), foaming capacity (13.72±0.27 %) and foaming stability (5.88±0.41 %). The results obtained compared favourably with most food materials and indicated that Bombax buonopozense calyx may be a good source of nutrients

Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Endothelial Cells by Heat-Inactivated Streptococcus pneumoniae

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may contribute to an impaired endothelial layer in several diseases. We examined the effect of heat-inactivated Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 on MMP-2 and MMP-9 release by cultured aortic and brain capillary endothelial cells. Treatment with heat-inactivated S. pneumoniae caused an increased release of MMP-2 by both cell types