Securinega virosa leaf and root bark extracts: a comparative anti-cancer study against human breast (MCF-7) and lung (NCI-H460) cancer cell lines

Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex.Willd.) is a medicinal plant with folkloric use in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and has earlier shown significant cytotoxic and growth-inhibitory prospect in our past work. The methanol extracts of the leaves and root barks obtained by cold maceration were screened for anti-cancer properties on breast (MCF-7) and lung (NCI-H460) cancer cells at 1-250 μg/mL adopting the SRB assay. The active leaf extract was partitioned into aqueous and chloroform fractions which were further tested at 1-100 μg/mL on the cell lines. The leaf and root bark extracts exhibited higher sensitivities on MCF-7 than NCI-H460 cell lines. At 100 μg/mL the leaf extract showed cytotoxicity and growth-inhibitory activities of –1.09 and +61.35 % on MCF-7 and NCI-H460 cell lines which later increased to –18.67 and +77.13 %, respectively at 250 μg/mL with GI 50 and TGI of 42 and 63 μg/mL on MCF-7 as well and 98.01 and 132.50 μg/mL on both cells. At the maximum concentration, the root bark extract recorded cytotoxicity of –2.60 % on MCF-7, and a growth-inhibitory activity of +57.9 % on NCI-H460 cell lines. Fractionation of the leaf extract improved its activity at GI50, TGI of 28.11, 34.22 μg/mL on MCF-7 and 42 and 52.69 μg/ mL against NCI-H460 cells, respectively. The traditional use of this plant in the treatment of tumor ailment has further been justified by these results

Cooperative Societies, Housing Provision and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

 The study is based on the need to motivate individuals in similar wage earning employments to overcome challenges militating against accessibility to basic family needs including home ownership through incremental development. The study employed qualitative research method to carry out empirical investigation through interviews with members as well as some executive members of Covenant University Staff Cooperative and Multi-purpose Society Limited, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria to obtain primary data for the study as well as secondary data from earlier annual reports of the Co-operative Society. Data presentation was through the use of tables and percentages. Findings showed that various avenues provided for accessing credit, at short notice, with very low interest rates and generous repayment periods by the Covenant University Staff Cooperative and Multi-purpose Society Limited, significantly assisted members in embarking on massive housing construction on incremental basis in addition to access to funds for other family needs with ease within the ten years of the Cooperative Societies’ establishment. The paper concludes that project funding through co-operative societies’ approach has great potentials for minimising frustrations inherent in the pursuit of achievements through loans from commercial banks at variable interest rates. The paper recommends the encouragement of Staff Co-operative Societies across all segments of establishments in the country  

Cooperative Societies, Housing Provision and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

The study is based on the need to motivate individuals in similar wage earning employments to overcome challenges militating against accessibility to basic family needs including home ownership through incremental development. The study employed qualitative research method to carry out empirical investigation through interviews with members as well as some executive members of Covenant University Staff Cooperative and Multipurpose Society Limited, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria to obtain primary data for the study as well as secondary data from earlier annual reports of the cooperative Society. Data presentation was through the use of tables and percentages. Findings showed that various avenues provided for accessing credit, at short notice, with very low interest rates and generous repayment periods by the Covenant University Staff Cooperative and Multi-purpose Society Limited, significantly assisted members in embarking on massive housing construction on incremental basis in addition to access to funds for other family needs with ease within the ten years of the Cooperative Societies’ establishment. The paper concludes that project funding through co-operative societies’ approach has great potentials for minimising frustrations inherent in the pursuit of achievements through loans from commercial banks at variable interest rates. The paper recommends the encouragement of Staff Co-operative Societies across all segments of establishments in the countr

Impact of Marketing of Deposit Money Bank Services on Customers’ Patronage and Loyalty. Empirical Study of Five Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Marketing helps to attract its target customers thereby creating a relationship where exchange can be made possible. However, communication gap in deposit money banks constitute a major problem in the banking system and there is a need to bridge such gap as it affects customer's loyalty and patronage significantly. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of marketing of deposit money bank services on customer patronage and loyalty. This study examined five (5) deposit money banks which were chosen at random. Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Eco Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc. Primary data was used in the course of the study through the use of questionnaires in ensuring that the necessary data were obtained for the analysis. A total number of one hundred and fifteen (115) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the customers of the selected banks. The copies of the returned questionnaire were a hundred and thirteen (113) which were coded in the Statistical Package for social science (SPSS 23). A linear regression model was adopted in order to measure the effect of the independent variables on the dependent variables. The study found that marketing of deposit money bank has a significant effect on customer patronage and loyalty. The study concludes that marketing is highly essential to the survival of any bank thereby ensuring communication is effective between the bank and their customers. The study recommends that banks should ensure that effective marketing strategies such as; creating awareness of the products and services are developed by adopting marketing principles that will enable them to acquire more customers and have a long-term relationship with the existing ones

Comparative phytochemical and growth inhibitory studies on the leaf and root bark extracts of securinega Virosa (roxb ex. Willd) baill (euphoriaceae)

Securinega virosa is one of the plants used in South-western part of Nigeria in treating cancer. This claim was evaluated using the guinea corn radicle length inhibition assay for anti-proliferation. The growth inhibitory tests were carried out between 1-30 mg/ in a period of 24-96 h while the phytochemical screening was carried out on the plant parts using standard methods. At 24 h, the control seeds had an average radicle length of 2.33 ± 0.63 mm while seeds treated with 20 and 30 mg/ml of extract showed 0.23 ± 0.11 (mm) and 100% growth inhibition respectively. At 96 h, an average length of 0.53 ± 0.25 mm (99 % inhibition) was observed for the leaf extract at 20 mg/ml and 100 % growth inhibition for seeds treated with 30 mg/ml. The root bark extract on the other hand, showed 96.09 and 99.34 % growth reductions, respectively at 20 mg/ml and 30 mg/ml concentrations. The results show a significant growth inhibitory effect of the plant extracts, particularly the leaf extract, hence can be considered in preparing recipes for tumor-related ailments. Further work, especially chromatographic analysis leading to isolation and the use of appropriate human cell lines are needed to support this. Keywords: Securinega virosa, antiproliferation, Sorghum bicolor, Phytochemicals, Radicl

Water quality of Bomadi Creek in the Niger Delta of Nigeria: assessment of some physicochemical properties, metal concentrations, and water quality index

Abstract In this study, some physicochemical properties, concentrations of metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn), and the overall water quality from Bomadi Creek in the Niger Delta of Nigeria were assessed over two seasons. Water samples were collected from designated areas along the course of the river and were prepared for analysis by standard procedures. The ranges of the mean values for some water quality indicators were found to be as follows: pH: 7.40–8.17, turbidity (NTU): 20.5–42.3, total dissolved solids (mg L−1): 27.5–44.7, total suspended solids (mg L−1): 34.1–61.7, dissolved oxygen (mg L−1): 3.07–6.53, biochemical oxygen demand (mg L−1): 0.13–2.77, total hardness (mg L−1): 28.3–60.0, and nitrate (mg L−1): 0.37–0.92. Only the turbidity values exceeded the permissible limit of 5 NTU. The concentration ranges (mg L−1) for the six metal ions determined were: Pb: 0.01–0.02, Cd: 0.01–0.03, Zn: 0.1–0.3, Cu: 0.03–0.07, Fe: 0.6–0.9, and Mn: 0.01–0.05. There were no significant variations in many of the locations between the wet and dry seasons. The comprehensive pollution index values indicated severe pollution of the Creek, with Cd, Fe, and turbidity, identified as the major contributors to the deteriorated water quality. The sources of high loads of Cd, Fe, and turbidity in this river system include discharges from oil production activities, speed boats, illegal bunkering, and domestic waste dumps. Principal component and cluster analysis were used to establish relationships between the various parameters and sites. The risk assessment indicated adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks arising from human consumption of the water. The risk is higher for children than adults. Therefore, the Bomadi water is considered unsuitable for drinking and other domestic purposes, and remediation is required