Variations in Phosphatase Activity of Crude Oil and Used Crankase Oil Polluted Agricultural Soil.

A study of the variations in phosphatase activity of crude oil and used crankcase oil polluted agricultural soil was carried out.  Eight square metre farmland was cleared and divided into seven lots (A, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3) of 60 cm2 each with 30 cm2 spaces in between them. Six out of the seven lots were polluted with three different concentrations of bonny light crude oil and used crankcase oil. The results showed a decrease in both alkaline and acid phosphatase activities mainly at the topsoil, with lowest alkaline phosphatase values of 0.6440+0.0026 I.U.L-1 and 0.6440+0.0051 I.U.L-1 for weeks 7 and 8 of 6 dm3 bonny light crude oil and used crankcase oil respectively. Lowest acid phosphatase activities was observed in week 5 of 6 dm3 bonny light crude oil and used crankcase oil  with values of 0.0370+0.0039 I.U.L-1 and 0.0305+0.0037 I.U.L-1 respectively . Key words: Hydrocarbons, Pollution, Soil, Enzyme, Phosphatase

Toxicological Indices of Wistar Rats Fed Formulated Chaw of Telfairia occidentalis Planted on Crude Oil Contaminated and Remediated Soil

Toxicological indices of wistar rats fed formulated chaw of Telfairia occidentalis planted on crude oil contaminated and bioremediated soil was studied. Farmland, measuring 18 m2 was divided into three lots of 4 m2 and 2 m space was allowed between each lot (A, B and C). Two lots were polluted, subjected to 16 weeks of bioremediation and viable seeds of T. occidentalis were planted and grown for 28 days. The harvested vegetable leaves were analyzed. Leaves from natural attenuated soil showed high concentration of both aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with values of 9.34+0.03 mg/kg and 9.18+0.05 mg/kg for C36 and Fluoranthene respectively, while the bioaugmented soil had Lead as the highest heavy metal with a value of 0.10+0.02 g/100g. Four groups, of 9 rats each (totalling 36 rats) of adult males and females, wealing males and females were subsequently sub-grouped into 3 and allowed to acclimatize for a period of 1 week. These animals were fed formulated rat chaw of 50% dry weight of T. occidentalis, from the three lots (control, bioaugmented and natural attenuated soil) for a period of 28 days. Assay of animals’ toxicological index showed elevated concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, urea and creatinine in their sera. A slight increase in serum amylase activity was recorded, while concentrations of their haemoglobin and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) reduced. The obtained results from these biomarkers were confirmed by the histopathological sections of the animal organs

GC/MS analysis of Tremella fuciformis (White jelly mushrooms) oil

The use of mushrooms for the treatment of diseases can be traced to Paleolithic era. One mushroom that has shown potent medicinal properties both by oral consumption and topical application is the Tremella fuciformis. GC/MS analyses of T. fuciformis oil obtained by hydro-distillation showed four predominant compounds. 9,19-Cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)- was the most predominant with RT of 20.766 and 24.672 min and a percentage total of 32.681 followed by 7-Isopropenyl-1,4a-dimethyl-4,4a,5 ,6,7,8-hexahydro-3H-naphthalen-2-one with RT of 22.425 min and a percentage total of 21.334, lupeol had RT of 22.825 and 23.230 min and a percentage total of 18.531, while lanosterol had RT of 21.079 and 23.034 min and a percentage total of 17.845. These four compounds represent 90.391% of the total constituent compounds in T. fuciformis oil. The therapeutic properties of two predominant compounds (lanosterol and lupeol) of this mushroom confirm its use for the treatment of both dermatological and ophthalmological related diseases by traditional medical practitioners