Occurrence of Biphenyl and Alkylbiphenyls in Source Rocks from Tertiary Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria.

Source rocks from the offshore Niger Delta basin, Nigeria have been analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in terms of their thermal maturity, based on the distribution of biphenyl and its derivatives. The source rocks were characterized by the dominance of C2-biphenyl over other alkylated homologues. 3-methylbiphenyl predominated over other methylbiphenyl isomers in rock samples. 3,3’- dimethylbiphenyl occurred as the most abundant compound among the C2-biphenyl compounds in the rock samples while 3,5,4-trimethylbiphenyl dominated over other C3-biphenyl compounds in the source rocks. The distributions and abundance of the biphenyl and alkylbiphenyls were found not to be influenced by source facies and thermal maturity. The maturity dependent parameter computed from alkylbiphenyl distributions (MBpR, DMBpR-x and DMBpR-y ratios) indicated that the source rocks have wide variations in maturity status and that the rock samples are within immature to oil window maturity status and this is further supported by other maturity parameters computed from the saturate and aromatic biomarkers. This study showed that the abundance and distribution of biphenyl and its derivatives can be used for thermal maturity of source rocks in the Niger Delta Basin.Keywords: Biphenyls, alkylbiphenyls, source rocks, Niger Delta, maturit

Launaea taraxacifolia; a Neglected Vegetable from Nigeria, its Antiinflammatory and Antioxidant Activities

Part of health care structures globally are medicinal plants; these are very commonly employed against array of diseases in developing countries like Nigeria. Wild lettuce (Launaea taraxacifolia) is grown mostly in West Africa, it is call “Efo Yarin” in Yoruba Language of Nigeria. This plant is commonly used as leafy vegetable, soup and sauces but its medicinal potentials are untapped. The goal of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the leaves of L. taraxacifolia. Its antioxidant activity was tested by 2, 2′-azinobis-( 3-ethyl) benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and anti-inflammatory disposition by employing inhibitory of lypoxygenase. The IC50 value for the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract is significant (30.06 μg/mL) when compared with that of the positive control 25.25 μg/mL (Indomethacin), the extract showed a good antioxidant effect with an IC50 of 70.59 μg/mL, ascorbic acid was used as a positive control (62.83 μg/mL). This study makes available new insights on the use of L. taraxacifolia, a commonly used medicinal plant in many countries of West Africa. The phytochemistry of this wild vegetable is largely unknown except for few screening done by few authors.Keywords: L. taraxacifolia; ABTS, lypoxygenase; anti-inflammatory and Wild lettuc

Natural radionuclide distribution and analysis of associated radiological concerns in rock samples from a rocky town (Dutsin-Ma) in the North-Western region of Nigeria

Natural radionuclides in rock samples, especially 226Ra (Radon), 232Th (thorium), and 40K (potassium), are the primary source of exposure to radiation for employees and the public, and their detection is critical for radiation safety. The gamma (γ) radiation from natural radionuclides was quantified using the γ-ray spectrometry method in twenty rock samples obtained from Dutsin-Ma, a rocky town in Nigeria's north-western region. The data obtained were used to estimate the radiological parameters and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). The results obtained show that the minimum activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th, and 226Ra are respectively 36.7 Bq/kg, 25.99 Bq/kg, and 11.59 Bq/kg, with their maximum values being 73.23 Bq/kg, 92.81 Bq/kg and 100.93 Bq/kg respectively. The average activity of 40K, 232Th, and 226Ra in the rock samples were found to be 73.5781±3.38 Bq/kg, 40.7848±3.32 Bq/kg, and 33.6616±3.58 Bq/kg respectively, which were all below the World average values of (33, 45 and 420) Bq/kg respectively. The ELCR was found to be 0.185±0.01, while the average absorbed dose rate, as well as the mean annual effective dose rate, were calculated to be 43.13±2.7 nGy/h and 0.015±0.003 mSv/y respectively. The outcomes for internal hazard, external hazard, annual absorbed and effective dose equivalent (ABEDE), alpha and gamma index values were below the maximum values allowed limits of 1 mSv/y for ABEDE and 1 for representative alpha & gamma index values, internal and external hazards as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). This study shows that the radiation contamination of rock particles in Dutsin-Ma LGA does not pose much significant risk

Biosynthesis, Characterization and Biological Applications of Silver Nanoparticles using Celosia trigyna and Solanum nigrum Extracts: Neglected Vegetables in Nigeria

Plant-mediated synthesis is gaining acceptance in many fields i.e. biology and pharmaceutical fields. This aim of this study is synthesizing Ag nanoparticles using air-dried leaves of two (2) neglected vegetables i.e.  Celosia trigyna and Solanum nigrum.  Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The anti-inflammatory properties of these AgNPs were evaluated using Cell Stabilization Membrane (CSM) and lipoxidase assays, their antioxidant activity were established on DPPH and ABTS+ assays. The positive control employed are indomethacin and ascorbic acid for these activities. Nanoparticles synthesized were labelled for Celosia trigyna (CT-AgNPs) and Solanum nigrum (SN-AgNPs) were noticed through visual color change. The UV–Vis spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles displayed absorption bands at around 360-440 nm, which is a characteristic band for Ag and FTIR displayed possible functional groups responsible for Ag nanoparticles synthesized by these plants.  The SEM image of the AgNPs formed displayed were spherical in morphology. CT-AgNPs exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against HRBC (IC50: 32.2 µg/ml) while SN-AgNPs displayed the most significant inhibitory activity against lipoxygenases (IC50: 32.8 µg/ml) when compared to the positive control used indomethacin (IC50: 28.1 µg/ml). SN-AgNPs exhibited the most significant antioxidant effect against ABTS (IC50: 11.4 µg/ml) while CT-AgNPs displayed the most significant antioxidant activity against DPPH (IC50: 4.6 µg/ml) when compared to the positive control used ascorbic acid (IC50: 4.7 µg/ml). This work showed that the synthesized AgNPs from non-cultivated vegetable can find relevance and application in health, drugs, food and environmental science

Exploring the Effect of Operational Factors and Characterization Imperative to the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

The synthesis and application of silver nanoparticles are increasingly becoming attractive. Hence, a critical examination of the various factors needed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles as well as the characterization is imperative. In light of this, we addressed in this chapter, the nitty-gritty on the operational parameters (factors) and characterization relevant to synthesis of silver nanoparticle. The following characterization protocols were discussed in the context of silver nanoparticle synthesis. These protocols include spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV –Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Exploring the Effect of Operational Factors and Characterization Imperative to the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

The synthesis and application of silver nanoparticles are increasingly becoming attractive. Hence, a critical examination of the various factors needed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles as well as the characterization is imperative. In light of this, we addressed in this chapter, the nitty-gritty on the operational parameters (factors) and characterization relevant to synthesis of silver nanoparticle. The following characterization protocols were discussed in the context of silver nanoparticle synthesis. These protocols include spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Effect of operational parameters, characterization and antibacterial studies of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Tithonia diversifolia

Background There is a growing interest in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract because the technique is cost effective, eco-friendly and environmentally benign. This is phasing out the use of toxic and hazardous chemical earlier reported. Tithonia diversifolia is a wild sunflower that grows widely in the western part of Nigeria with a proven medicinal benefit. However, several studies carried out have left doubts on the basic operational parameters needed for the green synthesis of AgNPs. The objective of this work was to carry out green synthesis of AgNPs using T. diversifolia extract via an eco-friendly route through optimization of various operational parameters, characterization, and antimicrobial studies. Method Green synthesis of TD-AgNPs was done via bottom-up approach through wet chemistry technique using environmentally benign T. diversifolia plant extract as both reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical Screening of the TD plant extract was carried out. Experimental optimization of various operational parameters—reaction time, concentration, volume ratio, and temperature was investigated. TD-AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy, SEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial studies against multi drug resistant microorganisms (MDRM) were studied using the agar well diffusion method. Results This study reveals the importance of various operational parameters in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. Excellent surface plasmon resonance peaks (SPR) were obtained at optimum experimental factors of 90 min reaction time under room temperature at 0.001M concentration with the volume ratio of 1:9 (TD extract:Ag ion solution). The synthesis was monitored using UV–Vis and maximum wavelength obtained at 430 nm was due to SPR. The morphology and elemental constituents obtained by TEM, SEM, and EDX results revealed a spherical shape of AgNPs with prominent peak of Ag at 3.0 kV in EDX spectrum. The crystallinity nature was confirmed by XRD studies. FTIR analysis proved presence of biomolecules functioning as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. These biomolecules were confirmed to be flavonoid, triterpenes, and saponin from phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial studies of TD-AgNPs were tested against MDRM—Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, and Bacillus subtilis. Discussion The variation of reaction time, temperature, concentration, and volume ratio played substantive and fundamental roles in the synthesis of TD-AgNPs. A good dispersion of small spherical size between 10 and 26 nm was confirmed by TEM and SEM. A dual action mechanism of anti-microbial effects was provided by TD-AgNPs which are bactericidal and membrane-disruption. Based on the antimicrobial activity, the synthesized TD-AgNPs could find good application in medicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food science

Insight in the Phytochemistry of Wild Vegetable Vitex grandifolia Gürke with its Biological and Nutritional Importance – A Review

Vitex grandifolia belongs to genus Vitex, which is the largest in the family Lamiaceae, the species is distributed worldwide. The young leaves of V. grandifolia is culturally used as vegetables and for medicinal purposes. Vitex grandifolia is considered an underutilized and indigenous vegetable (UIV) because its importance and usefulness are greatly undervalued. Micro and macro-deficiency which is one of the main cause of health problems and high incidence of death in most children in sub-Sahara Africa. This has necessitated much research towards underutilized and indigenous vegetables (UIVs) because the populace in the remote places outside the commercial route mostly depends on food gathering from the wild and this could contribute greatly to their food system. Various publications’ sites, dissertation search engines, search engines were queried employing keywords as “Vitex grandifolia†and “biological activity of Vitex grandifoliaâ€. This study reports the untapped huge benefits this plant presents and further climaxes with up-to-date knowledge of its chemistry. Only about five compounds have been isolated so far, these compounds are mainly flavonoids and iridoids. The various in vitro and in vivo biological studies of these constituents and extracts were reported. Furthermore, the contradiction about the plant’s toxicity was explained in detail. The indications of its enormous traditional uses are large but the pharmacological facts are unsatisfying because they are few. It is quite relieving that its nutritional evidence is great though much is still needed. This review tends to create a foundation for further studies on its use as a vegetable

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION AND ANTIOXIDANT EVALUATION OF POLYPHENOLIC FRACTIONS AND OIL FROM FOUR MELON SEEDS USED AS CONDIMENTS IN NIGERIA

Species of different melon seeds i.e. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb),Cucumeropsis mannii, Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. are used mostly for culinary and health purposes in Nigeria, West Africa. Their health promoting potential may be connected to the antioxidant properties of their chemical constituents i.e. polyphenolic. Antioxidant evaluation was carried out on polyphenolic fractions and oils from the melon seeds’ species using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and 2, 2′-azino-bis-(3-ethyl) benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activities under in vitro conditions. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition effect of the polyphenolic fractions and oils were also investigated. The result of the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic extracts and oils obtained by different in vitro methods varied remarkably on the basis of method used. Nevertheless, the oil from Citrullus colocynthis gave the best IC50 value of 3.88 µg/mL and the polyphenolic fraction from Cucumeropsis mannii gave the best result with IC50 values of 1.89 µg/mL and 22.49 µg/mL against DPPH and ABTS respectively. Polyphenolic fraction from seeds of Lagenaria siceraria and oil from seeds of Citrullus lanatus gave the best acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity with IC50 value of 47.40 µg/mL and 19.50 µg/mL. This study’s results indicated that the different seeds of melon species are sources of natural antioxidants preventing oxidative damage and a good source of acetylcholinesterase inhibition preventing old-age related and neurodegenerative diseases i.e. Parkinson and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Phytobiological-facilitated Production of Silver Nanoparticles From Selected Non-cultivated Vegetables in Nigeria and Their Biological Potential

Objectives: Plant-mediated synthesis [silver (Ag) to form Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)] is becoming progressively well accepted in many scientific and pharmaceutical fields. The aim of this study was to synthesize AgNPs using air-dried leaves of four neglected vegetables, i.e. Ceratotheca sesamoides, Ceiba pentandra, Crassocephalum crepidioides, and Launaea taraxacifolia. Materials and Methods: Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for characterization. Cell stabilization membrane and lipoxidase assays were used to determine used to assess the antiinflammatory activities while 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+) assays were used to assess the antioxidant activities of AgNPs [L. taraxacifolia-AgNPs, C. sesamoides Ag nanoparticles (CS-AgNPs), C. pentandra Ag nanoparticles (CP-AgNPs), and C. crepidioides AgNPs (CC-AgNPs)]. Results: The UV-Vis spectra of the synthesized NPs displayed absorption bands at around 360-440 nm, which is a characteristic band for AgNPs. The SEM image showed that the AgNPs formed were spherical in morphology. CC-AgNPs exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against human red blood cell membrane stabilizasyonu [median inhibitory concentration (IC50): 32.2 µg/mL] while CS-AgNPs displayed the most significant inhibitory activity against lipoxygenases (IC50: 32.8 µg/mL). CP-AgNPs exhibited the most significant antioxidant effect against both ABTS and DPPH (IC50: 5.5 and 6.4 µg/mL) when compared to ascorbic acid (IC50: 4.7 µg/mL). Conclusion: The synthesized AgNPs were found to be stable and the FTIR evidence suggested that the phytochemicals in the vegetables might have played an important role in the reduction and stabilization of AgNPs. This work showed that the synthesized AgNPs from non-cultivated vegetables can find relevance and application in health, drugs, food and environmental science. The evidences herein further confirmed their ethnopharmacological applications