Biomass Valorization: Agricultural Waste in Environmental Protection, Phytomedicine and Biofuel Production

Industrialization is a major promoter of any nation’s economy; it is not without detrimental effects on our immediate environment. Human exposure to various pollutants discharged into the environment may lead to serious health challenges. In the same vein, discharge from the combustion of fossil fuel contributes a great deal to the environmental pollution. The resulting quest for a clean and sustainable environment has spurred myriads of research into advantageous utilization of waste biomass in industrial wastewater treatment and environmentally friendly/alternative energy. Similarly, diverse waste materials have been adopted as sources of important phytochemicals with different medicinal applications. This chapter focuses on the application of waste biomass in environmental remediation, curative medicine, and clean/alternative energy

In Vivo Antiplasmodial Potential of the Leaf, Mesocarp, and Epicarp of the Raphia hookeri Plant in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65

Background of the study. Raphia hookeri G. Mann & H. Wendl (Arecaceae) is an important plant used in folkloric medicine to treat various ailments such as inflammation, tumor, microbial infections, paralysis, hypertension, and rheumatism, primarily in Africa and Asia. Aim and Objectives. The study was designed to investigate the antiplasmodial and antioxidant potencies of Raphia hookeri leaves, mesocarp, and epicarp using Plasmodium infected mice. The bioactive constituents were further explored via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results. The presence of alkaloids, fats and oils, phenolic, and flavonoids was detected via the qualitative test which was confirmed from the result obtained from the GC-MS chromatogram of ethanolic leaves extract. The GC-MS chromatogram of the constituents analogous to the twenty peaks was analyzed as follows: dodecanoic acid (1.94%), 2-undecanone (3.42%), hexadecanoic acid (44.84%), oleic acid (7.45%), octadecanoic acid (8.41%), narcissidine (2.38%), 1-dotriacontanol (2.38%), α-sitosterol (2.02%), and lupeol (1.42%). The total phenolics and flavonoids of 118 and 23.3702 mg/g were analyzed in the leaves extract. The leave extract exhibited inhibitory activity of 73.49% against free radicals which could lead to inflammation. The extracts and chloroquine-treated groups showed significant decrease in percentage parasitaemia with pronounced activity observed in chloroquine groups. Conclusion. The curative and scavenging potencies of studied plant could be attributed to the metabolites analyzed and could guide the formulation of new pharmacophores against malaria infections and inflammations

Silver nanoparticle synthesis by Acalypha wilkesiana extract: phytochemical screening, characterization, influence of operational parameters, and preliminary antibacterial testing

© 2019, The Author(s). Introduction: The application of skin bleaching products to inhibit melanogenesis is a common practice within the African diaspora. Despite the adverse health effects of skin bleaching, rigorous studies investigating skin bleaching behavior among these populations in the United States are limited. In our P30 pilot study, we explored predictors of skin bleaching practice intensity among African and Afro-Caribbean women. Methods: In collaboration with our Community Engagement Core, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between demographic and psychosocial predictors and skin-bleaching-related practice patterns among African and Afro-Caribbean women in New York City. Results: Among the 76 participants recruited, the median age at the initiation of skin bleaching was 19.5 (16–25) years, yielding a median duration of 13.5 (6–23) years. Although pregnant women were not actively recruited for the study, 13.2% (n = 10) of the participants used skin bleaching products while pregnant or possibly breastfeeding. Nativeness and education were associated with various components of skin bleaching practice intensity, including duration of skin bleaching, daily use of products, and bleaching of the entire body. Participants’ perceived skin-color-related quality of life was not associated with skin bleaching practice intensity. Conclusion: Skin bleaching is a habitual practice that likely requires culturally sensitive interventions to promote behavioral change. The existence of prenatal and postnatal exposure to mercury, hydroquinone, and other potentially harmful chemicals in skin bleaching products highlights an urgent need to explore the adverse effects of skin bleaching practices on birth outcomes and the growth and neurodevelopment of young babies

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of Raphia Hookeri Leaf and Epicarp

The contribution of oxidative stress to the pathogenesis of several health conditions and its association with life-threatening diseases such as malaria has necessitated the search for more phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. Various parts of Raphia hookeri such as the leaves, fruit and sap have been moderately studied and applied in different areas of industry. However, the epicarp is generally discarded. The ethanolic extracts of Raphia hookeri leaf and epicarp were herein investigated for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents using spectrometric methods. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation assays were used to determine the antioxidant potential of the extracts. The recorded Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of both extracts are comparable while the Total Flavonoid Content of the leaf extract is higher. Consequently, the antioxidant activity of the leaf extract was higher. Although the antioxidant potential of the leaf is higher (351.170±22.950 mg/g RE), the comparable TPC and the antioxidant activity exhibited by Raphia hookeri epicarp extract projects it as a rich phytochemical bio-resourse which may have future relevance in the pharmaceutical industry

Natural Products as Sources of Antimalarial Drugs: Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Malaria is one of the lethal diseases of man, contributing to about 17 million deaths annually, leading to sociocultural, economic, and health influences. Aim of the Study. The study explores the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological appraisal of antimalarial plants used by people of Omu Aran, Ogbomoso, Ado Ekiti, and Sagamu communities in Nigeria. Materials and Methods. For this study, relevant information was procured from the inhabitants via a structured questionnaire to procure the general knowledge of antimalarial medicinal plants. Results and Discussion. A total of 90 interviewees (44 men and 46 women) were involved in this survey. A total of 59 medicinal species were identified, which were dispersed in 33 families (Asteraceae (6), Apocynaceae (5), Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Meliaceae, Poaceae, and Rubiaceae (3 each), Phyllanthaceae (2)) totaling 49% of the cited species. The most cited plants are Azadirachta indica (42), Mangifera indica (38), Carica papaya (28), Cymbopogon citratus (27), Cassia fistula (15), Morinda lucida (14), Anacardium occidentale and Vernonia amygdalina (13 each), Helianthus annuus (11), Enantia chlorantha (10), and Moringa oleifera (9) A total of 105 citations were recorded for the plant parts used (leaf (46), bark (17), fruits (9), root (9), latex (11), stem (11), and inflorescence (2)) while decoction (59%), maceration (25%), infusion (9%), and exudation (7%) were the methods of preparation. Use Values (UVs) of 0.47 to 0.11 were recorded for the frequently used antimalarial plants. The Efficiency Levels (ELs) of 11 different medicinal plants stated by the respondents were Azadirachta indica, Cassia fistula and Morinda lucida (12), Chromolaena odorata (10), Mangifera indica, Enantia chlorantha and Helianthus annuus (8), Cymbopogon citratus (7), Gossypium arboretum (4), Landolphia dulcis (3), and Aloe vera (2) Cocos nucifera, Curcuma longa, Forkia biglobosa, and Musa acuminate are mentioned for the first time in the study area with little or no reported antiplasmodial activities. Conclusion. The study appraised the commonly used antimalarial plants in the study areas. Therefore, commitment to scientifically explore the bioactive compounds, antimalarial potential and toxicological profile of these plants is inevitable as they could lead to novel natural products for effective malaria therapy

Ethnobotanical Description and Biological Activities of Senna alata

Senna alata is a medicinal herb of Leguminosae family. It is distributed in the tropical and humid regions. The plant is traditionally used in the treatment of typhoid, diabetes, malaria, asthma, ringworms, tinea infections, scabies, blotch, herpes, and eczema. The review is aimed at unveiling the ethnobotanical description and pharmacological activities of S. alata. Different parts of the plant are reported in folk medicine as therapeutic substances for remediation of diverse diseases and infections. The extracts and isolated compounds displayed pronounced pharmacological activities. Display of antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, dermatophytic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antilipogenic, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antimalarial, anthelmintic, and antiviral activities could be due to the array of secondary metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, anthraquinone, saponins, phenolics, cannabinoid alkaloids, 1,8-cineole, caryophyllene, limonene, α-selinene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, cinnamic acid, pyrazol-5-ol, methaqualone, isoquinoline, quinones, reducing sugars, steroids, and volatile oils present in different parts of the plant. The review divulges the ethnobotanical and pharmacological activities of the plant and also justifies the ethnomedical claims. The significant medicinal value of this plant necessitates a scientific adventure into the bioactive metabolites which constitute various extracts

Diseases Induced by Heavy Metal Exposure and their Ameliorative Phytochemicals: A Review

Indiscriminate disposal of refuse and industrial effluents have continued to introduce toxic chemicals into our environment. Most of these toxic wastes, particularly the heavy metals are colourless, hence, the silent access which they often gain into the human body via food and water. This has increasingly posed deleterious effects on public health globally in the twentyfirst century. Relevant publications were primarily sourced from Science Direct (a major contributor to the Scopus database) using “heavy metals; toxicity; amelioration; herbs, treatment” as keywords. This article gives an overview of health risk factors, the pathogenic health effects of common heavy metals and the sustainable route to their amelioration using natural products with heavy metal chelating potential in different animal models. The incorporation of these herbs in diets and the direct therapeutic applications of crude plant extracts, fractions and isolates enhance the human defense system against the various diseases which are usually associated with the consumption of heavy metal contaminated food and water

Wastewater conservation and reuse in quality vegetable cultivation: Overview, challenges and future prospects

The serious water scarcity experienced across the globe and the desire for sufficient food production all year round to combat hunger, poverty and malnutrition necessitate the need for wastewater reuse in irrigation. Wastewater has varied compositions that affect the growth of different crops positively, they may also be a source of dangerous pollutant. Heavy consumption of vegetables have been encouraged for its nutritional and health advantages. Hence, their production and cultivation have increased globally. While the nutritional advantage of vegetables is appealing, their high susceptibility to harbor and spread pathogenic microbes call for serious concern. Activities such as transportation, improper handling and packaging amongst others are sources of vegetable contamination. Irrigation water and techniques however present greater danger. Agro-industrial wastewater of a ready-to-eat vegetable (RTEv) industry operating a closed system may reintroduce microbes to vegetable gardens. The use of raw domestic wastewater, either black or grey water in vegetable cultivation presents attendant challenges which must be handled with utmost precaution. This review is focused on the dangers associated with the reuse of agro-industrial and domestic wastewater, precautions required as well as possible preventive/reduction measures. The possible dangers associated with “crude irrigation techniques” used in vegetable cultivation in the Southwestern part of Nigeria are presented. This work will no doubt serve as a tool for policy makers and environmentalists in enlightenment and awareness campaigns in educating most rural dwellers who are ignorant of these dangers

Antioxidant Potential of Zingiber officinale Rhizome and Fagara zanthoxyloides Root Extracts and their Application in Soybean oil During Accelerated Storage

The oxidative instability of vegetable oils which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the health implication of synthetic antioxidants is the reason for the current intensive search for safer natural antioxidants. Hence, the total phenolic content and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of Fagara zanthoxyloides root and Zingiber officinale rhizome have been comparatively evaluated. Zingiber officinale cold extract (GC) exhibited highest DPPH scavenging activity as well as the highest TPC while the hot extract from Fagara zanthoxyloides root (FH) had more phenolic content than its cold counterpart. Consequently, the anti-oxidative potential of refined soybean oil fortified with GC and FH was investigated at 65°C (accelerated storage temperature) for a lenght of 24 days. Established indicators such as peroxide, p-anisidine and total oxidation value (TOTOX) were used to monitor the extent of lipid deterioration with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as the positive control. Generally, GC was more effective in stabilizing the soybean oil. After 24 days of storage, soybean oil fortified with GC, FH and BHA achieved 68.58%, 57.50% and 67.56% retardation in the formation of primary oxidation products respectively. The lowest TOTOX (146.38) value was also observed in GC supplemented oil, suggesting that GC could be effectively employed as a replacement for BHA in soybean oil preservation. Hence, extracts from Zingiber officinale rhizome and Fagara zanthoxyloides roots can be explored as sources of natural antioxidants for application in the food industry

Novel acid treated biomass: Applications in Cu2+ scavenging, Rhodamine B/Cu2+ binary solution and real textile effluent treatment

A novel adsorbent prepared from the waste of Irvingia gabonensis nut (ADN) was used for scavenging of Cu from aqueous solution. Various adsorption operational parameters were investigated in order to establish the behavior of ADN before further studies. The efficacy of ADN in concurrent removal of rhodamine B (RhB) dye and Cu in a binary solution of RhB/Cu was also investigated. Finally the potency of ADN in the treatment of real textile effluent was ascertained. Optimum adsorption of Cu occurred at pH of 5.5 and high temperature favored Cu removal. Pseudo second order kinetic best described the uptake of Cu onto ADN. Maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was obtained to be 103.09 mg/g. The Dubinin Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm as well as thermodynamic parameter suggests that adsorption of Cu onto ADN was chemical in nature. Percentage removal of Cu in single solution at optimum time was 94.70 % while synergistic effect of RhB moved this to 99.54 % removal in the binary solution. ADN was highly efficient for the removal of dye and other organic pollutants in the real textile effluent with 100 % removal of some organic pollutant