Proximate Composition, Vitamin, Mineral and biologically Active Compounds Levels in Leaves of Mangifera indica (Mango), Persea americana (Avocado pea), and Annona muricata (Sour sop)

The high rate of food insecurity in Nigeria has resulted to malnutrition and sicknesses especially in the rural areas. To address this challenges, this study assessed the levels of biologically active compounds, some essentialproximate, vitamin and mineral in leaves of Mango, Avocado pea and Sour sop to determine their nutritional and health benefits. The results indicate that the highest significant (P<0.05) values of crude protein (17.94±0.99 %), calorific value (370.47±1.01 KJ), carbohydrate (66.04±1.00 %),  thiamine (0.52±0.01 mg), beta-carotene (115.50±0.01 mg) and K (0.60±0.01 %), alkaloid (2.26±0.01 %) and saponin (1.33±0.01 %) were  observed in Avocado pea while ether extract (4.30±0.95 %), ash (8.24±0.99 %), crude fiber (10.60±0.95 %), ascorbic acid (13.20±0.90 mg), riboflavin (0.21±0.01 mg), Ca (4.41±0.01 %), P (0.40±0.01 %),  tannin (1.38±0.01 %), flavonoid (0.85±0.01 %) and phenol (0.37±0.01 %)were obtained in Mango. The highest content of niacin (0.41±0.01 mg), Mg (1.70±0.01 %), N (2.98±0.99 %) and phytate (0.30±0.01 %) were recorded in sour sop. The highest values of Na was statistically the same (P>0.05) in Mango (0.23±0.01 %) and Sour sop (0.23±0.01 %) but significantly  (P<0.05) higher than 0.19±0.01 % in Avocado pea. Similarly the highest moisture content was observed in Avocado pea (21.74±0.99 %) which is statistically equal with 20.10±0.90% in Mango but significantly (P<0.05) higher than 16.58±1.00 % in Sour sop. The leaves of Mango and Avocado pea are potential source of vitamins, mineral, phytochemical and proximate composition and is strongly recommended for nutritional and therapeutic uses to enhance good health of people.Key words: proximate, mineral, vitamins, phytochemicals, mango, avocado, sour sop

Quantity And Quality Of Litterfall In Pure Pine And Pine/Gmelina Mixed Plantations In Umuahia, Abia State

An assessment of the pattern of litterfall and quality of litter were carried out in plantations of pure exotic Pine and Pine/Gmelina mixed plantations at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) station Umuahia, Abia State. Litterfall was continuous with much of the litter falling between March and April in the pure Pine stand. April 2004 gave significantly (

Levels of Biologically Active Compounds and some Essential Metal in Parts of African Oil Bean Tree (Pentaclethra macrophylla)

The study assessed the phytochemical and mineral content in leaves, root and bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Amumara Mbaise, Imo State. The qualitative analysis show that the root extract had the highest tannin (++), flavonoid (+++), alkaloid (+++), and saponin (+++) with high degree of precipitation while phenol (+++) and phytate (+++) occurred in the leaves extract. Quantitatively, the highest significant (P<0.05) content of tannin (1.42±0.00 %), flavonoid (3.75±0.35 %, alkaloid (1.30±0.14 %), and saponin (3.40±0.00 %) were obtained in the root while the highest significant (P<0.05) content of the minerals: Mg (158.00±0.00 mg/100 g), Fe (16.50±0.00 mg/100 g), Na (165.00±0.00 mg/100 g), and Ca (224.15±0.00 mg/100 g) were observed in the leaves. The results indicate that P. macrophylla is a promising tree species that can improve the health of man.Key words: Mineral, phytochemical, leaves, root

Germination and initial growth of Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. (Myrtaceae), in petroleum-contaminated soil and bioremediated soil

In 2000 there was an oil spill at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (REPAR) in Paraná. Nearly five years after contamination and the use of bioremediation, a study was carried out to identify the effects of the contaminated soil and the bioremediated soil on the germination and initial growth of C. xanthocarpa. The experiment was established with soil from REPAR, with three treatment groups: contaminated soil (C), bioremediated soil (B) and uncontaminated soil (U); with five repetitions of 50 seeds each. There was no significant difference in the percentage of germination and the speed of germination index. The production of total biomass (30 - 60 days) and shoot biomass (60 days) was greater in the bioremediated soil compared to the other treatments. The averages for the root biomass were lower in the contaminated soil than in the bioremediated soil. The shoot length and the total length of the seedling in the contaminated soil and uncontaminated soil were lower than in the bioremediated soil