Selected Metal Contents and Phytochemical Profiling of Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica Commonly used Antidiabetic Plants from Oil Producing Region of Nigeria

Aim: The study evaluated selected metal contents and phytochemicals present in Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica extracts commonly used antidiabetic plants from Aluu and Bodo communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: University of Port-Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria and its environs was used between June to November, 2020. Methodology: Composite soil samples and the leaves of Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica were collected from Bodo and Aluu communities respectively. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for the analysis of the metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, As and Cr). The plant extracts were screened for the presence of various phytochemicals using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Flavonoid, Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids. Terpenoid, Glycoside and Carotenoid were detected in Ficus carpreifolia obtained from Bodo and Aluu communities while Magnifera indica obtained from both communities has Alkaloids, Phenols, Flavonoids, Saponins and Tannins detected. Metals such as Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe and As were detected at Bodo and Aluu soil samples. Cu, Ni and Cr were below the detectable limit. Zn, Pb and As were above the permissible limit in Bodo soil samples while only As was above the permissible limit in Aluu community. In the plant samples, only Mn was present and was within the permissible limit in plants samples obtained from Bodo and Aluu communities while Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe, Cu, As and Cr were below the detectable limit. Conclusion: The study shows that Ficus capriefolia and Mangifera indica do not bioaccumulate Fe, Zn, Ni, Pb, As and Cr and this may be attributed to the metal intolerance potential of the plants, hence no fear of metal toxicity when using these plants for medicinal purposes. The presence of saponins, tannins and flavonoid affirmed the hypoglycemic potentials of the plants.

Safety Assessment of the Presence of Heavy Metals and Organic Pollutants in Vended Street Foods from Selected Locations in Lagos State Nigeria

This study was aimed at investigating the presence of heavy metals and volatile organic pollutants in street-vended foods sourced from three selected locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, to ascertain their safety level. The study was carried out using complete randomization design and Cluster sampling technique to source vended street foods from three locations (Marina, Yaba and Apapa). The eight Food products studied were roasted (plantain, fish, yam, corn), suya meat, meat pie, egg roll and doughnuts. Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Mercury, Iron, Zinc and organic pollutants in Foods and particulate matter in Environment were examined. Heavy metals detected in vended street foods from Marina, Yaba and Apapa Lagos were; iron, copper, lead and zinc, at level ranging from 0.14 mg/kg–2.80 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg – 0.27 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg – 0.18 mg/kg, and 0.01 mg/kg – 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. Mercury and Cadmium were below detectable limit. Significantly (P<0.05) higher iron presence of 2.80 mg/kg and 1.99mg/kg were respectively, noticed in suya from Apapa and roasted fish also from Apapa. Significantly (P<0.05) higher lead (Pb) content of 0.18 mg/kg was observed in dough nut from Yaba, however, roasted plantain, roasted fish and meat pie all sourced from Yaba gave significantly (P<0.05) lower lead content of 0.01mg/kg. The Zinc content of roasted fish, suya and egg roll sourced from Marina, Yaba and Apapa were all significantly (P<0.05) difference, with particular respect to food type. Higher iron content of 2.80 mg/kg was noticed in suya from Apapa. Volatile organic compounds (TPH, PAHs, Phenol) were observed to be below detectable limit (<0.001 mg/kg) in all the vended street food samples. Particulate matter in air; SPM, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and VOCs ranged from 0.34 – 0.84 mg/m3, 0.32 – 0.56 mg/m3, 0.32 – 0.68 mg/m3, 0.33 – 0.79 mg/m3 and <0.001 – 0.24 mg/m3, respectively. PM1 and PM25 from the three locations were not statistically significant (P>0.05). All the vended food samples had lead (Pb) content above the CODEX permissible limit of 0.01 mg/kg. The presence of high lead content in Vended Street food is a major source of occupational health hazards.

Synthesis of New Tetra Triazole Functionalized Calix[4]resorcinarene and Chemosensing of Copper Ions in Aqueous Medium

A new tetra triazole functionalized calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycle (5) is synthesized and utilized for the detection of copper ions in the aqueous medium. The photophysical potential of compound (5) is examined by a range of cations (Ba2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Hg2+, K+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, NH4 + and Pd2+). The triazole based calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycle (5) has interacted with Cu2+ ion in preference of other cations. A significant quenching has been observed after the addition of 15 μM Cu2+ ion solution, which produced 4.2 folds drift in the absorption intensity of compound (5). Tetra triazole functionalized calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycle showed high selectivity towards copper ion chemosensing without any interference in competitive studies. The pH studies of compound (5) with Cu2+ indicated the maximum chelation between 7- 7.5 pH. The compound (5) is capable to recognize Cu2+ at 1 μM detectable limit. Copper ion was detected in tap water with 15 μM concentration. Job’s plot showed 1:2 binding ratio between macrocycle (5) and Cu2+.

Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Physicochemical Parameters of Oil-contaminated Soil and Water Samples from Bonny, South-South, Nigeria

This study analyzed physical, chemical and selected heavy metals concentration of oil-polluted soil and water samples from Bonny, South-South, Nigeria. Unpolluted soil and water samples were used as controls. The pH of the test soil sample was acidic (4.24±0.03) when compared with control (7.6±0.05). Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Potassium concentrations of the test soil samples were 1151.614±0.37 mg/g, 1.23±0.02 mg/g, 11.27±0.34 mg/g and 11.52±0.5 mg/g respectively. Selected heavy metals such as Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) showed that Hg and As were below detectable limits in test and control samples while Cd and Pb were below detectable limit in the control sample while test sample had 0.015±0.01 mg/g and 1.73±0.04 mg/g respectively. Fe and Cu contents were high at 38.7±0.13 mg/g and 5.49±0.05 mg/g when compared with the control at 3.52±0.02 mg/g and 1.08±0.03 mg/g. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Organic Matter (TOM) were at 5.93±0.13 mg/g, 3.64±0.1 mg/g and 4.23±0.1 mg/g respectively. Water pH, Temperature, Conductance, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Turbidity were 5.21±0.03, 25.1±0.01ºC, 610±0.04 µS/cm, 5.0±0.03 mg/l, 1.8±0.02 mg/l, and 53.50±0.06 NTU respectively. Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium and Bicarbonate concentrations of the water were 609.82±0.37 mg/ml, 1.03±0.02 mg/ml, 13.41±0.42 mg/ml, 7.68±0.3 mg/ml, 21.22±0.12 mg/ml and 4.3±0.07 mg/ml in that order. Arsenic and Mercury were below detectable limit in both test and control samples while Fe, Cd, Pb, and Cu were 42.2±0.6 mg/ml, 0.016±0.001 mg/ml, 1.9±0.04 mg/ml and 5.2±0.03 mg/ml respectively. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Solids were 3.87±0.11 mg/ml, 23036±0.51 mg/ml, 396.5±0.3 mg/ml and 23433±0.4 respectively. The levels of detected heavy metals were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits and Nigerian standard set by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). This indicates a moderate level of pollution in both soil and water samples, as a result, poses a serious threat to ecological and species survivability as well as growth and reproduction of aquatic and plant life.

Preliminary Monitoring of Praziquantel in Water and Sediments at a Japanese Amberjack (Seriola quinqueradiata) Aquaculture Site

Praziquantel (PZQ), an active compound against Platyhelminthes, is an essential anthelmintic for the aquaculture industry. However, there are few reports of the environmental risks of PZQ use in aquaculture. In this study, we monitored PZQ in water and sediment at an aquaculture site of Japanese amberjack, also called yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). Although PZQ was detected in water during treatment and 3 days post-treatment, PZQ levels were below the detectable limit in water 60 m from the net pen during the treatment, and in all sediment samples. In this preliminary study, we could not detect residue of PZQ from sediments in the aquaculture site, and no evidence about environmental effect of PZQ administration was obtained.

DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR OF DISSOLVED AND PARTICULATE Pb AND Zn IN JENEBERANG ESTUARY, MAKASSAR

ABSTRACTDissolved and particulate heavy metals play a role in geochemical cycle as an agent in adsorption-desorption, deposition-resuspension, and dispersion mechanisms of heavy metals in water environment. The objectives of this research were to determine the distribution and behaviour of dissolved and particulate heavy metals Pb and Zn in different seasons (west and east seasons) at Jeneberang Estuary of Makassar. Concentrations of Pb and Zn were analysed using Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry based on APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005). The concentration of dissolved Pb in the riverine, estuarine, and marine waters were in the range (average) of <0.002 mg/L (below detectable limit), 0.013-0.144 mg/L (0.047 mg/L), 0.016-0.198 mg/L (0.079 mg/L); and the concen-tration of dissolved Zn were in the range (average) of <0.002 mg/L (below detectable limit), <0.002-0.014 mg/L (0.005 mg/L), <0.002-0.083 mg/L (0.017 mg/L). Meanwhile, the concentration of parti-culate Pb were in the range (average) of 1.807-2.569 mg kg-1 (2.215 mg kg-1), 0.521-1.272 mg kg-1 (0.911 mg kg-1), 0.465-2.182 mg kg-1 (1.033 mg kg-1), and the concentration of particulate Zn were in the range (average) of 19.151-90.942 mg kg-1 (51.710 mg kg-1), 16.999-63.059 mg kg-1 (31.694 mg kg-1), 19.439-80.283 mg kg-1 (45.554 mg kg-1) in the riverine, estuarine and marine waters, respecti-vely. Behaviour of dissolved heavy metals Pb and Zn showed that the concentrations tended to increase (desorption) along the gradient of high salinity as a result of the higher heavy metals input from coastal region than that riverine regimes.Keywords: distribution, behaviour, dissolved, particulate, heavy metal, Jeneberang Estuary

DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR OF DISSOLVED AND PARTICULATE Pb AND Zn IN JENEBERANG ESTUARY, MAKASSAR

<p align="center"><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p><em>Dissolved and particulate heavy metals play a role in geochemical cycle as an agent in adsorption-desorption, deposition-resuspension, and dispersion mechanisms of heavy metals in water environment. The objectives of this research were to determine the distribution and behaviour of dissolved and particulate heavy metals Pb and Zn in different seasons (west and east seasons) at Jeneberang Estuary of Makassar. Concentrations of Pb and Zn were analysed using Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry based on </em><em>APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005). The concentration of dissolved Pb in the riverine, estuarine, and marine waters were in the range (average) of &lt;0.002 mg/L (below detectable limit), 0.013-0.144 mg/L (0.047 mg/L), 0.016-0.198 mg/L (0.079 mg/L); and the concen-tration of dissolved Zn were in the range (average) of &lt;0.002 mg/L (below detectable limit), &lt;0.002-0.014 mg/L (0.005 mg/L), &lt;0.002-0.083 mg/L (0.017 mg/L). Meanwhile, the concentration of parti-culate Pb were in the range (average) of 1.807-2.569 mg kg^-1 (2.215 mg kg^-1), 0.521-1.272 mg kg^-1 (0.911 mg kg^-1), 0.465-2.182 mg kg^-1 (1.033 mg kg^-1), and the concentration of particulate Zn were in the range (average) of 19.151-90.942 mg kg^-1(51.710 mg kg^-1), 16.999-63.059 mg kg^-1 (31.694 mg kg^-1), 19.439-80.283 mg kg^-1 (45.554 mg kg^-1) in the riverine, estuarine and marine waters, respecti-vely. Behaviour of dissolved heavy metals Pb and Zn showed that the concentrations tended to increase (desorption) along the gradient of high salinity as a result of the higher heavy metals input from coastal region than that riverine regimes.</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>: </em><em>distribution, behaviour, dissolved, particulate, heavy metal</em><em>,</em><em> </em><em>Jeneberang Estuary</em><strong></strong></p>

SERS activity with tenfold detection limit optimization on a type of nanoporous AAO-based complex multilayer substrate

The flower-patterned nanostructure developed on AAO is capable of achieving greater enhancement and lower detectable limit than its template for SERS.

Limnology of lake Surinsar, Jammu, J&K: Part II – Water chemistry

Water quality parameters viz. air temperature (15.21 0 C -36 0 C/16.71 0 C - 39.42 0 C), water temperature (13 0 C-32.42 0 C/15 0 C-32.8 0 C), depth (42cm-69.08cm/ 25cm-121.92cm), turbidity (3.88-46.27NTU/3.67-69.39 NTU), salinity (0.10-0.31ppt/ 0.10-0.37ppt), electrical conductivity (0.101-0.172mS/cm/0.114-0.279mS/cm), TDS (49.63-111.78 mg/l/57.64-177.01mg/l), pH (7.92-9.82/7.80-9.09), free CO2 (0-19.22mg/l/0-15.32mg/l), DO (6.82-9.90mg/l/4.65-9.40mg/l), carbonate (0-18.38mg/l/0-20.63mg/l), bicarbonate (60.99-170.70mg/l/77.62-168.70mg/l, chloride (7.41-12.35mg/l/9.59-19.60mg/l), calcium (6.85-38.50mg/l/11.81-140.49mg/l), magnesium (4.62-7.22mg/l/3.86-39.05mg/l), total hardness (40.29-125.50 mg/l/56.61-511.05mg/l), BOD (3.12-5.79mg/l/1.31-16.21 mg/l), COD (17.74-75.42 mg/l/ 26.57-73.03mg/l), sodium (14.2-22.5mg/l/12.2-30.9mg/l), potassium (1.83-4.17mg/l/2.25-6.21mg/l), phosphate (0.048-0.233mg/l/0.008-0.603mg/l), nitrate (0.13-1.3mg/l/0.11-4.08mg/l), sulphate (1.60-19.19mg/l/1.36-15.70mg/l), silicate (0.14-4.23mg/l/0.27-7.05mg/l), iron (0-0.65/0-0.40mg/l), copper (below detectable limit) and zinc (below detectable limit), of lake Surinsar-the only source of drinking water to the inhabitants of the Surinsar village, have been reported monthly, during the year 2002-03/2003-04. WQI range falls from poor (70.45, December; 73.55, October; 74.4, November and 74.56, September/ 74.52, January and 75.36, September), very poor(82.54, February; 89.25, May; 80.76, August and 78.86, January/ 80.89, February; 98.25, April; 80.03, June; 82.26, July; 86.55, October and 83.03, November) to unfit (100.44, June; 101.9, July; 103.86, April and 119.5, March/ 103.73, May; 108.28, March; 122.56, August and 103.72, December). Comparison of range of various water quality parameters of Surinsar lake water, with national and international standards has also revealed that most of these parameters are beyond permissible limits. This clearly indicates the unsuitability of raw water, generally consumed by local inhabitants, for human consumption.

Pharmacokinetics of Intracameral Voriconazole Injection

ABSTRACT Elimination of voriconazole after intracameral injection exhibited an exponential decay with a half-life of 22 min. Voriconazole levels in the vitreous humor were below the detectable limit. The aqueous concentrations achieved with a 25-μg dose during the first 2 h were greater than the previously reported MICs of organisms most involved in fungal endophthalmitis. A rapid decline in intracameral concentration suggests that frequent supplementation of intracameral voriconazole may be required in clinical settings.