Application of Activated Afzelia Africana and Acacia Albida Carbon for Removal of Pollutants in Textile Wastewater

Adsorption of contaminants in textile wastewater onto activated carbon derived from two wood species has been studied using batch-adsorption techniques. This study was carried out to examine the removal efficiency of the low-cost adsorbent (Afzelia africana) AFA and (Acacia albida) ACA for the removal of heavy metals and other organic contaminants from textile effluents. The influence of contact time and adsorbent dose kept constant on the adsorption process was also studied. Removal efficiency increased with increase in contact time. The two adsorbents had an average removal efficiency of 60% at 90mins contact time for Zn. The ACA had higher removal efficiency for chromium at all contact times than AFA except at 120mins contact time where there existed a slight difference in the removal efficiency between the two adsorbents. Removal efficiency of iron was high between 58.18- 70.52% and 72.75-75.86% for AFA and ACA carbon respectively. This showed that iron had high affinity to the adsorbents surface. It was observed that AFA exhibited highest removal efficiency for nitrate at all contact times as compared to ACA. Results indicated that the freely abundant, locally available, low-cost adsorbent derived from the two wood species could be treated as being economically viable for the removal of contaminants from textile effluents.

Spatial distribution patterns of Afzelia africana (Fabaceae – Detarioideae) in a tropical savanna of Benin: implications for management

Background and aims – Understanding the spatial patterns and associations of tree species with their conspecific and heterospecific neighbours is critical for sustainable management of their stands. This study assessed the intra- and interspecific spatial structure of six life stages in Afzelia africana, a keystone multipurpose and endangered tree species in a tropical savanna of Benin.Material and methods – Three plots of 4 ha each were demarcated on three sites along a conservation gradient (hunting zone – core conservation zone). Individuals of A. africana (irrespective of their diameter at breast height) and heterospecific trees (dbh ≥ 5 cm) were mapped. Tree spatial patterns and associations were determined using univariate and bivariate pair correlation functions. The distance to the nearest neighbour was further used to assess tree-to-tree distance.Key results – We found variable spatial patterns across sites. In the core zone where wildlife density is high, most life stages had a random distribution. In contrast, in the hunting zone where wildlife density is low, the species spatial distribution changed from a predominantly aggregative pattern during early stages to a less aggregative or random spatial pattern for very large adults. Most pairs of life stages showed neutral associations, except for small and large adults, which had positive association between themselves on two sites. We also found that A. africana tree spatial distribution was unrelated to heterospecific trees.Conclusion – We suggest that bush fire, seed dispersion, predation, and local environment would have contributed to the observed patterns.

Biochemical Studies of Different Parts of Afzelia Africana Smith

Phytochemical and proximate analysis was carried out on the seed, leaf, stem bark, stem, root bark and root of Afzelia Africana plant. This analysis revealed that phytochemical constituents were mostly predominant in the leaf and lower in other parts of the plant. Steroid was high in the root (0.49±0.01) and lower in the stem (0.04±0.01). Phytate content was high in the seed (0.40±0.03) and lower in the stem. Carbohydrate, protein, fats, ash and moisture content were high in the seed. Fibre was high in the stem (61.1±0.23) and lower in the seed (3.61±0.06). Vit. C (ascorbic acid) was the highest vitamin component in all the plant parts with leaf being the highest (12.69±1.02) and root having the lowest (2.64±1.24). The stem has the lowest content of Vit. A, Vit. B2, and Vit. B3. The seed has the highest calcium content (188.80±5.54) while the leaf has the lowest (28.84±0.25). Stem bark has the highest magnesium content (10.08±0.94) and lowest in the root (4.96±0.14). Potassium and phosphorus were high in the leaf (368.67±3.06) and low in the stem. Sodium was high in the seed (11.63±0.40) and lower in the root (5.23±0.23). This study shows that the seed of Afzelia africana has the highest biochemical content and could serve as a good food supplement for man and livestock. The presence of phytate is known to induce mineral-related deficiency, its consumption also provides protection against a variety of cancers via its antioxidant properties.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of a gel based on Afzelia africana (fabaceae) leaves

Afzelia africana is a plant used by traditional healers in the treatment of several inflammatory pathologies, in particular edema, rheumatism, lumbago. The effectiveness of its barks in treating inflammation is well established. Ethnobotanical data led researchers to formulate a stable topical hydrogel based on bark extract, the tolerance and effectiveness of which in animals have been found to be satisfactory. As excessive use of the bark may impair the survival of the plant, further leaf studies have been performed and the anti-inflammatory effect has been confirmed in rats. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of a topical gel based on the hydro-ethanolic extract of these leaves in patients with inflammatory symptoms, compared to a diclofenac gel. Using hydroxyethyl cellulose and glycerol a stable gel was produced and used for the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of the leaves of the plant. The dry extract obtained from the leaves was rich in flavonoids (57.26 mg quercetin equivalent per gram), phenols, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones and steroids. We carried out a randomized pilot study on 52 patients who came for consultation at the « Cliniques Universitaires des Montagnes » and at the Bangangté District Hospital for inflammatory symptoms between June 1 and July 17, 2020; pregnant women were excluded from the study. Topical administration on 15 inflammatory pathologies revealed that the Afzelia africana leaf extract gel exhibits a better onset of action (4.29 ± 1.89 min) than the diclofenac gel (16.96 ± 4, 73 min). The decrease in pain visual analogue scale (VAS): values ​​for Afzelia africana gel was greater than for diclofenac gel, with P < 0.05 on day 2 and P < 0.001 from day 3 to day 7. The difference in First Hour Sedimentation Rate was significant between the two gels (P < 0.05); but this difference was no longer statistically significant after the second hour (P ˃ 0.05). In addition, Afzelia africana leaf extract gel reduced swelling (P = 0.001) and stiffness (P < 0.001) better than diclofenac gel. These results clarify the effectiveness of Afzelia africana leaf extract gel in the management of inflammatory pathologies and / or symptoms.

Proximate and Mineral Analysis of Some Edible Wild Seeds and Stem in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Benue State is endowed with numerous varieties of useful plants whose fruits, seeds, roots, stems and leaves serve important roles in nutrition but unfortunately many of these plants have not been put to maximum use. The neglect of these forest food plants is attributed to inadequate information on their nutritional potential to serve as food. The broad objective of the study was to examine the nutritional composition of Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds. Carbohudrate content was found to be the most abundant nutrient in all the plant species studied when compared with other nutrients. The highest carbohydrate content (58.22±0.2%) was found in Cissus populnea stem followed by carbohydrate content in Afzelia africana seeds (51.36±0.01%). The least carbohydrate content of 35.68±0.06% was found in the fruits of Vitellaria paradoxa. There were significant variations in the concentrations of nutrients screened from the 5 selected plants at p>0.05 level. Proximate analysis showed that Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds were good sources of minerals such as Calcium,Magnesium, Potassium, iron and Chlorine. Potassium had the highest concentration in all the plant species when compared with other nutrients. The highest Potassium content (32.92±0.59%) was found in Vitellaria paradoxa fruits followed by Potassium content of 25.15±0.07% in Afzelia africana seeds. However, Potassium content between Prosopis africana seeds (15.77±0.81%) and Cissus populnea stem (15.77±0.61%) were not significantly different. The least concentration of Potassium was found in Parkia biglobosa seeds (8.03±0.11%). The mean quantities of minerals found in the plant species that were screened differ significantly at P<0.05 level. It was concluded that Vitellaria paradoxa fruits, Cissus populnea stem, Afzelia africana seeds, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Prosopis africana seeds were good sources of nutrients and major minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and chlorine. Diabetic persons need to be careful about the consumption of these plant species. It was recommended that efforts should be made to conserve and protect these plant species through domestication as they are rich sources of nutrients.

Germination and seedling growth in Afzelia africana Sm. ex. Pers.

This study determined the best pre–treatment regime required for germination of the seeds of Afzelia africana Sm.Ex.Pers. and also provided information on the early growth parameters of the plant seedlings. Seeds of A. africana were collected from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife (Lat 7° 32'N, Long 4° 31'E) and authenticated at the IFE-herbarium. One hundred and twenty five (125) seeds were sown per treatment (n=5 with 5 replicates and 5 repeats). Five (5) seeds each were sown in small petri dishes, without pre–treatment (control), or treated by subjecting to mechanical scarification and chemical scarification using Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid (H SO ) and Trioxonitrate (V) acid (HNO3 ) for germination studies. Germination counts were made at an interval of 2 days. For the six different pre–treatments, five seedlings per plastic bowl were transferred into soil in a total of twenty plastic bowls laid out in a randomized design and their growth monitored for 40 weeks. Results showed that pre–treatment of seeds with mechanical scarification gave the highest percentage germination. Significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) occurred in the shoot height and in the number of leaves between 4 and 12 weeks of growth. The study established that pre–treatment with mechanical scarification was the best for uniform germination of seeds of the plant. This study has provided alternative means of pretreating A. africana seeds apart from using H2SO4 – the first to subject seeds to mechanical scarification and 2 4 chemical scarification using HNO3 , in addition to providing information on the germination parameters and the seedling growth rate of Afzelia africana. Key words: Propagation, Growth, Acid, Scarification

Parkia biglobosa (néré).

P. biglobosa, known as néré or the shea butter tree, is an important multipurpose tree in tropical and subtropical Africa, particularly valued for food uses. It occurs naturally in Africa between 15°N and 0°N in a strip extending from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean across Mali and Chad, to Cameroon, Sudan and Uganda, as well as in the Central African Republic. The natural phytogeographical distribution of Parkia biglobosa corresponds to the "Sudanian Regional Centre of Endemism" and the "Guineo-Congolia/Sudania Regional Transition Zone" (White, 1983). The species is often found with Vitellaria paradoxa in cultivated parklands near villages with short fallows. In most cases, P. biglobosa has been conserved from land clearing, it is rarely planted. In savanna woodland, P. biglobosa occurs with Pterocarpus erinaceus, Khaya senegalensis, Daniellia oliveri, Afzelia africana, Prosopis africana etc.

Impact of Climate Change on Priority Plant Species Conservation in The Forests Under ONAB (the National Wood Office of Benin) Management

The sustainable conservation of forest resources in a context of climate change and population growth would be compromised in their current form of exploitation by rural communities. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of climate change on the dynamics of habitats favorable to species of conservation priority in the forests under ONAB management as these species are heavily used by the populations living along the shores of these forests. The study will consist of: Khaya senegalensis, Afzelia africana, Khaya grandifoliola, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Milicia excelsa, Albizia zygia, Vitex doniana, Antidesma laciniatum and Bombax costatum. Techniques based on the principle of maximum entropy (Maxent) combined with GIS were used to project the favorable habitats of these ten species under current and future climatic conditions (Horizon 2050). Species occurrence data were collected and combined with bioclimatic data derived from the Worldclim database and the edaphic (soil) variable. Two climate models were used for future projections (CNRM-CM5, HadGEM-ES models) under the IPCC A2 scenario, and the partial ROC approach was used for the evaluation of the predictions of ecological niche models. Variables such as cec2 (cation exchange capacity, horizon 5-15cm), bio17 (precipitation of the driest quarter), bio12 (annual precipitation), bio3 (isothermality), bio6 (minimum temperature of the coldest month) and bio7 (annual thermal amplitude) were found to be the most relevant respectively for the distribution of Khaya grandifoliola, Albizia zygia, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Antidesma laciniatum, Afzelia africana and Khaya senegalensis. Under current conditions, only 7% of the Beninese territory would be very favorable to the conservation of Khaya senegalensis and the CNRM-CM5 model predicts an increase of 27.5% and 13.2% respectively of these very favorable and moderately favorable areas by 2050 through conversion of unfavorable areas (7.4%). On the other hand, this model predicts an opposite trend at the level of Afzelia africana where it predicts a decrease of 8.1% and 1.8% respectively of the very favorable and moderately favorable areas and an increase of 5.1% of the unfavorable areas. Ecological niche modeling has basically revealed the conversion of some currently unfavorable habitats into very favorable habitats for conservation (this is the case of Khaya grandifoliola, Khaya senegalensis and Vitex doniana) and the extension of some habitats unfavorable to conservation (Anogeissus leiocarpa, Bombax costatum, and Pterocarpus erinaceus) by 2050. This study provides scientific support for planning and is a decision support tool for the conservation of these species at the socio-economic level.