Biodegradation of polluting oil at sea is seriously limited by the scarcity of nitrogen and phosphorus. Since water soluble sources of these elements could be ineffective in the ocean, oleophilic compounds were screened to serve as fertilizers for oil slicks. A combination of paraffinized urea and octylphosphate was found to promote oil biodegradation both in laboratory experiments and in field trials to an extent that the practical application of this principle to oil cleanup appears feasible. The tested oleophilic fertilizer supplies nutrients to hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms selectively, and in contrast to nitrate and phosphate salts it does not trigger algal blooms.

Stimulated biodegradation of oil slicks using oleophilic fertilizers. Technical report No. 3, January-December 1972

Medicinal plants have been used in the treatment of various diseases as they possess potential pharmacological activities including antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesics, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, antidiarrheal and other activities. Phytoconstituents individually or in the combination, determine the therapeutic value of a medicinal plant. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, steroids, glycosides, terpenes etc. are some of the important phytochemicals with diverse biological activities. The pharmacological activity of a plant can be predicted by the identification of the phytochemicals. Currently, phytochemicals are determined by various modern techniques, but the conventional qualitative tests are still popular for the preliminary phytochemical screening of plants.

https://www.chemijournal.com/archives/2020/vol8issue2/PartI/8-2-34-147.pdf

Qualitative tests for preliminary phytochemical screening: An overview

Since last century or so anthropogenic activities have intensely metamorphosed the earth’s ecosystem and resulted into major environmental changes. Widespread interference of human related activities have resulted in major problems including environmental pollution, land degradation, global warming/climate change, paucity of potable water supply and biodiversity loss. These issues have directly affected the quality and sustainability of the ecosystems. In addition, these activities have resulted in loss of habitats resulting in mass extinction of species which in itself is a matter of great concern. Studies and data clearly show that if present trends continue the conditions are expected to worsen in the coming time and human civilization itself will be in trouble. To minimize this crisis, possible green solutions like use of microbes and biotechnological tools are gaining importance and need further attention in order to lessen or remediate the harmful effects of anthropogenic activities thus ensuring environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability: challenges and viable solutions

The phytochemical contents of some milled Nigerian softwood chips were carried out in a quest to evaluate their potentials as sources of alternative medicine as well as uses in other industrial applications. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were ascertained. Tannin was found in all the Nigerian softwoods examined with the highest quantities obtained in Sterculia oblonga (1240 mg/100 g) and Barteria nigritiana (1230 mg/100 g). Highest quantities of alkaloid were obtained in Cordia millenii (11.2%) and Sterculia oblonga (10.4%). Barteria nigritiana (14.2%) and Moringa oleifera (12.2%) recorded more flavonoid content than other individual softwoods. Saponin was more in Anogeissus leiocarpus (12.5%) and Dichrostachys cinerea (9.8%). Oxalate was found to be higher in Combretodendron macrocarpum (5.84 g/100 g) and Glyphaea brevis (3.55 g/100 g). Pentaclethra macrophylla (890 mg/100 g) and Moringa oleifera (880 mg/100 g) contained more cyanogenic glycosides. Sacoglottis gabonensis (4.68 mg/g) and Pentaclethra macrophylla (4.04 mg/g) showed the highest contents of phenol, while more lipids (8% and 7.2%) were found in Anogeissus leiocarpus and Kaempferia galanga, respectively. The results showed that these Nigerian softwoods grains could be a source for the exploitation of these phytochemicals beneficial in the pharmaceutical and alternative medicine industries.

/pdf/qualitative-and-quantitative-determination-of-phytochemical-57w752ooi2.pdf

Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Phytochemical Contents of Indigenous Nigerian Softwoods

A pot study was performed to examine the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) including Azospirillum lipoferum or Azotobacter chroococcum on growth criteria (leaf area and seedlings fresh and dry weight), pigments [chlorophylls (Chl a and b) and carotenoids], osmolytes (soluble sugars, soluble proteins and proline), nutrient uptake, antioxidant enzyme activities, and oxidative stress in maize plants under normal and salt-affected soils. The results showed that salt stress induced a reduction in growth traits, pigments, soluble proteins, K+, and K+/Na+ ratio. On the other side, it increased soluble sugars, proline, Na+, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activity of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT). Meanwhile, salt stress did not significantly change the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in maize plants. The inoculation using Azospirillum lipoferum or Azotobacter chroococcum significantly enhanced growth parameters, pigments, K+, osmolytes, K+/Na+ ratio, and the activity of CAT, POD, and APX of the salt-affected maize plants as well as uninoculated control plants. In addition, the results showed that both types of bacteria have attributed to lower MDA and Na+ in maize plants. Interestingly, Azospirillum lipoferum has affected more compared to Azotobacter chroococcum in control and salt-stressed plants. We, therefore, have observed in this study that microbial inoculation significantly improved plant physiological activities and that adding bacteria such as Azospiroillum or Azotobacter to the soil could mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on maize plants.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00344-020-10065-9.pdf

Inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum or Azotobacter chroococcum Reinforces Maize Growth by Improving Physiological Activities Under Saline Conditions

Selected timbers indigenous to Niger delta area of Nigeria were identified and their physical properties and phytochemical constituent (qualitative and quantitative determination) check conducted. The result of the physical properties showed that: the highest porosity index was 1.75 % from Phyllanthus discoideus, the highest specific gravity recorded was 0.54 for Sacoglottis gabonensis, the highest charring temperature of 97-110 oC was recorded for Pycnanthus angolensis. Moisture contents of the range 16 % in Cassipourea barteria was the lowest while 33 % was the highest in Bombax brevicuspe. All the timber samples were acidic with the exception of Glyphaea brevis which is neutral with a pH of 7.18. All the timbers were soluble in hot conc. H2SO4. Qualitative phytochemical studies showed that almost all the phytochemicals except phlobatannins are present in varied form in almost all the timber samples examined. Quantitative determination of the pytochemical constituents showed that: Cola laurifolia and Bridelia micrantha with contents of 1180mg/g and 1160mg/g had the highest tannin, while the least recorded was 620mg/100g found in Lovoa trichiliode, 80 % of the timber samples analysed had above 6 % of flavonoids in them, cynogenic glycoside recorded in each of the wood samples was less than 1000 mg/g with the highest contents of 891 mg/g, 859 mg/g and 810 mg/g found in Phyllanthus discoideus, Cassipourea barteri and Bridelia micrantha. Bridelia micrantha and Homalinum letestui with values of 5.84 g/100g and 5.34 g/100g respectively contain the highest quantity of oxalate, Phyllanthus discoideus and Rhizophora racemosa with values of 11.6 % and 12.2 % had the highest quantity of alkaloids and saponin respectively. These qualities possessed by the examined timbers shows that apart from their properties in building and other constructions, they are good sources for dye production, agro-chemicals and pharmaceuticals due to their phytochemical constituents.

http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/download/3595/3367

Determination of physical and phytochemical constituents of some tropical timbers indigenous to niger delta area of nigeria

The environment is a very important component necessary for the existence of both man and other biotic organisms. The degree of sustainability of the physical environment is an index of the survival and well-being of the entire components in it. Additionally, it is not sufficient to try disposing toxic/deleterious substances with any known method. The best method of sustaining the environment is such that returns back all the components (wastes) in a recyclable way so that the waste becomes useful and helps the biotic and abiotic relationship to maintain an aesthetic and healthy equilibrium that characterizes an ideal environment. In this study, the method investigated includes biological method of environmental sustainability which seeks to investigate the various biotechnological tools (biotools) in current use and those undergoing investigations for future use.

/pdf/biotechnological-tools-for-environmental-sustainability-2z0w9earn5.pdf

Biotechnological Tools for Environmental Sustainability: Prospects and Challenges for Environments in Nigeria—A Standard Review

Pawpaw, banana and watermelon are tropical fruits with short shelf-lives under the prevailing temperatures and humid conditions in tropical countries like Nigeria. Production of wine from these fruits could help reduce the level of post-harvest loss and increase variety of wines. Pawpaw, banana and watermelon were used to produce mixed fruit wines using Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine. Exactly 609 and 406 g each of the fruits in two-mixed and three-mixed fruit fermentation respectively were crushed using laboratory blender, mixed with distilled water (1:1 w/v), and heated for 30 min with subsequent addition of sugar (0.656 kg). The fruit musts were subjected to primary (aerobic) and secondary (anaerobic) fermentation for 4 and 21 days respectively. During fermentation, aliquots were removed from the fermentation tank for analysis. During primary fermentation, consistent increases in alcohol contents (ranging from 0.0 to 15.0 %) and total acidities (ranging from 0.20 to 0.80 %) were observed with gradual decrease in specific gravities (ranging from 1.060 to 0.9800) and pH (ranging from 4.80 to 2.90). Temperature ranged from 27 °C to 29 °C. The alcoholic content of the final wines were 17.50 ± 0.02 % (pawpaw and watermelon), 16.00 ± 0.02 % (pawpaw and banana), 18.50 ± 0.02 % (banana and watermelon wine) and 18.00 ± 0.02 % (pawpaw, banana and watermelon). The alcoholic content of the wines did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The pH of all the wines were acidic and ranged from 2.5 ± 0.01 to 3.8 ± 0.01 (p > 0.05). The acid concentration (residual and volatile acidity) were within the acceptable limit and ranged from 0.35 ± 0.02 to 0.88 ± 0.01 % (p > 0.05). Sensory evaluation (P > 0.05) rated the wines acceptability as ‘pawpaw and banana wine’ > ‘pawpaw and watermelon’ > ‘pawpaw, watermelon and banana’ > ‘banana and watermelon wine’. This study has shown that acceptable mixed fruit wines could be produced from the fruits with S. cerevisiae from palm wine.

/pdf/production-of-mixed-fruit-pawpaw-banana-and-watermelon-wine-b39xzb94c5.pdf

Production of mixed fruit (pawpaw, banana and watermelon) wine using Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine

Diverse components of crude oil and petroleum such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been found in waterways as a result of pollution from industrial effluents and petrochemical products (Beckles, et al., 1998). Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution of the environment may arise from oil well drilling production operations, transportation and storage in the upstream industry, and refining, transportation, and marketing in the downstream industry. Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution could also be from anthropogenic sources (Oberdorster and Cheek, 2000). Some non combusted hydrocarbons escape into the environment during the process of gas flaring. Until recently, the bulk of the associated gas produced during drilling in Nigeria, was flared. Sources of petroleum and its products in the environment will also include accidental spills and from ruptured oil pipelines. Today the international oil and gas-pipelines span several million kilometers and this is growing yearly due to inter-regional trade in petroleum products. Just like any other technical appliance, pipelines are subject to ‘’tear and wear’’, thus can fail with time (Beller, et al., 1996). Spilled petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment are usually drawn into the soil due to gravity until an impervious horizon is met, for example bedrock, watertight clay or an aquifer.

/pdf/comprehensive-perspectives-in-bioremediation-of-crude-oil-58x3uxns6k.pdf

Chukwuma S. Ezeonu

Papers

Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Phytochemical Contents of Indigenous Nigerian Softwoods

Determination of physical and phytochemical constituents of some tropical timbers indigenous to niger delta area of nigeria

Biotechnological Tools for Environmental Sustainability: Prospects and Challenges for Environments in Nigeria—A Standard Review

Production of mixed fruit (pawpaw, banana and watermelon) wine using Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine

Comprehensive Perspectives in Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Environments