This work involves physiological and biochemical features of seed ageing gauged from seed viability and vigour over the period of storage. Both conventional storage (natural ageing) and controlled deterioration (accelerated ageing) are resulted in loss of germination capacity and vigour as well as poor seedling establishment. Present findings indicate that both natural and accelerated ageing sustain similar pattern, except their mortality curve. In natural ageing, prior to entering sigmoidal type decline a period of relative stability exists; whereas in accelerated aging, such relative stability is absent. It is also observed that rate- controlling process of ageing (natural ageing slow whereas accelerated ageing fast) was dependent upon moisture content and temperature. These physical factors have negative linear correlation with seed viability. Membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation are associated with seed ageing, however peroxidation does not hold exact with accelerated ageing. Additionally, these aged seeds were exposed to osmopriming (controlled hydration) resulted in improved germination characterized by faster and uniform germination. For the first time, it was strongly established that osmopriming significantly improves the seed germination (about 12- 17%) until a critical level (up to 50% germination) during the ageing and thereafter priming does not support the process of improvement of germination. Such improvement prediction is important for physiologists and seed technologists to recruitment the degree of priming.

The present study aimed at the isolation, screening and partial purification of beta-mannanase from fungi isolated from soil and water samples collected from Ilaje Lake, Ondo state, Nigeria. The associated fungi were isolated and counted by standard microbiological methods. Partial purification of crude mannanase was done by standard biochemical methods. Quantitatively, mannanase production was performed in mineral salt medium into which Locust Bean Gum (LBG) had been incorporated as the sole carbon source. Enzyme activity was determined by dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method, while protein content was evaluated by Lowry’s method. The highest fungal counts were recorded for water sample collected from Ilaje Lake with 3.4 × 108 SFU/mL. The organisms encountered include Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer, A. fumigatus, A. niger, R. japonicus, Penicillum italicum, Fusarium solani and Candida albicans. All the fungal isolates encountered from these sources showed varied degrees of mannanase activities. The highest specific mannanase activity was recorded for isolate 4B1, while the lowest value was obtained with isolate 1B2. Purification of crude mannanase from A. niger was carried out by ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration (Sephadex G-200). Fractionation of ammonium sulphate precipitated mannanase from A. niger on Sephadex G-200 produced two activity peaks. In this investigation, fungal isolates evaluated for mannanase production from this source gave appreciable mannanase activity and this could be applied in many industrial processes.

Occidental life styles, including physical inactivity, are related to risk of developing heart diseases. To prevent or even mitigate these effects, the frequent recommendation has been the practice of physical exercise as a measure of therapeutic interaction in preventive medicine and rehabilitation. Thus, our study was carried out to evidence the effects of aerobic physical exercise regularly practiced, through swimming, calorimetry, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in myocardium. Thirty-two Winstar rats, males, 75 days old were used. Animals were divided into two groups: C (n=8) as the control, which received food and water ad libitum and TR (n=8) as the trained group received the same treatment as C and animals in this group were submitted to swim. Swimming was used as a model of exercise with moderate intensity training for eight weeks. The experimental design was completely randomized with 16 treatments and eight replications, with a significance level of 5% probability. Calorimetry shows lower carbohydrate oxidation and increased lipid oxidation in C when compared with TR. The trained group had higher glucose, higher HDL-cholesterol and lower accumulation of triglycerides, and verified the protective effect in cardiac tissue. Thus, we can conclude that the swimming protocol was effective in controlling deleterious effects caused by poor habits on the myocardium.

The pandemic of viral diseases during recent years has forced the scientific community to investigate less toxic antiviral phytomolecules instead of using nucleic acid analogues, protease inhibitors or other toxic synthetic molecules as antiviral therapeutics. Plants and many of their secondary metabolites because of the healing properties have been in traditional use throughout the world since ancient times. They provide us diverse bioactive phytochemicals which play synergetic role in maintaining human health. The development of clinical products from phyto-pharmaceuticals is a trending approach to look for ecofriendly therapeutic molecules. More than 50% of drugs used in Western nations are derived from plants or their constituents. Many plants have significant antiviral properties too. Very little information is available about plants of antiviral significance. This article briefly reviews various phytochemicals/bioactive molecules which have been isolated from plants and possess antiviral constituents, their mode of action and potential applications in treating/preventing viral diseases.

This study investigated the response of Rattus norvegicus to bitumen leachate to evaluate its toxicity in a terrestrial animal model following previous aquatic studies on the environmental impacts of Nigerian bitumen exploration. Adult rats were administered different concentrations (20 to 100%) of bitumen leachate for 30 days before analyses. Fourteen blood plasma clinical–chemical parameters (BCCPs), seven hematological parameters as well as histological changes in organs of exposed animals were studied. The analyses showed that all values for the BCCPs and the hematological parameters are significantly different (P<0.05) from the control values. Concentrations of liver enzymes, Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) increased with increasing concentrations of bitumen leachate but were not dose-dependent. In the same vein, counts for Packed cell volume (PCV), White blood cell (WBC), Red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) all decreased with increasing concentration of toxicants but was not so for differential counts (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes and Eosinophils). Results of histological study revealed several changes ranging from mild to severe lesions in organs of exposed rats. The very pronounced changes include irregularly arranged cardiac muscle fibres (Heart), pronounced inflammation (Spleen), hyperchronic nuclei and degenerated flattened squamous epithelial cells lining the Bowman’s capsule (Kidney), pronounced reduction of Graffian follicle (Ovary) and cellular hypertrophy with severe congestion of the central vein (Liver). Based on these results, important organ functions could be negatively affected by continuous exposure to bitumen leachate which reflects health effects having an overall impact on both animal and human populations.