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Abstract: Trilepisium madagascariense (TM) and Antiaris africana (AA) are two underutilized plants from Nigeria. They have been subjected to standard analytical techniques in order to evaluate the proximate composition, physico-chemical properties, mineral nutrient, fatty acid composition and distribution in the lipid classes of the seeds and seed oils. The carbohydrate composition of these seeds are high; TM is 62.73±0.30% and AA is 53.97±0.50%. Iodine value of TM was found to be 46.10±0.70mg iodine/g while that of AA was 88.24±0.50mg iodine/g. The mineral composition of the seeds and the oils varied with K having the highest concentration in the seed and Na the highest concentration in the oils. Linoleic acid is the dominant fatty acid in the oil of AA with the highest composition in the neutral lipids while palmitic acid is the dominant fatty acid in oil of TM. Vitamin E, Gamma-Sitosterol, α and β-Amyrin, Lupeol, Stigmast-4-en-3-one, and hydrocarbons were isolated from these oils. The results of the proximate, mineral nutrient compositions, chemical characterization and fatty acid distribution of these seeds and seed oils shows their possibility as potential resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The service life of non-durable wood can be extended with inorganic preservatives, but several are harmful to the environment and non-target organisms. Recently, eco-friendly types from organic sources including plants have been used. The influence of bark extracts from Erythrophleum suaveolens and Azadirachta indica, and leaf extract from Chromolaena odorata, singly and in combinations (all at 1.5%) was investigated in field performance tests with non-durable Antiaris toxicaria wood. Treated and control stakes (500 × 50 × 25 mm) were exposed for 5 years. Data included extract retention, visual durability ratings, and mass and hardness losses. Retention was greatest for mixed E. suaveolens and C. odorata extract and least for single E. suaveolens extract. For durability parameters, non-treated stakes performed worse than treated ones. E. suaveolens bark-treated stakes were most durable; those treated with mixtures containing E. suaveolens also performed well, while stakes treated with other mixtures performed similarly to the controls, except for hardness. The mixed extracts exhibited various effects. For retention, synergism exists between E. suaveolens and C. odorata, there was antagonism between A. indica and C. odorata, while E. suaveolens extract reduced the retention of A. indica. Regarding durability, no synergism existed between effects of the mixed components. However, E. suaveolens bark extract enhanced A. indica, and C. odorata ingredients, while the effect of E. suaveolens extract was suppressed when it was mixed with the others. These extracts are potential alternatives for inorganic preservatives, especially E. suaveolens and its mixed extracts, as its effects enhanced the others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the leaf and twig extracts of Dorstenia barteri (Moraceae) in mice. Both the leaf and twig extracts of Dorstenia barteri at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg showed significant (P < 0.05–0.01) antinociceptive activities in chemical-, mechanical- and thermal-induced pain test models. Intraperitoneal administration of the plant extracts at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05–0.01) inhibited carrageenin-induced acute inflammation in oedema paw weight, pulmonary oedema and number of pleural leucocytes in a dose-dependent way. The twig extract was found to be more active than the leaf extract in all the experimental models used. The inhibitory effects of the plant extracts were comparable to those of the reference drugs acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) and phenylbutazone (PBZ) at 100mg/kg i.p. The significant reduction in acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions, the decrease in oedema paw weight as well as in the number of leucocytes in the pleural cavity exudates, and the significant increase in the reaction time and pain threshold of mice observed in this study suggest that Dorstenia barteri extracts possess both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The present study, therefore, lend pharmacological support to the folkloric uses of Dorstenia barteri extracts in the treatment, control and/or management of arthritis, rheumatism, gout, headache and other forms of body pains in some parts of Africa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]