Advanced Journal of Chemistry, Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Winter 2024

The search for natural bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods and natural products has gained significant interest in recent years. Justicia secunda, a plant known for its traditional uses, has been identified as a promising source of such bioactive compounds. This review aims to explore the potential applications of bioactive components present in Justicia secunda extracts, with a focus on their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It discusses about the identification of key bioactive compounds and provide an overview of their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Emphasizing the role of antioxidants in promoting health, this review explore how Justicia secunda extracts can be integrated into functional food formulations to enhance nutritional value and shelf-life. Furthermore, it examines the significance of natural antimicrobials in food preservation and the development of health products, showcasing the potential of Justicia secunda extracts in these areas. This review considers the potential synergistic effects, combinations with other natural ingredients, and addresses challenges in incorporating Justicia secunda extracts into products, including safety and regulatory considerations. It concludes by underscoring the importance of continued research to validate the efficacy and safety of these applications, highlighting Justicia secunda's potential to contribute to the advancement of functional foods and natural products. This review provides valuable insights into harnessing the bioactive potential of Justicia secunda, paving the way for innovative and sustainable applications in the realm of health-promoting products.

The farmlands that were chosen in this work were four (4), which includes Nagari Farm (Gauta Keffi local government), Sharna farm (Abuja Road Karu local government), Gyunkas integrated farm (Kokona local government) and Gunduma farm (Kaduna road, Karu local government respectively. This research aimed at accessing some selected physiochemical properties of soil samples which includes pH of the soil, electric conduction (EC), totality of organic carbonate (TOC) and totality of organic nitrogens (TON). The physical and chemical characteristics of the samples of soil were examined using approved standards method for each of them. The result obtained in this study, showed that there is moderate acid in the soil and also, there are some matters that are organic in nature and ionisable materials. Overall results of both pH, EC, TOC and TON analysis of the soil samples investigated were within the standard limits of WHO and FAO.

This study investigated the proximate and mineral compositions of J. tanjorensis and T. occidentalis. Proximate analysis was done according to the AOAC methods; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine the mineral content of Ca, Cu, Co, Fe, Mg, and Zn, K, P, and Na. The result shows that J. tanjorensis leaves had higher carbohydrate (66.38 %), crude fibre (16.93 %), and protein (10.5 %), while T. occidentalis had a higher percentage of moisture (11.60 %), ash (18.90 %), and crude fats (15.95 %) content in leaves. Mineral compositions analyses showed that J. tanjorensis had higher concentrations (in mg/kg) of Mg (172.60), Co (60.42), K (374.00), Na (141.00), and Zn (19.25), while T. occidentalis had higher concentration (in mg/kg) of Fe (77.54), Ca (334.50), P (651.18), and Cu (334.50). The concentrations of all the essential metals were below the permissible limit except for Co when compared with WHO/FAO standards in vegetables. For it was mentioned that J. tanjorensisis was better than T. occidentalis as the name implies ‘kafiugu’ by the Hausa tribe (which means the one better than ugu, T. occidentalis is called ‘ugu’ by the Igbo tribe), but based on the proximate and mineral contents analysed, there was no statistically difference between J. tanjorensis and T. occidentalis. Therefore, it is suggested that both J. tanjorensis and T. occidentalis leaves can serve as a good source of nutraceuticals for they both nutritious.

The impact of adding nanosilica (NS) and polycarboxylate-ether plasticizer (PCE) admixtures was examined individually and in combination to aerial lime mortars. The inclusion of NS alone resulted in an increase in water demand, as evidenced by the mini-spread flow test. Through particle size distribution studies, zeta potential measurements, and optical microscopy, it was observed that an interaction occurred between NS and hydrated lime particles in fresh mixtures, leading to the formation of agglomerates. This synthesis was performed at three different temperature levels, and the resulting product underwent FTIR analysis to verify its structure. Furthermore, an HNMR test was conducted to confirm the completion of the final synthesis. To determine the characteristics of the synthesized polycarboxylate ether, including the average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution curve, a GPC analysis (Gel permeation chromatography) was carried out. The MW and PDI (polydispersity index) values were reported, and finally, a slump test was performed to confirm the performance of the synthesized product. The length of the main chain in the copolymer increases as the synthesis temperature rises. This increase is more pronounced at higher temperatures. However, temperatures exceeding 70 C can lead to the destruction of the copolymer, resulting in a decrease in viscosity and a change in the solution color. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out the primary synthesis at 70 C for 8 hours.

In pursuit of advancing the field of photocatalysis, a comprehensive investigation was undertaken to elucidate the electronic structure, structural geometry, and optical characteristics of Zn(GaS2)2, Zn(GaSe2)2, and Zn(GaTe2)2, followed by a comparative analysis of these properties. Initial explorations involved the employment of four distinct Density Functional Theory (DFT) functionals, specifically the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE), GGA with Revised Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (RPBE), GGA with Perdew-Wang 1991 (PW91), and GGA with Wu-Cohen (WC) functionals, to conduct a preliminary assessment of the electronic band structures and structural configurations of the crystalline materials. However, it was noted that the band gap values for Zn(GaS2)2 exhibited variations across the different DFT functionals, registering at 2.068 eV for GGA-PBE, 2.214 eV for GGA-RPBE, 2.033 eV for GGA-PW91, and 1.936 eV for GGA-WC, where the latter value of 1.936 eV closely approximated the reference value of 1.93 eV. Consequently, the GGA-WC method emerged as the most accurate and reliable functional among the evaluated options. Furthermore, the band gap values for Zn(GaSe2)2 and Zn(GaTe2)2 were determined to be 1.726 eV and 0.329 eV, respectively, utilizing the GGA-WC functional. The total electron density was meticulously examined to delineate potential electron localization sites within the crystals, particularly concerning their capacity to activate or bond with environmental pollutants, thereby serving as efficient photocatalysts. Conspicuously, Zn(GaTe2)2 has emerged as a distinguished contender, showcasing remarkable photocatalytic effectiveness in wastewater treatment, outperforming its fellow materials. This revelation harbors substantial potential for propelling advancements in the realm of photocatalysis and environmental remediation.

Environmental degradation due to crude oil pollution has several impacts, and various mechanisms have been adopted to clean up crude oil components in the environment. One such mechanism is the use of vegetables as a phytoremediation agent. The study investigated the phytoremediation capacity assessment of a common tropical vegetable (Abelmoluscus esculentus) on crude oil-impacted soil. Uptake response of Okra plant at different concentrations of crude oil (5%, 15% and 25%) in 4 kg using laboratory standard techniques, Bioaccumulation factor (BF) and Translocation factor (TF) ratio were analysed. Based on the outcome, the Okra plant showed a significant reduction in heavy metals (HM) concentration in the impacted soil. Hence, the plant showed heavy metals uptake capacity. At 5% crude oil concentration, the BFroot was >1 for all the heavy metals except Cr, while the TF showed that all HMs had <1 except for Hg (>1). For all other concentrations (15% and 25% crude oil), the BF showed <1, except for Cu of BFroot at 15%. Also, the TF showed <1 for other concentrations except Zn at 15%. The significant relationship between the soil and the root of the okra plant can be attributed to the closeness; as expected, the root draws its nutrients from the available soil. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) can clean up crude oil-contaminated soil as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method. The study recommended the prevention of crude oil spillage and further research to establish the most efficient plant period for better uptake capacity of the plant.