Studies suggest that the traditional applications of Kigelia pinnata leaves have beneficial effects against oxidative stress–mediated diseases and cancers. The pulverized dried leaves of K. pinnata were extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol sequentially, and the crude extracts were fractionated by silica gel column chromatography with solvent gradient of increasing polarity. 3-hydro-4,8-phytene, trans-phytol, (9Z,12Z)-methyl octadeca-9,12-dienoate, and two oil fractions were obtained. The chemical compositions of chromatographic fractions were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The structure elucidations of the isolated compounds were based on FTIR, MS, and NMR spectral data analyses. These along with the crude extracts were examined for their antioxidant activities using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and 2,2-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Total phenolic contents were also determined. The crude extracts and purified compounds were evaluated on the rhabdomyosarcoma human cancer cell for their cytotoxicity using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assays. The methanol extract was richer in phenolics and was most potent as antioxidant and cytotoxic agent among all the substances tested. Among the fractions and pure compounds, the two oil fractions showed more cytotoxicity potency, with IC₅₀s of 143.4±0.5 and 147.9±1.3 ng/mL, which is more significant than the reference standard, cyclophosphamide (165.6±1.0 ng/mL). 3-hydro-4,8-phytene showed lower antioxidant and cytotoxicity potential (IC₅₀=1818±5.2 μg/mL and 171.7±0.8 ng/mL, respectively). Trans-phytol did not show a high cytotoxic power (IC₅₀=769.8±4.3 ng/mL). The comparatively high cytotoxicity index of (9Z, 12Z)-methyl octadeca-9,12-dienoate (IC₅₀=153.3±0.1 ng/mL) indicated that it may be one of the principal cytotoxic agent in the ethyl acetate extract. These results suggest that the leaves of K. pinnata possess tumor cytotoxic potential and could be part of a drug combination for future cancer chemotherapy.

Pests bring about significant decrease in rice production which translates to huge financial loss. Plant parasitic nematodes are economically important pests of rice. Three different agro-silver nano particles were synthesized using conventional methods with agricultural wastes: corncobs, milled maize residue also referred to as ogi residue and rice husk. The supernatant liquid was decanted and the residue was air dried at room temperature. This was incorporated into the soil of rice (NERICA 1 variety) plants inoculated with cyst nematodes Heterodera sacchari. The application of silver nano particles at 75g and 50g increased the vegetative growth and robustness of rice plants with comparatively higher yield than the yield obtained from untreated plants as demonstrated in pot experiments. Thus agro-wastes silver nano particle (AgNP) can be employed in the control of nematode pests of rice. The adoption of the agro-based nano particle by rural farmers is technically feasible.

The undesirable environmental impacts of inappropriate application of pesticides have brought about research into new matrices for controlled release of pesticides. Porous starch citrate biopolymer was designed for the release of carbofuran in this experiment and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) for functional group, surface morphology and thermal stability properties respectively. The SEM revealed highly stabilized porous starch citrate biopolymers with porous structures and gradients suitable for controlled release studies. The transmittance bands at 3347, 1714 and 1073 cm^-1 for OH, CO and COC-[bond, double bond]-- stretching vibrations further confirms the successful synthesis of the biopolymer. TGA showed an increase in the thermal stability after citric acid modification with one-step decomposition from 290 ^ᵒC to 500 ^ᵒC. From Korsemeyer-Peppas model, the carbofuran-porous starch citrate (CBFN/PRS/STH/CTRT) followed a lower diffusion release model with gradual increment in all the quantity of carbofuran loaded. An accelerated rate of diffusion percentage was seen in direct application of carbofuran. Egg hatch and mortality of juveniles were recorded on daily basis for seven days. Direct application of carbofuran (CBFN/DRT) and carbofuran-porous starch citrate biopolymer gave the best results with significant (p < 0.05) reduction in egg hatch and higher percentage mortality. The rate of release of carbofuran from the starch citrate bio polymer matrix was significantly lower than the direct application, and in spite of the slow rate of release, higher juvenile mortality and reduction in egg hatch was achieved.

| Maize ( Zea mays L.) is an important food crop widely consumed in various forms in many parts of the world. Its annual yield is largely hampered by nematode infestation, especially the Pratylenchus spp. Experiments were conducted in a screenhouse and under field conditions to evaluate the toxicity of fractions and essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) against Pratylenchus spp. infecting Zea mays . The phytochemical basis of the plant was partly established using Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), proton and carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( 1 H-NMR and 13 C NMR) Spectroscopy analysis. Effect of application of plant phytochemicals on the planted maize was also examined in terms of growth rate and survival of Pratylenchus spp. The essential oil (ECSG/EO) exhibited significant (p<0.05) toxicity, reduced nematode population and increased grain yield (6.79 kg) compared to the standard, carbofuran (CBFN) (7.18 kg) The Eucalyptus globulus ethanol extract fractions (ECSG/EtOH) showed moderate effect, while the chopped leaf materials used as soil amendment (ECSG/AMDM) exhibited the least potency among all the treatments. Spectroscopic analysis by GCMS revealed the presence of terpenoids and phenolics as major constituents of E. globulus. The essential oil showed the presence of 1,8-cineole (23.3%), citronella (18.1%), geranial (17.6%), isopulegol (10.4%), myrcene (13.0%), cuminaldehyde (9.1%) and 2-pinene (8.5%) as major constituent. Results obtained in this research revealed that essential oil from Eucalyptus (a bio-nematicide) holds promise as an affordable and environmentally-friendly alternative for nematode control and increased crop yield particularly in maize production.