The study investigated the performance of cement and bagasse ash composite as soil stabilizer. The bagasse ash was obtained from Costus bracteatus Rowlee. Lateritic soil samples collected along a newly constructed road in Rivers State, Nigeria were prepared and analyzed for effect of the composite stabilizer on maximum dry density (MDD), optimum moisture content (OMC), consistency limits, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The results revealed that swelling potential, volume change MDD, OMC, liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL) and plasticity index (PI) of the stabilized lateritic soil decreased with increasing proportion of cement-bagasse ash composite, while CBR (unsoaked and soaked soil samples) and UCS were with increasing proportion of cement-bagasse ash composite. This study established that the optimum proportion of bagasse ash is 8% and that inclusion of an appropriate proportion of bagasse ash in cement in soil stabilization would enhance the properties of soil suitable for road pavement. Therefore, Costus bracteatus Rowlee is recommended to be used in soil stabilization, particularly as composite material.

The increased rates of microbial resistant to synthetic drugs have paved way for the use of medicinal plant extracts for treatment. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Mangifera indica leaves extract on some isolates from dental cavities was studied. The leaves were randomly collected from a local farm in Agbani Nkanu West L.G.A Enugu State Nigeria. The leaf samples were morphologically identified, washed, air dried at room temperature for 48 days and milled into powder with a milling machine in Chemistry Department, Enugu state University of Science and Technology. The solvents used for extraction were ethanol, methanol, N-hexane and water. Ethanol and methanol extracted most of the bioactive ingredients, followed by water and N-Hexane. The phytochemicals screened were; terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins and alkaloids. The extracts were divided into dialyzed and undialyzed fractions. The dialyzed fraction was done for 48 hours in a refrigerator. Organisms isolated from dental cavities were; Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, lactobacillus spp, Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity was determined using agar well diffusion method and the result showed that the dialysed extracts of ethanol and methanol had higher sensitivity against the dental isolates than the undialyzed extracts. Streptococcus mutans was the most inhibited organism with inhibition zones of 12mm and minimum inhibitory concentration of 6.25mg/ml. Hence, dialysed ethanol and methanol leaf extracts of Mangifera indica can be used as an adjunct therapy for dental cavities.