ABSTRACT

In vitro assessment of chemical and medicinal properties of some snail slime and honey samples from different vegetation zones of Nigeria was performed. The study was carried out in four vegetation zones, namely: Mangrove (Eleme-Rivers State), Rainforest (Umudike, Abia State), Derived Savanna Zone (Ezzamgbo-Ebonyi State) and Central Guinea Savanna (Jos North Plateau State) during rainy season. Honey samples were collected by purchase directly from modern bee-keeping farmers in each location. Slime from four snail species sourced from the rainforest zone was employed namely Achachatina maginata, Achatina achatina, Limicolaria flamulata and Limicolaria martensis. The honey and snail slime were both analysed for their physico-chemical properties. They were also combined together at different ratios of honey to slime and then applied to some bacteria and fungi samples and the zones of inhibition were observed. Chromatographic analysis of the honey was also done. Results showed that honey from Central Guinea Savanna Vegetation Zone yielded the highest total soluble solids (62.81mg/l), while that of derived savanna was the least (68.87mg/l) which in many cases is a measure of the sugar content of the honey. The honey sample with the highest proportion of vitamins was from the rainforest zone (6.18mg/l) and this came from vitamin C, while the lowest vitamins (0.02mg/l) and it came from Vitamin B₂. In the physico-chemical analysis of the snail slimes, it was observed that A. achatina slime had the highest in flavonoid content (0.17), L. martensis, the highest in phenol content (0.005), while A. maginata has the highest alkaloid content (0.028). Heavy metal content was highest in A. achatina and lowest in L. martensis for all the tested heavy metals. A. maginata also had the least acidity (3.86), highest in L. flamulata (3.64). In honey and snail slime combination at different ratios against fungi and bacteria samples zones of inhibition was observed. It was also observed in the control experiment (antibiotics was added). In the results obtained honey and snail slime were found to have great antimicrobial effect.