Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part L (2024)

The adverse effects of crude oil exploration and extraction on the health of exposed individuals cannot be overstated. The use of crude oil-contaminated plant extracts by rural communities in oil-rich regions as traditional remedies has raised significant local and international concerns regarding safety. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of plant extracts and soils obtained from both uncontaminated and oil-contaminated environments. Crude aqueous extracts of Mangifera indica stem bark, contaminated with crude oil, were collected from an oil spill site in Ihuaba/Imogu in Elele Alimini, Ikwerre, Rivers State, Nigeria, while control samples were obtained from the University of Benin, an uncontaminated location in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State. The pH, color, texture, odor, moisture content, and mineral composition of soil and plant samples were analyzed using AOAC standard methods. Results indicated that physicochemical properties such as moisture content and bulk density significantly increased (p<0.05), while pH significantly decreased (p<0.05) in crude oil-contaminated soil. Additionally, essential elements like phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium significantly decreased (p<0.05), whereas lead and chromium concentrations significantly increased (p<0.05) in crude oil-contaminated soil and plant samples compared to those in uncontaminated soil and plant samples.