Methods of Extraction and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Plant Extracts

Plant extracts are widely used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industry; however the effect of conventional methods of extraction described in this paper as cold and soxhlet method has not been investigated. Antimicrobial activity of Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl. leaf extracts have been described comparing cold and soxhlet method of extraction. The ammmt of extractable plant extract/phytochemicals, the solubility of the extracts and the susceptibility of the test organism to the extract had a correlation with the extraction methods. Cold extract had wider zones of inhibition and activity than soxhlet extract. Though there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between cold and soxhlet extracts on the entire test organisms, differences exist when compared individually. This paper revealed cold method of extraction as a better alternative to soxhlet method in antimicrobial susceptibility assay. However, the decision on the methods of extraction to be used could also be dependent on the ammmt of certain phytochemicals required and the solubility of the extracts in solvents after extraction

EFFECTS OF SALTS ON PRESERVATION AND METABOLIC ACTIVITIES OF FISH AND MEAT MICROFLORA

Foods usually carry a mixed population of microorganisms derived from both the natural microfloro of the food plant or animo/ and those introduced during handling, processing, and storage. Salt is a widely used additive and preservative, which, influences microorganisms in different concentrations. This study aims to determine the effect of salts on food preservation and metabolic activities of food microfloro. Two food samples (row fish and raw lean meat) were investigated. Sodium chloride (NaCI), Potassium chloride {KCI} and Calcium chloride {CoCI,) were grouped into varying concentrations of 2, 2.5 and 4.5% respectively. The food samples were pulverized and salted according to these concentrations and on unsalted group served os the control. Storage was for fifteen days with samples analysis on days 0, 7 and 15. The first category of food sample was preserved under room temperature (28 ± 2 ·c), with the second and third under refrigeration (4 t 2 •C) and freezer (-18 t 2 •C) temperature respectively. Total protein and Lipid Peroxidation were assayed during the duration of storage. Organisms isolated from the samples were identified based on biochemical and cultural characteristics to include Staphylococcus oureus, Escherichia coli, and species of Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobocter, Aspergillus, Moulds, and Yeasts, with Bacillus spp mostly predominant. There was a decrease in microbial population along concentration and temperature gradient, the population, however, increosed.along the duration of storage. The toto/ protein decreased while lipid peroxidotion increased along the duration of storage. NaCI showed the highest efficiency in preservation, with KCI showing the least efficacy. Freezer temperature (-18 t 2 •C) and 4.5% salt concentrations were the most effective. Salts alone at concentrations acceptable in food cannot effectively contra/ on initio/ high load of natural and cantominont micraflora in row foods. Use of salts in synergy with ather preservatives/ methods like refrigeration will drastically reduce the activities of food micro flora whilst enhancing the shelf-life of these foods

Computational Model of Artificial Neural Networks and its Applications in Data Mining

Data remain a very important ingredient required by any organization to make informed decision as it affects operations. Companies have been collecting data from various sources over the decades bringing about a very large volume of data warehouse. Unfortunately, most organizations build databases which are redundant and never used for any meaningful thing. While few companies use the data collected in their databases when taking strategic decisions others barely do same. However, for an organization to immensely derive benefits from the massive data warehouse, there is the need for an effective and efficient means of analysing the data with a view to extracting meaningful knowledge that is sufficient to achieve organizational goal. To achieve this, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique through the concept known as data mining is presented. The paper reviewed artificial neural network technique for data mining, examines the computational model behind this technique and analysed its use and application as a predicting or forecasting tool. Results shows that ANN’ has capability in data management, analysis and able to provide desirable knowledge for management decision making processes. It is therefore recommended that data mining tools like ANN and others be applied to organization’s databases which hitherto have not been minned in order to provide management with intelligence for decision makin

SCREENING FOR ANTIMICROBIAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROFILE OF SOME WILD FRUITS AND SEEDS IN CANAANLAND, OTA, NIGERIA

The spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic microorganisms has rendered most conventional drugs redundant. New sources of antimicrobial agents are being harnessed to develop novel drugs. The antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of twenty fruits and seeds were evaluated against some multi-drug resistant clinical isolates Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhii, Pseudomonas aeruginiosa and Escherichia coli. Standard methods of antimicrobial and phytochemical assays, DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity and reducing power assays were employed. Broad spectrum antibacterial activity was shown by extracts of six out of the twenty plants: Caryota mitis, Cassia javanica, Syzygium samarangense, Veitchia merrilli, Bauhinia tomentosa and Cassia fistula with inhibition zones ranging from 20:t0.8 to 25:t0.1 mm. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the extracts were between 7.8 to 31.2 mg/ml and 15.6 and 62.5 mg/ml respectively. Phytochemicals present includes saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides and high phenol and flavonoid contents in the range of 71.19 - 50.20mg/100g and 47.14 - 34.42mg/100g respectively. The extracts had considerably high antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 41.121-lg/ml in B. tomentosa and 36.57!-lg/ml in C. fistula. C. mitis had a total antioxidant capacity of 34.89 mg/100g. High phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts significantly correlated with high antioxidant capacity. The presence of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in these wild fruits and seeds opens up a new perspective in biotherapy as they could be harnessed as alternative drugs for treatment of microbial infections and management of disease

In vitro Antimicrobial Screening on Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl. Leaves and Rhizomes Against Selected Pathogens of Public Health Importance

There is a need to establish scientific findings to many ethnobotanical uses of plants as phytotherapy which could find application in the pharmaceutical industry. Antimicrobial activity of Anchomanes difformis which is locally used in the treatment of diarrhea was investigated in this research. A. difformis leaf and rhizome were exhaustively extracted using ethanol, methanol and water as solvent in the ratio of 70:20:10. The antimicrobial activities were tested against pathogens of public health importance majorly the enterobacteriaceae and Candida albican. The zones of inhibitions ranged from 3-5 for rhizome extracts and 1-5 for leaf extracts at 100 l (0.1g/ml) MIC. The rhizome extracts contained phlebotannins, terpenoids and glycosides not found in leaf extracts while the leaf extracts contained steroids not found in rhizomes extracts among other phytochemicals present. Pseudomonas aeruginosa conferred resistance against the rhizome extract while Shigella flexneri conferred resistance against leaf extract. Differences in these observed susceptibility and resistance could be due to differences in their bioactive components. The rest of the organisms were found to be susceptible to both extracts showing that A. difformis had antimicrobial activity

INVITRO ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF Carica papaya AND Azadirachta indica LEAF AND STEM BARK EXTRACTS ON SELECTED CLINICAL ISOLATES

The search for alternative sources of antibiotic is a global challenge due to the increase in the emergence of resistant strams. Plants have been in use in traditional medicine before the era of chemotherapeutics and about 80% of the global population still uses them . . Azadirachta indica (neem) and Carica papaya are trees that have been found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, anti-tumour properties and also used as a pest icide. In this work, antibacterial, phytochemical and antioxidant potentials of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Carica papaya and Azadirachta indica leaf and stem bark was determined using antimicrobial sensitivity assay, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum lethal concentration, Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and Total antioxidant activity of extracts as indices. The test organisms were Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus au reus. Azadirachta indica leaf water extract and Azadirachta indica stem bark ethanol extract showed a clear zone of inhibition ranging from 10±0mm to 15.5±0.71mm and 10±0mm to 15.5±2.12mm respectively against all four test isolates, while others extracts had clear zones of inhibition against at least three test isolates with inhibition zones ranging from 10.5±0. 71mm to 15±1.41mm. Ethanolic extract of Carica papaya leaf was active against Bacillus subtilis alone (11.5±0.71mm).Some combined extracts expressed activity against all four isolate, while the highest individual extract inhibition zone was 15.5±2.12mm, combined extract was 18.5±0. 71mm against Salmonella typhimurium. All extracts had antioxidant activity and some of the phytochemicals present in the extracts include saponins, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanin, betacyanin, quinones, cardiac glycoside, terpenoids, and phenols. However further research is still needed to identify the active phytochemica/s and their concentrations in the extract

Determination Of Heavy Metals In Brewer’s Spent Grains Obtained From Benue Brewery Limited (BBL), Makurdi, North Central Nigeria.

The concentration of some heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Ni and Cd) in spent grains obtained from Benue Brewery Limited, Makurdi North Central was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers (AAS). The results show the concentration of the metals as follows: Cr (0.197ppm), Cu (0.185ppm), Cd (0.039ppm), Fe (0.929ppm), Mn (1.235ppm), Ni (0.197ppm), Pb (0.265ppm) and Zn (34.478ppm). Comparison of the concentration of these heavy metals in the spent grains with those of the international/national standards of heavy metals for food, vegetables, cereals and drinking water shows that all but Zn was above allowable limit whereas, the concentrations of other metals analyzed were found to be below the standard maximum permissible limits. This shows that the spent grains are to a certain extent suitable for use as a source of feed formulation for animals and locally made fertilizer for plants. Key words: Spent grains, Heavy metals, Concentration, AAS. Food industry, Benue brewery

Single ion heat engine with maximum efficiency at maximum power

We propose an experimental scheme to realize a nano heat engine with a single ion. An Otto cycle may be implemented by confining the ion in a linear Paul trap with tapered geometry and coupling it to engineered laser reservoirs. The quantum efficiency at maximum power is analytically determined in various regimes. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations of the engine are performed that demonstrate its feasibility and its ability to operate at maximum efficiency of 30% under realistic conditions.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT AMELIORATES ALTERED BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS ALBINO RATS

Objective: Consistent projections have indicated a steady increase in the global burden of diabetes mellitus. Given the increased cost in conventional management of the condition in addition to reported side effects and cost of orthodox management, attention is shifting to the use of alternative methods such as plants materials with dual benefits as food and medicine. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the effect of date palm fruit on some biochemical parameters in streptozotocin-induced wistar rats. Methods: Animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each (I as normal control, II as diabetic control and 3-5 as extract-treated groups) maintained for 14 d. At the end of the treatment, the animals were fasted overnight, then sacrificed and blood samples collected for analysis of biochemical parameters (including blood glucose, blood lipids and enzymes). Results: The results show that treatment of diabetic animals with extract of date palm fruit show a significant (P<0.05) reduction in glucose levels in groups II–V compared to group I. Similar positive effects were observed in the levels of lipids and enzymes in treated groups compared to diabetic control group II. A GC-MS analysis of the fraction of the fruit extract revealed some bioactive compounds that may be responsible for the effects exhibited in the study. Conclusion: These findings which demonstrate the ameliorative effect on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, further support the use of date palm fruit as a nutraceutical agent