Fermentation performance and nutritional assessment of physically processed lentil and green pea flour

BACKGROUND A significant amount of nutrients, including dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, and vitamins are present in legumes, but the presence of anti‐nutritional factors (ANFs) like phytic acid, tannins, and enzyme inhibitors impact the consumption of legume and nutrient availability. In this research, the effect of a physical process (sonication or precooking) and fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici on ANFs of some legumes was evaluated. RESULTS Total phenolic contents were significantly (p\u3c0.05) reduced for modified and fermented substrates compared to non‐fermented controls. Trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA) was reduced significantly for all substrates except for unsonicated soybean and lentil fermented with L. plantarum and P. acidilactici. When physical processing was done, there was a decrease in TIA for all the substrate. Phytic acid content decreased for physically modified soybean and lentil but not significantly for green pea. Even though there was a decrease in ANFs, there was no significant change in in vitro protein digestibility for all substrates except for unsonicated L. plantarum fermented soybean flour and precooked L. plantarum fermented lentil. Similarly, there was change in amino acid content when physically modified and fermented. CONCLUSION Both modified and unmodified soybean flour, green pea flour, and lentil flour supported the growth of L. plantarum and P. acidilactici. The fermentation of this physically processed legume and pulse flours influenced the non‐nutritive compounds, thereby potentially improving nutritional quality and usage

Evaluation of the Level of air Microbial Contamination in some Teaching Hospitals Waste Dump Site In South-Eastern Nigeria.

The level of air microbial contamination in some teaching hospitals waste dump site in South Eastern Nigeria was evaluated using the standard microbiological techniques. Passive air sampling was performed using settle plates. The microbial load of the air around the hospitals waste dumpsite, showed high microbial load when compared with the control sample. The total microbial count of the air samples of some of the teaching hospitals waste dump site in South-Eastern Nigeria revealed that the total viable count (TVC) ranged from 24 ± 0.71 (E) to 182 ± 0.5 (A), the total coliform count (TCC) ranged from 5 ± 0.001 (E) to 23 ± 0.3 (C), the total staphylococcal count ranged from 2 ± 0.001 (E) to 9 ± 0.1 (D) while the total fungal count ranged from 16 ± 0.1to 62 ± 0.3. The variations in microbial count of the air samples of some of the teaching hospitals waste dump site in South-Eastern Nigeria differed significantly (P<0.05) when compared with the controls. The bacteria isolated from the various teaching hospital samples and the controls include, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Neisseria species, Klebsiella aerogenes, Bacillus species and Enterobacter species. The fungi isolated from the various teaching hospital samples and the controls include, Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus flavus, Candida utilis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhizopus spp., Penicillium spp., Microsporium distortum. The susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates from the air samples of the hospital wastes dump-site, this revealed that Ciprofloxacin and Augumentin produced the highest inhibition of 100% against all the bacterial isolates. Gentamycin was sensitive against Klebsiella spp, Proteus mirabilis and marked resistance was recorded against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus spp. All isolates tested against Chloramphenicol showed resistance except to Salmonella spp. The high microbial load densities suggests that hospital wastes have negative influence on the air microbiology of the environment, which therefore calls for an urgent need to raise awareness and education on hospital waste issues. Proper waste management strategy is needed to ensure health and environmental safety.Keywords: Hospital, Air, Microorganisms and Antibiotic