Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum on selected diarrhoea causing bacteria in southwestern Nigeria

The antibacterial activity of different extracts from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Salmonella typhimurium, pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea. These extracts evaluated include cold water extract (CWE), hot water extract (HWE) and steam distillation extract (SDE). Only SDE has inhibitory effects on the selected bacteria and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.1% for S. aureus to 0.01% for E. coli and S. typhimurium, and 0.001% for S. typhi.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (7), pp. 682-684, 200

BENISEEDS (Sesamum indicum Linn.) PREPARATION TREATMENTS THAT AFFECT PROXIMATE ANALYSIS, PHYTOCHEMICAL, AND MINERAL VALUES

Beniseeds, also called sesame seed can be prepared in different ways to alter its nutritive and medicinal value. Here, beniseeds were prepared by roasting, boiling, and open fermentation. The proximate analysis compositon, mineral content, and phytochemical quantities varied by preparation treatment relative to the untreated fresh seeds. Open fermentation best decreased anti-nutrient and alkaloid quantities while simultaneously increasing the extractable protein content. These results provide a nutritional data base for a local seed stock and quantitatively demonstrate how preparative techniques can be applied to increase the human consumption value of beniseeds as well as its medicinal properties

The Effect of Temperature on the Antibacterial and Physicochemical Properties of Fermenting Beniseeds

The effect of temperature on the antibacterial property of fermenting beniseed was assessed on six diarhoeagenic bacteria by keeping the fermenting seeds at 40C and 290C respectively. Both the liquor and the slurry were used in this study. The pH, total titratable acidity, microbial load and the microflora of the samples kept at the two different temperatures was determined daily for 7 days. The results showed that the liquor kept at 290C had its highest antibacterial activities after 24hrs of fermentation while the sample kept at 40C had its highest antibacterial activities after 72hrs of fermentation. The highest inhibitory effect was observed on B. cereus with zone diameter of 42mm by the sample kept at 290C and 36mm the sample kept at 40C. This result, when compared with standard commercial antibiotics showed that the fermenting liquor is more effective against four of the six bacteria used. The microbial load of the fermenting liquor increased from 2.4 x104 cfu/ml to 9.2 x106cfu/ml in the sample kept at 290C and 2.4 x104 cfu/ml to 2.8 x105 cfu/ml in the sample kept at 40C by day 4. Microorganisms found to be associated with the fermentation are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pediococcus cerevisiae and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The pH of the fermenting liquor decreased from 5.50 at day 0 to 4.90 by day 4 for the sample kept at 40C while it decreased to 3.80 by day 4 for the sample kept at 290C. The total titratable acidity for the sample kept at 40C was highest by day 1 with a value of 27.00 and lowest by day 6 with a value of 10.00 while the one kept at 290C recorded the highest value of 56.10 by day 1 and lowest value of 15.50 by day 4. Since the fermented liquor significantly inhibited the growth of the test organisms used, it is therefore suggested that in the absence of antibiotics, fermented beniseed liquor can be used to treat diarrhoea within 24hours in rural areas where they may not be quick access to conventional antibiotics and can be used up to seven days when preserved in refrigerator to combat diarrhoea caused by these organisms

Evaluation of beniseed extract and fermented liquor in treatment of diarrhoea in albino rats infected with Salmonella typhi

The efficacy of fermented beniseed liquor and the methanol extract in treating diarrhoea caused by Salmonella typhi in albino rats orogastrically infected with the bacteria was assessed. At the end of the experiment, haematological, biochemical and liver functioning tests were performed on the blood from the animals. The results obtained from this analysis showed that the selected organism have high infectivity dose, caused a significant reducing effect on the weight of the albino rats and negative effect on the hematological and biochemical parameters assessed. Treatment of infected animals with the fermented liquor and methanol extract of beniseeds showed that both caused a significantly quick recovery of the infected animals from diarrhoea within five days of treatment. However, the rate of recovery was faster with the group of infected rats treated with the fermented beniseed liquor than the extract. Also, treatment with methanol extract of beniseeds also caused a significant increase in the cholesterol level of the blood from the animals. The results obtained from these analyses showed that beniseed have therapeutic properties and that the fermented form is more effective and can be used to treat diarrhoea caused by the selected bacteria used in this study in albino rats

Evaluation of the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of oil from castor seeds (Ricinus communis Linn)

The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of castor (Ricinus communis) seeds extracted using soxhlet extractor in 98% nhexane was assessed using in-vitro assay. Twenty microorganisms made up of fourteen bacteria and six fungi were used in the bioassay. Comparatively, bacteria were found to be more susceptible than fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was found to range between 6.25 mg/ml and 12.50 mg/ml for bacteria while that of fungi ranged from 12.50 mg/ml to 25.00 mg/ml. Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of the extract and commercial antibiotics showed that the latter were more potent against the test organisms with the exceptions of erythromycin, ampiclox and rifampin group for Gram positive organisms and, septrin and ceporex group for Gram negative organisms respectively. The quantitative phytochemical screening showed that tannin, phenol, alkaloid, phytate, oxalate, saponin, cyanogenic glycoside and flavonoid were present in a decreasing order. The spectrophotometric data of the extract using ultraviolet radiation, infrared and HNMR as well as carbon 13 NMR showed the presence of various compounds such as cineole, 2-octanol, terpenene-4-ol, limonene, sabinene, pinene, terpinene, and methyl groups in the oil

TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF FERMENTED LIQUOR AND METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BENISEEDS IN ALBINO RATS

The toxicological evaluation of fermented beniseed liquor and the methanolic extract were assessed in-vivo using young albino rats. They were fed with a dose of 0.75 ml at 100mg/ml of the extract and 0.75 ml at 100mg/ml of the fermented liquor respectively for three weeks (21 days) after which their vital organs were assessed histopathologically. The result of the histopathological analyses showed that the extract and fermented liquor caused no form of distortion, necrosis, lesions or haemorrhage on the heart, the cardiac muscles‟ striata were more strengthened by the fermented liquor when compared with the control and the one fed with the extract which showed homogenous muscle fibres and slight inflammatory cell infiltrations. The liver had its sinusoids in place and showed no form of necrosis, neither karyolysis nor any thickening nuclear structures. The kidneys had normal interstitial cells without tubular necrosis and intestine showed a well formed intestinal villi without any erosion of the cells while the spleen showed well formed dark green cells. Therefore, both the beniseed methanol extract and fermented liquor had no deleterious effect on vital organs and are fit for consumption

THE IMMUNOSTIMULATORY POTENTIAL OF FERMENTED BENISEEDS (SESAMUM INDICUM LINN) LIQOUR ON ALBINO RATS

The immune-stimulatory potential of natural liquid fermentation of beniseed liquor was assessed in-vivo using young adult albino rats. They were fed with a specific volume of the liquor at 100mg/ml for a period of three weeks after which their blood was subjected to haematological and biochemical analyses. The haematological assay for the biosafety analyses of the liquor on the albino rats showed that the liquor significantly increased the blood parameters when given a dose of 0.75ml at 100mg/ml daily. The biochemical analyses of the blood of the albino rats used showed that the liquor caused significant increase in the level of bicarbonate, urea, uric acid and calcium. The liver functioning tests for the rats showed that the liquor caused a little increase in the serum total protein and alkaline phosphatase without any significant rise in the cholesterol level. The results obtained from these in-vivo analyses of fermented beniseed liquor has shown that beniseeds possess excellent nutraceutic properties with good immunostimulatory potential and that it can be used as a good antidiarrhoeagenic agent

The effects of fermented Liqour and methanol extract of Beniseeds on the Biochemical and liver functioning parameters of Albino-rats.

Laboratory albino rats were grouped into different groups and fed with the methanol extract of beniseeds and the fermented liquor of the seeds for a period of 21days to assess their effects on the biochemical and liver functioning parameters of the rats. The result of the analyses showed that both the extract and liquor cause significant increase in the level of bicarbonate, urea, uric acid and calcium while the creatinine level had no significant difference. The liver functioning tests for the rats showed that both the extract and liquor cause a little increase in the serum total protein and alkaline phosphatase without any significant rise in the cholesterol level when compared with the control. There was, however a higher increase in cholesterol level in the rats fed with extract than those fed with the fermented liquor. The results obtained from these in-vivo analyses of fermented beniseed liquor and the methanol extract of beniseeds has shown that beniseed has no deleterious effect on the organs of rats as well as on their biochemical parameters. It is therefore recommended for human consumption as a good nutraceutic seed

Haematological and histopathological effects of oil from castor seeds (Ricinus communis Linn.) on albino-rats

The effects of soxhlet extraction of oil from castor seeds (Ricinus communis Linn) using n-hexane as solvent on hematological and histopathological properties of albino rats was investigated using standard method. The haematological analysis of the animals’ blood showed that the extract caused a reduction in the packed cell volume (PCV) from 49.3 to 46.7%. Histopathological analysis of the organs of the animals showed that the extract caused dilation of the sinusoid with less prominent nucleus of the liver, homogeneity of the muscle fibres of the heart with inflammatory cell infiltration, infiltration of kidney cells with increased hyaline casts, while the small intestine showed acute erosion of superficial and middle parts of the intestinal villi. Since the oil has deleterious effects on the organs of the animals used and also reduced the PCV, it is conceivable that when the oil is consumed by humans, it will have the same effect. Therefore, it is advocated that the oil should not be consumed until further work is done on it

Haematological and Gross Pathological Changes in Broilers Experimentally Challenged with Velogenic Strain of Newcastle Disease Virus

Newcastle disease (ND) is a severe and fatal disease of poultry caused by Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The disease is of economic and public health importance and has been a threat to the growth of poultry industry. A hundred and twenty day-old broiler chickens were procured from a commercial breeder farm. Glucose, vitamin, antibiotics were administered accordingly. Birds were tested for antibodies to NDV and vaccines were administered accordingly. Feed and water were also provided ad-libitum. Birds were randomly distributed into groups. Experimental birds were challenged at five weeks of age. Blood samples were collected for haematology assay periodically after challenging with NDV. The erythrocyte response in the chickens had varying patterns; there were significant reduction in values of Total Erythrocyte Count, Packed Cell Volume, Hemoglobin count in infected chickens. Monocytes were reduced significantly in the infected birds to 7±0.6% as compared to uninfected birds which had 10±0.9%. There were no significant changes in the Eosinophil and basophil absolute values in both infected and uninfected birds during the course of the study. This study showed that haematological values of broiler chicken significantly differ (p=< 0.05) from uninfected and infected birds with virulent NDV. Generally, there were no significant differences in the profile of the vaccinated birds. Hence the need for vaccination and research towards anti-NDV therapeutic discoveries cannot be overemphasized