Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.)

The extracts of the leaves and stem bark of anacardium occidentale were screened for phytochemically for the presence of secondary metabolites and for in vitro antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and tannins. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts and the methanol extract of the stem bark were tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using the agar dilution method. The leaf methanol extracts presented a higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activity was greatest against K. pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis and Candida albicans. Also the leaf extracts showed greater activity than the stem bark extracts. Of the six organisms tested, the stem bark extracts had activity against three. The mean diameter of the zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts was between 13mm and 22mm. Bacillus subtilis showed the highest zone of inhibition (22mm) to the leaf methanol extract. The extracts compared favourably with ampicillin used as a standard control

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.)

The extracts of the leaves and stem bark of anacardium occidentale were screened for phytochemically for the presence of secondary metabolites and for in vitro antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and tannins. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts and the methanol extract of the stem bark were tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using the agar dilution method. The leaf methanol extracts presented a higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activity was greatest against K. pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis and Candida albicans. Also the leaf extracts showed greater activity than the stem bark extracts. Of the six organisms tested, the stem bark extracts had activity against three. The mean diameter of the zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts was between 13mm and 22mm. Bacillus subtilis showed the highest zone of inhibition (22mm) to the leaf methanol extract. The extracts compared favourably with ampicillin used as a standard control

Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDLcholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control

Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and Associated Risk Factors among Students in a Nigerian University

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has been associated with subsequent infection and transmission within the hospital and community settings. This study was carried out to evaluate the carriage rates of S. aureus in a University student population and describe risk factors associated with the carriage. Two-hundred and seventy-seven nasal samples were obtained from healthy volunteer students and screened for S. aureus by standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted on the bacterial isolates by the disk diffusion technique. A questionnaire was conducted with each student to acquire demographic and risk factor information. One hundred and fifty-seven (56.7%) isolates were identified as S. aureus. Antibiotic resistance was highest for cloxacillin (91%), ceftazidime (71%), cotrimoxazole (23%), erythromycin (20%) and oxacillin (16%). Risk factors such as hospitalization in the past 12 months, recent skin infection and participation in sports were significantly associated with carrier status. High resistance to certain antibiotics observed in this study shows that nasal colonization could serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant strains within the community

Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL- cholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control