Comparison of a-amylase activity in some sprouting Nigerian cereals

The yield and characteristics of Alpha-amylase obtained from some sprouting Nigeria cereals (maize, acha, rice and sorghum) were compared using standard procedures. The result indicated maximum a-amylase yield was attained from 72-120 hours of sprouting cereals). Of all the sprouted cereals, acha gave rise to the highest amylase yield (16.6 ± 0.02x102 and the least was exhibited by maize (11.0±0.04x102). The optimum temperature for a-amylase activity was 600C for maize and rice while that of acha and sorghum was 700C. The optimal pH for the activity of a-amylase from sprouting maize, rice, acha, and sorghum were exhibited at 6.5, 5.5, 6.5 and 5.8 respectively. The apparent kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km, were 9.0x10-2 and 0.23; 12.5x10-2 and 0.56; 7.0x10-2 and 0.29; 12.5x10-2 and 0.50 for a-amylase from sprouting maize, acha, rice and sorghum respectively. It is concluded that a-amylase obtained from sprouting Nigeria cereals manifest differences in quality and quantity, and may be useful in different starch processing industries

Cellulase and Pectinase Production Potentials of Aspergillus Niger Isolated from Corn Cob

Production of pectinase and cellulase by Aspergillus niger from corn cob was examined. The organism was screened for enzymatic activity using Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) and Pectin as substrate. The result revealed a clear zone of inhibition in the agar plates. The organism was subjected to different optimum conditions which include pH, temperature, biomass yield and enzymatic activity. The highest cellulose activity was obtained on the 4th day (1.9×10-4μg/ml/sec) while the highest pectinase activity (1.5×10-4μg/ml/sec) was obtained on the 4th and 5th day. The optimum pH for cellulase production was pH 4 with an activity of 2.70×10-4μg/ml/sec while the optimum pH for pectinase activity was pH 6 with an activity of 1.5×10-4 μg/ml/sec. The optimum temperature was at 50oC with an enzyme activity of 1.3x10-4μg/ml/sec for cellulase production while the optimum temperature of 60oC gave the highest pectinase activity of 1.6x10-4 μg/ml/sec. This study revealed that Aspergillus niger from corn cob has the ability to produce cellulase and pectinase, hence it may be considered as a source for the production of industrial cellulase and pectinase

A study on the efficacy of extracts of Boerhavia diffusa L on bacterial isolates of finger tip infections (whitlow)

This research was conducted to determine the efficacy of crude extract of Boerhavia diffusa L (BHD L) on bacterial isolates of fingertip infection (Whitlow). Seventeen patients with whitlow were studied within 18 months and swabs of active fingertip infections were taken from the patients at Crossing-Kachia in Kaduna State for analysis at the microbiology laboratory of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State Nigeria. Associated bacteria were isolated and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical tests. The isolates were tested against extracts of BHD L and commercially available antibiotics using the Kirby Bauer agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis was also conducted in order to determine the bioactive compounds in BHD L that may be responsible for its effectiveness in treatment. The results showed that more males (76.5%) were affected while the mean age of people affected was 28.6years. The predominant causative agent was Staphylococcus epidermidis (89.5%) while Staphylococcus epidermidis confirmed its resistance to commercial antibiotics, hence difficulty of treatment of whitlow with orthodox medicines. Similarly, extracts of BHD L had no antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Thus, the efficacy of BHD L on the isolates of fingertip infections may be due to some other reasons yet unknown.Keywords - Antibacterial activity, Antibiotics, Efficacy, Photochemical, Whitlow

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FOOD AND NUTRITION Proximate composition, phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of ten selected wild edible Nigerian mushrooms

ABSTRACT Wild edible mushrooms of several species are grown in different part of Nigeria for various reasons. In this study, the proximate, antioxidant activity as well as the phytochemical screening of ten selected wild edible Nigerian mushrooms including Cantharelle cibarius, Laccaria amethysta, Clitocybe odora, Lepista nuda, Macrolepiotata procera, Lepista saeva, Lactarius deliciousus, Laccaria laccata, Pleurotus ostreatus and Hericium erinaceus were investigated. The mushrooms were harvested fresh, sun dried, pulverized and analyzed according to standard procedures. Proximate analysis showed high level of proteins (14.03 -60.38%), crude fibre(3.94 -20.36%), carbohydrate(4.17 -32.50%), ash (17.44 -33.60%), fat(1.29-14.29%) and folic acids(4.75 -5.51g/g) in all species. Mineral analysis of all species indicated the presence of potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, copper and Iron. Potassium is of the highest amount in all species of plant (1370-5710g/100g). High antioxidant activity was also observed in these mushrooms with the specie L. amethysta and L. nuda exhibiting the strongest antioxidant activity with values as high as 53.64 and 53.65nm respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of varying quantities of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins with absence of anthraquinones and steroids. These bioactive compounds together with the high antioxidant activities obtained in some species and the nutrient contents in all species may be responsible for their nutritional and therapeutic uses. These results therefore not only make these wild edible mushrooms popular to consume as good food sources but may also be valuable in drug development