Influence of locally sourced additives on neem plant organic fertilizer quality in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Neem samples (Neem fruit, Neem Cake and oil) were prepared using locally sourced materials, the Neem oil was obtained during the caking, while the Neem fruit was simply air-dried. The results showed that all the Neem samples contained: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium considerable for fertilizer production but Neem fruit has the highest percentage of Nitrogen 3.3%, Phosphorous 4.1% and potassium 3.8% while the oil has the least content of 1.1% Nitrogen, 2.0% Phosphorous and 1.1% potassium. Additives were introduced in the production to enhance the quality of the fertilizer such as limestone to neutralize the soil, poultry liter as supplement of the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of the fertilizer, Rock phosphate to standardize the phosphorous content of the soil and to retain the soil texture and composition.Keywords: Neem fruit, Neem cake, Neem seed, Rock phosphate, Organic fertilize

Evaluation of phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory effects on methanol extracts of Aeschynomene uniflora

Studies on Aeschynomene uniflora was carried out with the aim to establish scientific validation by evaluating the phytochemical constituents, toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the Methanol extract in order to probe its ethnomedical uses. Various phytochemical constituents from the plant were evaluated using standard method which reveals the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenes and tannins were present in the crude extract. Toxicity studies by using oral route showed no death in any group even at 5000 mg/ kg indicating its safety. Anti- inflammatory effects indicates its efficacy in which the dose at 1000 mg/kg showed more activity compared to Control followed by 250 mg/kg and then 500 mg/kg. The results obtained in this present study indicates the plant to have the potential to act as a source of useful drugs because of the presence of various primary and secondary metabolites. The results were very much encouraging but more scientific validation is necessary before being put into practice.Keywords: Aeschynomene uniflora, Anti-inflammatory, Phytochemicals, Toxicit

Phytochemical screening and antiproliferative effects of methanol extract of stem bark of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst (Ebenaceae) against guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor) seeds radicles length

The plant Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst (Ebenaceae) is commonly known as Kanya in Northern Nigeria which has been used widely in treating various ailments such as fever, whooping cough, wounds. Malaria, Pneumonia, Syphilis, Leprosy, Dermatomycoses, Diarrhea without scientific validation. Preliminary Phytochemical screening. Thin layer chromatographic profile (TLC) of methanol crude extract and antiproliferative studies were carried out in this research. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrate, glycoside, anthraquinone, steroid, triterpenes, saponin, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloid. TLC profile of the crude extract gave four sports with good Rf values. Antiproliferative evaluation were carried out using Guinea corn (Sorghum bicolour) seeds spread in a 9 cm wide petridish laid with cotton wool and Whatman filter paper which was treated with 1-30 mg/ml of methanol extract in 24-96 hr period of incubation. At 24 hrs of incubation, the methanol extracts had 24.771 ± 0.526 mm length of growth for the controls whereas the seeds treated with 10, 20, and 30 mg/ml of the extract produced a length total of 2.772 ± 0.494 mm, 2.150 ± 0.490 mm and 2.257 ± 0.489 mm respectively, while at the end of 96 hours of incubation period, the radicles length of the control seeds measured 93.77 ± 9.730 mm while those treated with 10, 20, and 30 mg/ml were observed to be 37 ± 3.297 mm, 17.023 ± 2.802 mm and 16.086 ± 1.976 mm. This reduction in the growth implied 60.54, 81.87 and 82.83% respectively compared to the controls. This study has scientifically justified the traditional uses of Diospyros mespiliformis stem bark extracts asantiproliferative agent against radicles of a Guinea corn (Sorghum bicolour) which may relate to its use as anticancer agent.Keywords: Antiproliferative effects, Diospyros mespiliformis, Phytochemica

Inhibitory effect of isolated Lupeol from stem bark of Diospyros mespiliformis Horsch (Ebenaceae) against some microbial pathogens

Powdered stem bark of plant material (1000g) of Diospyros mespiliformis was extracted with hexane using Soxhlet apparatus and concentrated on a water bath at 600C. The extract was later subjected to column chromatography techniques using gradient elution in which various fractions were obtained and monitored using thin layer chromatography. The structure of the isolated compound were suggested by 1D and 2D spectroscopic analysis and by direct comparison of the data obtained with those reported in literature to be Lupeol.Antimicrobial screening of the lupeol compound and control drugs were carried out using agar well diffusion method. Significant zones of inhibition of lupeol compound were observed from (30-24mm) and standard control drugs range from (40-32mm). Minimum Inhibitory Concentration(MIC) of the lupeol compound was observed at 6.25-12.5ug/ml and Minimum Bacteriacidal Concentration (MBC) /Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) ranged from (12.5-25ug/ml).Lupeol compound revealed significant antimicrobial activity against some selected clinical isolates in this study and thus validated the traditional claims ofDiospyros mespiliformis used for the treatment of antimicrobial based infections.Keywords: Diospyros mespiliformis, Column Chromatography, Lupeol, Inhibitory Effects,Antimicrobial effect

FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EZETIMIBE SOLID DISPERSION FOR SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT

Objective: The objective of the present study was to formulate solid dispersions (SD) of Ezetimibe to improve the solubility and dissolution rate to facilitate faster onset of action. Ezetimibe is poorly water soluble BCS class II drug and used as a hypolipidemic agent. It has poor bioavailability (35-65%) due to its low dissolution profile in gastro intestinal tract. Methods: In the present study, eight solid dispersion formulations of Ezetimibe with polymers PEG-4000 and PEG-6000 were prepared by solvent evaporation and fusion methods.  Solid dispersion formulations were characterized by content uniformity, flow properties and in vitro dissolution studies. Results: The solubility of Ezetimibe powder in distilled water at 37±0.5°C was 2.37±0.14 µg/ml, whereas solubility of the solid dispersion formulations was in the range of 322.43-37.48 µg/ml. Percent yield of eight solid dispersion formulations of Ezetimibe lies in range of 98.20 to 99.42% w/w.  Conclusion: Present study concluded that the Ezetimibe solid dispersion formulations are a suitable approach to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of ezetimibe than pure form of drug. Peer Review History: Received 2 February 2017;   Revised 28 February; Accepted 3 March, Available online 15 March 2017 Academic Editor: Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-yahawi, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 4.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr.  Murtaza M. Tambuwala, Ulster University, Ireland, [email protected] Dr. Masoumeh Divar, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, [email protected] Similar Articles: DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO DISSOLUTION STUDY OF BINARY AND TERNARY SOLID DISPERSIONS OF ACECLOFENAC IN VITRO DISSOLUTION STUDY OF GLIMEPIRIDE FROM BINARY AND TERNARY SOLID DISPERSION FORMULATION SOLID DISPERSION- STRATEGY TO ENHANCE SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION OF POORLY WATER SOLUBLE DRUGS SOLID DISPERSION TECHNOLOGY, A CONTEMPORARY OVERVIEW ON A WELL ESTABLISHED TECHNIQU

Molecular screening and isolation of Newcastle disease virus from live poultry markets and chickens from commercial poultry farms in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria

Newcastle disease is one of the major economic threats to poultry population  because of its high morbidity and mortality varying from 90-100%. It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1). This research work was carried out to identify Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and further isolate the virus in embryonated chicken eggs. A total of 127 cloacal swabs were collected from local chickens in live bird market and exotic chickens in commercial poultry farms in Zaria and environs, Nigeria between November, 2014 and January, 2015. Five commercial poultry farms and four live bird markets were purposively sampled. Molecular screening of NDV Matrix-gene (M-gene) was performed on all the samples using Reverse  Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Newcastle disease positive samples were further inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs for isolation of Newcastle disease virus. Isolates were confirmed as Newcastle disease virus by haemaggulitination inhibition (HI) test. Newcastle disease virus Matrix-gene was detected in 16 (12.5%) out of 127 cloacal swabs; 13 (10.2%) from live bird markets and 3 (2.3%) from commercial poultry farms. However, only 10 Newcastle disease viruses were isolated in embryonated chicken eggs as confirmed by Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Due to the higher detection rate recorded by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), it is therefore important that molecular technique be made easily accessible so that samples from each suspected outbreaks of NDV be screened so that rapid and confirmatory diagnosis can be achieved.Keywords: Embryonated chicken eggs, Haemagglutination inhibition test, Newcastle disease virus, RT-PC

Antibiogram profiles and risk factors for multidrug resistance of Salmonella enterica recovered from Village Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus Linnaeus) and other environmental sources in the Central and Southern Peninsular Malaysia

The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR), including colistin resistance, among Enterobacteriaceae recovered from food animals poses a serious public health threat because of the potential transmission of these resistant variants to humans along the food chain. Village chickens or Ayam Kampung are free-range birds and are preferred by a growing number of consumers who consider these chickens to be organic and more wholesome. The current study investigates the antibiogram profiles of Salmonella isolates recovered from village chicken flocks in South-central Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 34 isolates belonging to eight serotypes isolated from village chickens were screened for resistance towards antimicrobials including colistin according to the WHO and OIE recommendations of critical antibiotics. S. Weltevreden accounted for 20.6% of total isolates, followed by serovars Typhimurium and Agona (17.6%). The majority of isolates (73.5%) demonstrated resistance to one or more antimicrobials. Eight isolates (23.5%) were resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes. Colistin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentrations: 4–16 mg/L) was detected among five isolates (14.7%), including S. Weltevreden, S. Albany, S. Typhimurium, and Salmonella spp. Univariable analysis of risk factors likely to influence the occurrence of MDR Salmonella revealed that the flock size, poultry production system, and use of antibiotics in the farm were not significantly (p > 0.05) associated with MDR Salmonella. The current study highlights that MDR Salmonella occur at a lower level in village chickens compared to that found in live commercial chickens. However, MDR remains a problem even among free-range chickens with minimal exposure to antibiotics

High levels of antibiotic resistance in isolates from diseased livestock

Overuse of antimicrobials in livestock health and production beyond therapeutic needs has been highlighted in recent years as one of the major risk factors for the acceleration of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacteria in both humans and animals. While there is an abundance of reports on AMR in clinical isolates from humans, information regarding the patterns of resistance in clinical isolates from animals is scarce. Hence, a situational analysis of AMR based on clinical isolates from a veterinary diagnostic laboratory was performed to examine the extent and patterns of resistance demonstrated by isolates from diseased food animals. Between 2015 and 2017, 241 cases of diseased livestock were received. Clinical specimens from ruminants (cattle, goats and sheep), and non-ruminants (pigs and chicken) were received for culture and sensitivity testing. A total of 701 isolates were recovered from these specimens. From ruminants, Escherichia coli (n = 77, 19.3%) predominated, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 73, 18.3%). Antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) revealed that E. coli resistance was highest for penicillin, streptomycin, and neomycin (77–93%). In addition, S. aureus was highly resistant to neomycin, followed by streptomycin and ampicillin (68–82%). More than 67% of E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR) and only 2.6% were susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. Similarly, 65.6% of S. aureus isolates were MDR and only 5.5% were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. From non-ruminants, a total of 301 isolates were recovered. Escherichia coli (n = 108, 35.9%) and Staphylococcus spp. (n = 27, 9%) were the most frequent isolates obtained. For E. coli, the highest resistance was against amoxicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and neomycin (95–100%). Staphylococcus spp. had a high level of resistance to streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and gentamicin (80–100%). The MDR levels of E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. isolates from non-ruminants were 72.2 and 74.1%, respectively. Significantly higher resistance level were observed among isolates from non-ruminants compared to ruminants for tetracycline, amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

Risk factors assessment of bovine tuberculosis among abattoir personnel in Gombe State, Northeastern Nigeria: A One-Health approach

Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important milk-borne zoonosis that affects cattle production and poses serious threat to public health. This study aimed at assessing the risk factors as well as the level of awareness, attitude, and practices of abattoir personnel toward bTB in Gombe Township Abattoir, Gombe State. Materials and Methods: A prospective survey was conducted between October 2015 and December 2015. During the survey, a total of 112 close-ended structured questionnaires were administered to the abattoir personnel to assess their level of awareness of bTB. Results: Of these respondents, the majority were males (79%), butchers (49%) and about 40% were under the productive age brackets of 26-35 years. Majority of the respondents (85.7%) were aware of the zoonotic nature of the disease. However, only a few of the respondents (44.6%) wear personal protective equipments (PPEs) clothes while handling or in contact with carcasses during the slaughtering process. Only a few among the respondents (24.1% and 31.2%) consumed unpasteurized milk and unaware of eating of improperly cooked meat as a risk factor of bTB, respectively. About 75.7% of the respondents believed that the habit of eating and drinking inside the abattoir and during slaughtering operations has no any significant effects on their health. The results obtained show a statistically significant association between respondents' awareness of bTB and their occupational status, duration of exposure to cattle carcasses, and knowledge about the disease (p<0.05); and the odds of being aware of bTB was 10.0, 5.07, and 4.2, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the need for public health authorities to intervene in bTB prevention and control through the creation of avenues for enlightenment on the zoonotic risk associated with bTB. The risk factors associated with bTB transmission as indicated by the personnel's practice and awareness levels in Gombe township abattoir are preventable through the use of PPEs clothing

Salmonella in native village chickens (Gallus domesticus): prevalence and risk factors from farms in South-Central Peninsular Malaysia

Village chicken or Ayam Kampung, common to Southeast Asian countries, has always been regarded as superior in comparison to commercial broiler chicken in terms of wholesomeness and health benefits. The current study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of Salmonella among village chicken flocks from the central and southern states of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 35 village flocks were sampled from Selangor (n = 19), Melaka (n = 10), Johor (n = 4), and Negeri Sembilan (n = 2). In total, 1,042 samples were collected; these included cloacal swabs (n = 675), eggs (n = 62), pooled drinking water (n = 175), pooled feeds (n = 70), and pooled flies (n = 60). Isolation of Salmonella from cloacal swabs, poultry drinking water, and feeds was carried out according to the protocols and recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) terrestrial manual. The prevalence of Salmonella at an individual bird-level was 2.5% (17/675, 95% CI: 1.6 to 4.0). All eggs screened were negative; in the case of environmental samples, however, Salmonella was detected in 5.14% (9/175), 7.14% (5/70), and 5.0% (3/60) for water, feed, and flies, respectively. A total of 34 isolates and 8 Salmonella serotypes were identified. Weltevreden (20.6%) was the most common, followed by Typhimurium and Agona (17.6%), Albany and Enteritidis (8.8%), Molade (5.9%), Corvallis and Schleissheim (2.9%), and others grouped as Salmonella spp. (11.8%). Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that Salmonella positivity among flocks could be strongly predicted by storage of feeds (uncovered feeds; OR = 10.38; 95% CI: 1.25 to 86.39; p = 0.030) and uncovered water tanks (uncovered tank; OR = 6.43; 95% CI: 1.02 to 40.60; p = 0.048). The presence of Salmonella in village chickens in the study area was lower than that of commercial chickens in Malaysia