Screening of fungi isolates from soil, pulp waste water and rotten wood for cellulase producing potentials

Pulp waste water, soil from agricultural waste dump site and rotten wood were investigated for the presence of fungi with cellulolysic ability. Fungi Isolates obtained from the samples were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics. Seven species of fungi namely, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzea and Fusarium from soil, Penicillium notatum, Mucor resmosus and Aureobasidium sp from rotten wood, Trichoderma citrinoviride, Fusarium salani, A niger and P notatum from pulp waste water were isolated. Among the seven fungi species , A. niger, F. salani, and P. notatum recorded the highest frequency of occurrence, (2), while T. citrinoviride, R. oryzea, Aureobassidium sp recorded frequency occurrence of one (1)each and the cellulytic activity was determined by the ratio of zone of clearing and colony diameter. The difference in zone of clearing produced by the fungi isolates (A. niger, T. citrinoviride, F. salani), on CMC containing plate were not significantly different at (p˂ 0.05). Highest cellulase activity ratio was exhibited by T. citrinoviride (1.39), followed by A. niger from soil (1.30).This result highlights the potential of T citrinoviride as strain for industrial production of cellulolysic enzyme.Keywords: Cellulase, Enzymes, Aspergillus sp., A. nige

Anti-Diabetic Activities of the Leaf and Bark Extracts of Jatropha Curcas on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Antidiabetic activity was measured using a glucometer to check blood glucose level before induction with alloxan, after induction with alloxan and after treatment with both plant extracts. The animals were divided into seven groups, two of which were used for toxicological studies, three were used as control (negative, positive and normal) while the remaining two were used for the test groups. The extracts were found to exhibit hypoglycemic activity in the animals. The results of this study also revealed that the bark extract had more of the antidiabetic properties than the leaf extract as was observed in the change in blood glucose level of the animals in those groups. Histological studies was carried out on various organs of three of the groups among the seven groups (normal control group, group treated with leaf extract and group treated with the bark extract), it was observed that tissue necrosis was more prominent in the organs of the group treated with the leaf extract as compared to those treated with the bark extract when both were compared to the organs of the normal control group. The findings in this study provided the basis for further studies on the plant with the aim of finding out the mechanism of action of the folklore antidiabetic activity and the best extraction method of the toxic compounds without destroying other active components of the plant. Keywords: Jatropha curcas, extracts, alloxan, diabetic

Comparative Antibacterial Study of Aqueous and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Annona Muricata

This research project was aimed at investigating the antibacterial efficacy of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of A. muricata using agar-disc diffusion method for five clinical isolates of bacteria consisting of two gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans) and three gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi) bacteria which have been implicated in the most common types of bacterial infections such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, tooth decay, etc. The antibacterial activity was measured by the diameter of zone of inhibition (mm) observed and the extracts were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against the test organisms with each organism showing different patterns of formation of zones of inhibition at different concentrations of the extracts. The results of this study revealed that S. aureus was the most susceptible gram-positive bacteria and S. typhi was the most susceptible gram-negative bacteria which indicated that this plant contains compounds with wide antibacterial activity which validates their use for treatment of various microbial infections in traditional medicine. The findings in this study provide the basis for further study on the plant with the aim of isolating and identifying the active substances responsible for its antimicrobial activities. The plant could also be standardized to develop cheap, safer, culturally acceptable herbal medicines to help combat the problem of antibiotic resistance. The extraction of A.muricata which was done by maceration yielded 14.95% and 17.63% for aqueous and ethanol extracts respectively.The difference between both extracts when compared to the standard antibiotic(Ciprofloxacin) was significant(p<0.05 level of significance) against P.aeroginosa, E coli and S.mutans.Conversely, S aureus and S.typhi showed no significant difference(p<0.05 level of significance) in their response to both extracts(400 mg/ml) and the standard drug.This shows that A.muricata extract can be  potential antimicrobial agent directed against S.aureus and S.typhi. Keywords: Annona muricata, antibacterial, extracts, comparative, ethno-medicinal.

Nutrient and Anti-Nutritional Composition of Jam Prepared from Pineapple Ananas Comosus

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the nutrient and anti-nutritional composition of jam prepared from Pineapple (Ananas comosus). The result of the proximate analysis indicated that processing caused a reduction in the moisture (30.0 + 0.08) protein content (0.8 + 0.008). However, processing  pineapple to jam caused an increase in the crude lipid (3.4 + 0.26), Carbohydrate (58.6 + 0.30), Ash content (5.0 + 0.8) and crude fibre (2.2 + 0.08). The result obtained for the anti-nutritional factors showed that processing caused a reduction in phytate content (0.67 + 0.004), Tannin (0.19 + 0.004) and Oxalate (8.64 + 0.008). Keywords: Ananas comosus, Processing, Jam, Tannin, Crude Fat, Oxalate

Isolation and Estimation of DNA Level in Coconut Leaf (Coccos Nucifera)

The DNA Level of Coconut leaf was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis and UV-double beam spectrophotometer. 30?g leaf sample was weighed; chemical homogenization using mortar and pestle was done using lyses buffer and “Morning fresh” detergent. Whole sample was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes; the supernatant was decamped into clean microcentruifuge tubes. Ethanol (500ml) was added and mixed thoroughly and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. DNA is insoluble in ethanol and so will appear as white precipitate at the bottom of the tube. Sample was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 5 minutes, thereafter the content was exposed to the atmosphere for 10 minutes to rid off remaining solvent (Ethanol). The pellets were dissolved in 50ml of TE (Tris-EDTA) buffer. The DNA (25ml) was taken and diluted in 1.75ml of TE Buffer and absorbance read at 260nm and 280nm with purity of DNA calculated followed by Electrophoresis. 25ml of the DNA sample was taken and ran on 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis using a standard marker for 60 minutes. The analysis was done in triplicate with the ratio of absorbance at 260 and 280nm (1.79, 1.76 and 1.84) showing the purity of the DNA sample. Keywords: Coccos nucifera, Percentage Purity, DNA Sample, TE Buffer, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Isolation and characterization of lactobacillus and bacillus producing biosurfactants

This study focuses on the screening, production, extraction of biosurfactants from Lactobacillus and Bacillus, and its antimicrobial properties against causal microorganisms of food borne infection (food borne pathogens). The biosurfactants were investigated for potential antimicrobial activity using disk diffusion method against causal organisms of food borne illnesses. These food borne pathogens include Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella paratyphi and Shigella dysentrae. Biosurfactant producing isolates were identified using blood haemolysis test, oil spreading technique and drop collapse assay. Emulsification assay of positive isolates was performed at pH 4, 6, 8, 10), temperatures 4ºC, 25ºC, 37ºC), NaCl concentrations (4%,6%,8%,10%), different sources of carbon (glucose, sucrose) and nitrogen sources - urea, yeast.Keywords: Biosurfactants, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Emulsificatio

Antimicrobial effect of lactobacillus and bacillus derived biosurfactants on some food borne pathogens

This study focused on the screening, production, extraction of biosurfactants from Lactobacillus and Bacillus bacteria and their antimicrobial properties against causal microorganisms of food borne infections (food borne pathogens). The biosurfactants were investigated for potential antimicrobial activity using disk diffusion. The food borne pathogens used included Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella paratyphi & Shigella dysenterae. Biosurfactant producing isolates were identified using blood haemolysis test, oil spreading technique and drop collapse assay. Emulsification assay of positive isolates was performed at pHs 4, 6, 8 and 10, and at temperatures 4ºC, 25ºC, 37ºC), with different concentrations of NaCl (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%), different sources of carbon (glucose, sucrose) and different nitrogen sources (urea, yeast). Biosurfactant L4 derived from Lactobacillus showed significant antagonistic property against Salmonella typhi at 25 μL concentration while B1 derived from Bacillus showed the most antagonistic activity against Shigella dysentrae at 40 μL concentration. The biosurfactants showed distinct antibacterial activity towards tested organisms.Keywords: Biosurfactants, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Antimicrobial Activity, biosurfactant