Evaluation of phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Terminalia avicennioides crude extract against selected bacteria from diarrhoeic patients

Phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of the different plant parts of Terminalia avicennioides was carried out using standard chemical evaluation methods. The antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of Terminalia avicennioides against E.coli and S.typhimurium clinical and reference isolates from diarrhoeic patients were also evaluated using agar-well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts were evaluated by broth dilution techniques. The result revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids saponins, triterpens and glycosides. All bacteria were found to be susceptible to the extracts which were indicated by the various zones of inhibition. The activity of extracts was concentration dependent. The reference strains were less susceptible to all extracts at low concentrations of 12.5mg/ml, but highly susceptible to extracts at varied concentrations of 25, 50 and 100mg/ml. However, all test bacteria were more susceptible to the ethanol extracts compared to the aqueous extracts with mean zones of inhibition ranging between 0.68 + 2.54 mm to 22.08 + 1.75 mm on E. coli clinical isolates, 0.0 + 0.0 mm to 20.00+0.mm on E. coli reference isolate, 3.08 + 6.0 mm to 21.50 + 0.00 mm on S. typhimurium clinical isolates and 0.00 + 0.mm to 20.00 + 0.0 mm on S. typhimurium reference isolate. The ethanol crude extracts exhibited lower MICs (12.5 to 25mg/ml) and MBCs (25 to 50mg/ml) values indicating higher efficacy of ethanol extracts, with the leaf extract demonstrating the highest activity against all the bacterial isolates. The important bioactive compounds present in the plant may be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity of the plant and hence its potential use as an antibacterial agent.Keywords: Phytochemical, Antibacterial effect, Terminalia avicennioides, diarrhoeaic patients

Perception of the environmental impact of chemical fertilizer application by vegetable farmers along River Ngadda of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

There is an increasing global concern on the current agricultural practices that are not sustainable owing to adverse impact of chemical fertilizer application on environment. This study identifies types of fertilizer applied, examined farmers knowledge on fertilizer application and assessed farmers perception of the impact of fertilizer on environment along river Ngadda in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were generated through field observation and anonymous structured interview questionnaire were used, while the secondary data was obtained from relevant literature. Through purposeful sample, 120 farmers were selected for the study. Findings revealed that farmers applied NPK fertilizer were 31.9%, Urea fertilizer 27.1%, Phosphorus 19.4% and those applied combined Urea and NPK were 21.5%. The study revealed farmers knowledge on fertilizer application, 50.8% have no formal training, 28.3% trained by extension workers and 20.8% were trained by World Food Program. Findings also revealed that 6.0% of the respondents perceived fertilizer pollute air, contribute to climate change were 2.7%, contaminate soil 25.7% while 3.8% perceived fertilizer build-up heavy metals in soil. Those perceived pollute groundwater were 12.0% and causes eutrophication 21.9%. The study concluded that chemical fertilizer increases plant growth and vigor, hence meets the food security of the world, but its continuous use degrades the soil and environmental pollutions. We recommended that opting organic farming and biofertilizers will create a healthy natural environment for the present as well as future generation

Bacterial contamination of Nigerian currency notes circulating within selected markets in Kaduna Metropolis

A study was carried out with the aim to assess the bacterial contamination of Nigerian currency notes circulating within selected markets in Kaduna Metropolis. A total of 80 samples of Nigerian currency notes of different denominations were randomly collected from Sabo, Kakuri, Kawo, Dattawa, U/rimi, Kasuwar Sati, Nassarawa, Chechenia, Kasuwar barci and Kasuwar Laraba markets in sterilized polythene bags  The mean bacterial counts of the different currency notes were determined using standard microbiological methods. The types of bacteria associated with the currency notes and their frequency of occurrence were also determined using standard methods. The result of the study showed that lower denomination currencies had  higher microbial loads, 22.65×104 ± 0.22×104 CFU/g for N100, 26.55×104 ± 0.45×104 CFU/g for N50, 20.95×104 ± 0.26×104 CFU/g for N20, 21.75×104 ± 0.35×104 CFU/g for N10 and 21.75×104  ± 0.12×104 CFU/g for N5 which were mostly obtained from Kakuri, Sabo, Nasarawa, and U/Rimi markets The species of bacteria isolated from the currencies were Staphylococcus aureus (52.2%), Escherichia coli (31.3%), Salmonella species (11.9%), and Proteus species (4.5%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant bacteria isolated. This study revealed that currency notes collected from the markets within Kaduna Metropolis, were highly contaminated with different pathogenic bacteria thus, calls for public awareness on the potential risks associated with poor handling of currency notes at all levels. Key words: Bacterial contamination, currency notes, selected markets, Kaduna Metropolis &nbsp

Antibacterial and phytochemical screening of Ziziphus jujuba (jujube/magarya) leaf extract in Kaduna Metropolis

Ziziphus jujuba from the family of Rhamnaceae is widely distributed in both tropical and subtropical countries. Different parts of the plant have been used traditionally for several biological purposes including fungal and antibacterial and antidiarrheal. This study was aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of Ziziphus jujuba leaf extract against bacteria isolated from vaginal swab. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves extract of Ziziphus jujuba was carried out using standard analytical methods. The aqueous and ethanol extracts of Ziziphus jujuba leaf were screened for antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from vaginal swabs using agar well diffusion and broth dilution assay. The results of the phytochemical constituents revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, and terpenes in the ethanol extract while alkaloids, steroids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols, and saponins were present in the aqueous extract. The inhibitory zones of the ethanol extract against S. aureus ranged between 13.00- 15.00 mm while that of E. coli ranged between 7.00- 10.00 mm at 50 and 100 (mg/ml) respectively. The inhibitory zone of the aqueous extract against the clinical isolates of S. aureus ranged from 9.00- 11.00 and 6.00-8.00 (mm) for E. coli at 50 and 100 (mg/ml) respectively. However, S. aureus was more susceptible to the extract with an MIC of 100 mg/ml. The observed inhibitory activities of the leaf extract against the clinical isolates could be due to phytochemical constituents present in the plant extracts of Ziziphus jujuba

Phytochemical, antifungal and acute toxicity studies of Mitracarpus scaber Zucc. whole plant extracts

Mitracarpus scaber have been reported in the treatment of various ailments such as ulcer, cancer, skin diseases etc. It is therefore important to investigate these plant parts to ascertain their therapeutic potentials. The Mitracarpus scaber whole plant was extracted with water and methanol, screened for their phytochemical properties and antifungal effects. The plant samples were also investigated for alkaloid, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phenolic contents using quantitative techniques. The antifungal activities of the plant samples were tested against Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum auduounii and Aspergillus flavus. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of the extracts were also determined. Flavonoid, steroid, triterpenes, tannins, carbohydrate, glycoside, phenols were detected in both extracts while anthraquinones was absent. Alkaloid was detected in the aqueous extract but absent in methanol extract. Quantitatively, the phenols (97.0 mg/g) was the highest phytochemical detected in the plant while the lowest was alkaloid (9.2 mg/g). Toxicity of the samples was expressed as LD50, it was found above 5000 mg/kg and did not cause mortality in all the tested rats. Aqueous extract only showed inhibition on Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes with no inhibition on Microsporum auduounii and Aspergillus flavus while ethanol extract only showed inhibition on Candida albicans with no inhibition on Microsporum auduounii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus flavus at the lowest concentration 12.5 mg/ml. The aqueous extract has MIC and MFC of 12.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml respectively against Candidaalbicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Thus, the traditional claims of the uses of the plants as antifungal agents were therefore supported

Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of securidaca longipedunculata root against urinary tract infection pathogens

Urinary tract infection caused by bacteria leads to inflammation and over growth of uropathogens and prevalence of infection for both genders, but women is more vulnerable especially at the sexually active ages. But unfortunately, the continuous emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains brings most serious public health concerns. It is therefore, important to look for more alternative, effective, safer and safer treatments. The aim of the present study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of Securidaca longipedunculata root extracts against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi using agar well diffusion method and agar dilution for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Phytochemical and acute toxicity studies were carried out using the standard methods. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The antimicrobial results revealed that, the methanolic extract had promising antibacterial activity. For intense Escherichia coli was found to be the most susceptible bacteria in both methanol and aqueous extracts at 500mg/ml with inhibition zones of 20 mm and 16mm, Staphylococcus aureus was next most susceptible bacteria to methanol extract of the root with inhibition zone of 16 mm and MIC of 31.25 mg/ml respectively. The extracts does not showed activity against all the tested fungal isolates at lowest concentration 62.5 mg/ml. The LD50 of Securidaca longipedunculata was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption

Assessment of biogas production from mixtures of poultry waste and cow dung

The increase price of cooking gas and high rate of deforestation (firewood) has led to search for an alternative source for cooking. This study was carried out to produce biogas from cow dung and poultry waste as well as the respective co-digestion of cow dung and poultry dung as alternative fuel for cooking. Four-liters digester and gas collection system were designed and fabricated using locally available materials. The digesters were used to digest cow dung and poultry dung respectively as a single substrate as well as to digest cow dung and poultry dung respectively. The respective materials were collected locally. They were fermented, digested and analyzed in accordance with standard methods for the single substrate. The total volume of gas produced was recorded for different mixtures of cow and poultry waste. The total volume of gas produced ranged from 222 cm3 (20g cow dung plus 60g poultry waste) to 258cm3 (80g cow dung plus 0g poultry). The result shows that cow dung produces more gas than the poultry waste. Therefore, it is recommended that biogas factories or industries should be established that make use of the abundant animal waste. This will reduce the over-dependence on other forms of energy

Anisotropic flow of charged hadrons, pions and (anti-)protons measured at high transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76 TeV

The elliptic, $v_2$, triangular, $v_3$, and quadrangular, $v_4$, azimuthal anisotropic flow coefficients are measured for unidentified charged particles, pions and (anti-)protons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Results obtained with the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods are reported for the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ at different collision centralities and as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, out to $p_{\rm T}=20$ GeV/$c$. The observed non-zero elliptic and triangular flow depends only weakly on transverse momentum for $p_{\rm T}>8$ GeV/$c$. The small $p_{\rm T}$ dependence of the difference between elliptic flow results obtained from the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods suggests a common origin of flow fluctuations up to $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$. The magnitude of the (anti-)proton elliptic and triangular flow is larger than that of pions out to at least $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$ indicating that the particle type dependence persists out to high $p_{\rm T}$.Comment: 16 pages, 5 captioned figures, authors from page 11, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/186

Centrality dependence of charged particle production at large transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}} = 2.76 TeV

The inclusive transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) distributions of primary charged particles are measured in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ as a function of event centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The data are presented in the $p_{\rm T}$ range $0.15<p_{\rm T}<50$ GeV/$c$ for nine centrality intervals from 70-80% to 0-5%. The Pb-Pb spectra are presented in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm{AA}}$ using a pp reference spectrum measured at the same collision energy. We observe that the suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles strongly depends on event centrality. In central collisions (0-5%) the yield is most suppressed with $R_{\rm{AA}}\approx0.13$ at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7 GeV/$c$. Above $p_{\rm T}=7$ GeV/$c$, there is a significant rise in the nuclear modification factor, which reaches $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx0.4$ for $p_{\rm T}>30$ GeV/$c$. In peripheral collisions (70-80%), the suppression is weaker with $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx 0.7$ almost independently of $p_{\rm T}$. The measured nuclear modification factors are compared to other measurements and model calculations.Comment: 17 pages, 4 captioned figures, 2 tables, authors from page 12, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/284