Anti-microbial properties of some commonly use spices

The anti-microbial properties of four commonly used spices were investigated. The spices were Alium sativum (garlic). Allium cepa var.cepa (onion). Zingiber officinate (ginger) and Piper guineense (Uziza-Ibo) seeds. Phytochemical screening of the spices revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, oxalates and cyanogenic glycosides. The crude aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the spices were found to inhibit a number of test microorganisms (5 bacterial species and a fungus), except Neisseria gonorrheae. Shigella dysenteriae was found to be resistant to both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of ginger and uziza. The alcohic extracts of all the spices were found to be more effective compared to the aqueous extracts. Anti-fungal activity of the extracts of the spices was also observed. By this study, the usefulness of these spices for medicinal purposes has been verified, this being indicated by their anti-microbial activities. Also the present work supports the possible use of these spices as potential medicinal plants at least for the treatment of those diseases caused by the organisms whose growths were inhibited by the extracts.Keywords: anti-microbial properties, spices, extracts, phytochemical screening, medicinal use Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 12(1) 2006: 73-7

The effect of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves on liver enzymes and blood cell counts of normal albino rats

The effects of crude leaf extract of Carica papaya (Linn) on aspartate aminostransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophils, thrombocytes and on bodyweight of normal albino rats were investigated. Albino rats weighing between 74 g and 90.5 g, of both sexes were used for the study. 2 ml of 0.11 g/ml aqueous extract was administered daily to each of the experimented rats for the 7 and 14 days study periods respectively, using stomach canula and the parameters analysed using standard methods. Observations indicated that extract of C. papaya (Pawpaw) leaves did not induce any significant changes in the levels of AST and ALT. The results also showed that the C. papaya leaves extract influenced the immunological pathways. There was an increase in the levels of white blood cells, thrombocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils of the test rats, and a significant weight gain in the animals at the end of the study period. Based on the findings in this work, the C. papaya leaves extract tested could hardly advance any adverse effects on the liver and also have immunological effect on the animal body.Keywords: Weight gain, Pawpaw leaves, liver enzymes, blood counts