Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.)

The extracts of the leaves and stem bark of anacardium occidentale were screened for phytochemically for the presence of secondary metabolites and for in vitro antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and tannins. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts and the methanol extract of the stem bark were tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using the agar dilution method. The leaf methanol extracts presented a higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activity was greatest against K. pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis and Candida albicans. Also the leaf extracts showed greater activity than the stem bark extracts. Of the six organisms tested, the stem bark extracts had activity against three. The mean diameter of the zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts was between 13mm and 22mm. Bacillus subtilis showed the highest zone of inhibition (22mm) to the leaf methanol extract. The extracts compared favourably with ampicillin used as a standard control

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.)

The extracts of the leaves and stem bark of anacardium occidentale were screened for phytochemically for the presence of secondary metabolites and for in vitro antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and tannins. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts and the methanol extract of the stem bark were tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli using the agar dilution method. The leaf methanol extracts presented a higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activity was greatest against K. pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis and Candida albicans. Also the leaf extracts showed greater activity than the stem bark extracts. Of the six organisms tested, the stem bark extracts had activity against three. The mean diameter of the zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts was between 13mm and 22mm. Bacillus subtilis showed the highest zone of inhibition (22mm) to the leaf methanol extract. The extracts compared favourably with ampicillin used as a standard control

Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and Associated Risk Factors among Students in a Nigerian University

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has been associated with subsequent infection and transmission within the hospital and community settings. This study was carried out to evaluate the carriage rates of S. aureus in a University student population and describe risk factors associated with the carriage. Two-hundred and seventy-seven nasal samples were obtained from healthy volunteer students and screened for S. aureus by standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted on the bacterial isolates by the disk diffusion technique. A questionnaire was conducted with each student to acquire demographic and risk factor information. One hundred and fifty-seven (56.7%) isolates were identified as S. aureus. Antibiotic resistance was highest for cloxacillin (91%), ceftazidime (71%), cotrimoxazole (23%), erythromycin (20%) and oxacillin (16%). Risk factors such as hospitalization in the past 12 months, recent skin infection and participation in sports were significantly associated with carrier status. High resistance to certain antibiotics observed in this study shows that nasal colonization could serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant strains within the community

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and biofilm formation in coagulase negative staphylococci

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Ethnobotanical and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of Moringa oleifera, Andrographis paniculata and Asystasia vogeliana extracts

Ethnobotanical and in vitro cytotoxicity studies were carried out on three different multi- purpose medicinal plants; Moringa oleifera (Lam) (Moringaceae), Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) and Asystasia vogeliana (Benth) (Acanthaceae). The ethnobotanical information was collected by one to one interview and discussions using semi-structured questionnaires with indigenous people from selected locations in Nigeria. Plant samples collected were identified and authenticated in Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State. Each of these three plant samples was extracted in 95% ethanol using a soxhlet extraction apparatus and concentrated to dryness at 45 °C. M. oleifera showed the highest incidence of occurrence (17.5%), fidelity level (74.9%) and multi-purpose usage. The ethnobotanical study revealed the medicinal relevance of the three plants in the treatment of myriads of diseases and ailments including malaria, fever, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes among others in local herbal medicine. The in vitro cytotoxicity activities of ethanol extracts of the three plant species were screened in two cancer cell lines (BGC-823 and HeLa cells) using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. Cytotoxicity assay on the two cell lines BGC-823 and HeLa cells revealed that only the ethanolic extract of A. paniculata exhibited some level (moderate) cytotoxicity activity with IC50 values of 24.7 and 23.1 μg/ml respectively. M. oleifera and A. vogeliana did not show any significant activity on the cell lines. The study highlights the importance of ethnobotanical information in finding cost effective, potent and safe herbs for people and screening of the plant species for their activities against cancer cell lines. Further studies on the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds responsible for cytotoxic effects of A. paniculata is recommended