Gari agar as culture media for mycological studies

Gari agar was prepared by weighing 28 g of Gari, 14 g of agar powder and 8 g of Hibiscus rabdariffa powder to 1 L of sterile water. A conventional media, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was prepared as control according to manufacturer’s procedure. Aliquot of appropriate dilutions of 1 g of agricultural soil was inoculated onto SDA and Gari agar by pour plate technique and spread plate technique. After 2 days and 4 days of inoculation, the growth of moulds was examined. Fungal colonies on Gari agar were very healthy and compared favourably with fungal growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar which is a conventional medium. Gari agar produced healthy moulds as determined by diameter of growth. Furthermore, conventional media (SDA) supported the growth of bacteria while Gari agar inhibited the growth of bacteria and promoted that of fungi. Cassava can be successfully grown in poor soils with low labour requirement, low capital and ease of cultivation. Gari extract agar can now be used successfully for quantitative count of moulds. The result of this study will go a long way in solving the problem of high cost of conventional media used as culture media for mycological studies.Keywords: Gari agar, Hibiscus rabdariffa, Sabouraud Dextrose agar, quantitative count, moulds, cassava

Antimicrobial activity of the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Jatropha curcas on pathogenic bacteria

This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Jatropha curcas against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Different concentrations of the extracts were subjected to these organisms in which Moringa oleifera showed a higher zone of inhibition on Staphylococcus aureus (2.8 cm) while on E. coli (2.4 cm) while Jatropha curcas showed a higher zone of inhibition on E. coli (2.6 cm) while on S. aureus (1.80 cm). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Moringa oleifera extract on E. coli and S. aureus were 0.250 mg/ml and 0.125 mg/ml respectively while MIC of Jatropha curcas extract on test organisms was 0.125 mg/ml. The quantitative phytochemical screening in g/kg revealed the presence of flavonoid 36 and 21, alkaloids 92 and 39, tannins 7.4 and 5.6, saponins 115.0 and 53.5, cyanogenic glycosides 8.4 and 14.5 for M. oleifera and J. curcas respectively. The observed  antimicrobial properties could be due to the presence of these bioactive compounds and further substantiates the use of Moringa oleifera and Jatropha curcas leaf extracts in medicine. The extracts in correct doses can successfully be used in vivo to inhibit and eventually kill the test bacteria used in this study. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Jatropha curcas, phytochemicals, bacteria, antimicrobial

Bioelectricity from students’ hostel waste water using microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel was constructed using two liter plastic transparent chambers representing the cathode and anode poles. The electrodes used were carbon and copper which were utilized in producing a carboncarbon and copper-copper fuel cells respectively. A 1% sodium chloride and 2% agar proton exchange membrane was used to connect both chambers of the fuel cells. Waste water generated from students’ hostel in Federal University of Technology Owerri [FUTO], Nigeria, was  used as the substrate for pitching both fuel cells. An initial voltage of 308 mV and 338 mV were recorded for both fuel cells. The voltage was monitored for 14 days. During this period a maximum of 0.81 V and 0.62 to 0.02 V were recorded for the copper–copper and carbon–carbon fuel cells, respectively. The voltage production resembled typical growth curve with the performance of the copper–copper fuel cell being better than the carbon – carbon fuel cell in consistency. When both fuel cells were connected in series, a combined voltage of 138 mV (1.38 V) was obtained indicating that arranging the cells in series yielded a maximum output. When the microbial biofilm of both electrodes were analyzed, the microbial population included both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria which included the following: Bacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. This research demonstrates that microorganisms have the capacity to produce electricity using domestic wastewater as substrate.Keywords: Microbial fuel cell, growth curve, bioelectricity, wastewater, electrodes

Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection pathogens among pregnant and non pregnant women

The prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity profile of urinary tract infection isolates from 100 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Owerri General Hospital, Nigeria was assessed. The prevalence of UTI isolates from the pregnant women was compared with that in non-pregnant women. The organisms isolated include: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp and Streptococcus spp. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates were also determined using disk diffusion test. One hundred (100) women were tested; 40% had bacteriuria as against 31% in non-pregnant women. The most sensitive isolate was E. coli, while the least was Streptococcus spp. The most effective antibiotics were Gentamycin, Tarivid and Ciprofloxacin, while the least occurred with Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin, Septrin, Ampiclox. Improvement on personal hygiene and diagnostic screening and treatment will help to reduce the prevalence of bacteriuria in pregnancy. There is also the need for regular antibiotic survey as this will ensure up to date information on the usefulness of the various antibiotics to treat infection thereby avoiding drug resistance as a result of continuous usage of drugs that are not sensitive to some microorganisms.Keywords: antibiotic sensitivity, urinary tract, bacteriuria, women, gram-positive, gram-negative

Detection of Amp C Beta Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella

Detection of AmpC-mediated resistance in Gram negative organisms poses a problem due to misleading results in phenotypic tests. There are no recommended guidelines for detection of this resistance mechanism and there is a need to address this issue as much as the detection of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) since both may co-exist and mask each other. Several methods have been used to detect the presence of AmpC β-lactamase production in some isolates but most of these methods are not reliable. There is a need for a reliable method of evaluating the presence of AmpC β-lactamases in clinical isolates. A total of 81 consecutive non repetitive clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (n=40) and Klebsiella spp. (n=41) were screened for AmpC production by disc diffusion method using cefoxitin (30 Zg) disc and confirmed by inhibitor based test using boronic acid as inhibitor. A total of 16 E.coli isolates (40%) and 16 Klebsiella isolates (39.02%) screened harbored AmpC enzymes, of which 43.75% of E.coli and 56.25% of Klebsiella isolates coproduced ESBL enzymes. Pure AmpC production was observed in 56.25% of E.coli and 43.75% of Klebsiella isolates. The inhibitor based test was useful in identifying cefoxitin susceptible AmpC producers and could also effectively differentiate ESBL from AmpC producing isolates.Keywords: ESBL, antibiotic susceptibility, clinical samples, β-lactam disks

Antifungal properties of Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) peel and stalk extracts

Effect of plantain (Musa paradisiaca (L) AAB genomic group) peel and stalk extracts were investigated using percentage inhibition test. Complete inhibition of growth (100%) was observed for Aspergillusniger, Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus stolonifer at 1.0 mg/ml concentration of stalk extract. Peel extract inhibited A. niger 100%, A. oryzae 76.67% and R. stolonifer 56.67% at the same concentration. As concentration reduces, growth inhibition reduces also up to the minimum inhibitory concentration. The results of this work justify that the plant extracts were able to inhibit and kill the growth of spoilage fungi and this implies that the extract inappropriate doses can be used in food preservation and to treat infections caused by this spoilage fungi. The results further justify the claim that Musa paradisiaca (L) stalk and peel extract demonstrated antifungal actionin which methanol was seen to be a better solvent for extracting active ingredients from medicinal plants considering the high susceptibility of test organisms to methanol extract than ethanol extract used in this study.Phytochemical screening showed the presence of hydrogen cyanide, tannin, alkaloid, steroid, saponin and flavonoid. The growth inhibition of A. niger, A. oryzae and R. stolonifer by Musa paradisiaca peel and stalk methanol and ethanol extract in this study suggest the presence of antifungal substance in the plant tissue and the possibility of using the extract to control plant pathogens especially where the spoilage fungi used in thisstudy are involved

Evaluation of the Antifungal properties of Picralima Nitida seed extracts

The antifungal properties of Picralima nitida seed extract used in this study were determined by percentage growth inhibition (GI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Methanol, ethanol and hot water were used for the extraction. Methanol extract exhibited more antifungal action than ethanol and water extracts although ethanol compared favorably with methanol. The antifungal action of the extracts was in the order of methanol > ethanol > hot water. Complete inhibition of growth (100%) was achieved on Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae and Rhizopus stolonifer at 250 mg/ml concentration of Picralima nitida seed methanol and ethanol extracts. Complete inhibition of growth was observed on A. niger and R. stolonifer with methanol extract and R. stolonifer with ethanol extract at 125 mg/ml concentration. Hot water extract achieved 50, 26.67 and 70% inhibition against A. niger, A. oryzae and R. stolonifer, respectively. As concentration reduced, percentage inhibition reduced up to minimum inhibition concentration. Phytochemical screening of Picralima nitida seed extracts showed the presence of hydrogen cyanide (200 ppm), tannin, alkaloid, steroid and oxalate (3.96 ppm) as well as flavonoid and carbohydrate. Since these extracts at appropriate doses inhibited and eventually killed the test fungi, they could successfully be used to control plant pathogens and in food preservation.Keywords: Picralima nitida seed, growth inhibition, fungus, plant pathogens, food preservation International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 7(1): 41 - 46, 201

Biochemical and microbial qualities of raw, boiled and fermented Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean)

The proximate compositions of raw, boiled and fermented velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) as well as the microbial flora responsible for the fermentation were investigated. The raw seeds contained 29.40% crude protein, 8.92%, crude fiber, 4.65% crude fat, 5.14% ash and 39.8% carbohydrates. Ordinary boiling of the seeds for 30mins, 45 and 60 minutes at 96 0C decreased the crude protein contents to 29.35, 28.00 and 27.98%, while fermentation of the seeds for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days increased the protein contents to 29.60, 29.75, 30.80 and 31.00% respectively. The bacteria (Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus spp.) and fungi (Saccharomyces spp, Rhizopus spp.) were found to be responsible for the fermentative activities. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(2) 2006: 108-11