Evaluation of Microbial and Nutritional Qualities of Aniga and Epiti Moin: Prestige Foods of South Eastern Nigeria

Investigation on the microbiological and nutritional qualities of aniga and epiti moin moin two cultural foods of South eastern Nigeria reveals that the TAPC of aniga ranged from 1.40 x 104 to 1.70 x108cfu/g, the coliform count was < 10 to 2.70 x 104cfu/g and fungal count was 1.60 x 103 to 1.90 x 108cfu/g. Epiti moin moin had a TAPC of 3.40 x 105 to 4.50 x 1010cfu/g, coliform count of 2.00 x 103 to 1.10 x 105cfu/g, and fungal count of 1.17 x 105 to 1.60 x 108cfu/g. The predominant bacterial and fungal isolates included species of Bacillus, Enterobacter, Aspergillus and Saccharomyces. However, species of Corynebacterium, Mucor, and Penicillium were also recovered from epiti moin moin. Varied concentrations of the phytochemicals saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, oxalate and cyanide were detected and the proximate analysis shows that aniga and epiti moin moin had moisture contents of 68.55 and 68.41%, Carbohydrate contents of 23.17 and 21.61%, Protein contents of 5.08 and 5.67% and Fat contents of 1.73 and 2.87% respectively. Aniga and Epiti moin moin are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals; they are foods that could be used to augment the nutritional need of man. It is advanced that the application of good manufacturing practices (GMP) and effective hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) in the production of these foods will be necessary to curtail microbial contaminants, standardize the processing procedures and thus optimize the foods for wider consumer acceptabilit

Microbiological and chemical compositions of agbarati and ogiri Igbo, popular foods of south eastern Nigerians

The microbial and chemical compositions of two indigenous foods of South eastern Nigeria were investigated. The TAPC of ogiri Igbo ranged from 1.2 x 1010 to 2.4 x1011cfu/g, the coliform count was 2.8 x 102 to 7.0 x 106cfu/g, and fungal count was 1.0 x 108 to 3.3 x 1011cfu/g. Agbarati had a TAPC of 1.1 x 109 to 1.2 x 1011cfu/g, coliform count of 3.9 x 105 to 2.7 x 106cfu/g, and fungal count of 1.9 x 107 to 2.4 x 107cfu/g. Species of Bacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Geotrichum, Mucor, Rhizopus and Saccharomyces were prevalent in the samples. The chemical analysis of the food samples indicated the presence of saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, oxalate and cyanide in varied amounts. The nutritional analysis revealed that agbarati and ogiri had moisture contents of 11.40 and 36.12%, Fat contents of 39.10 and 30.24 %, Fiber contents of 2.91 and 3.65%, Protein contents of 29.63 and 12.75%, Ash contents of 4.25 and 1.62% and Carbohydrate contents of 12.71 and 15.62, respectively. These traditional foods are good sources of nutrients however, their microbial loads above 106 tolerant limits and the presence of coliforms calls for concern, adequate hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) measure and effective good manufacturing practice (GMP) is imperative in the production of these local foods

Implications of Geographic Information System in Mapping Solid Waste Collection Points in New Owerri, Imo State

The unsanitary condition in which solid waste is temporarily dumped and disposed of has generated environmental concern through pollutions and health hazards. This calls for a need to map out suitable collection points and disposal point for effective and efficient management of solid waste to promote hygienic environment. Therefore, GIS offers solution in this regard as a decision support system for most suitable site selection. Consequently, different layers (roads, stream and land use) were created to serve the purpose of manipulation and analyses to procure most suitable site for collection point of solid waste generated in New Owerri, Imo State using Arc view 3.2a software

The effect of biodeterioration on the nutritional composition and microbiology of an edible long- winged reproductive termite, Macroterms bellicosus. Smeathman

Macroterms bellicoccus, an edible long-winged reproductive termite is an important food source and its harvesting is becoming a major activity in some rural areas in Nigeria. The microbiology and proximate characteristics of the fresh products had been reported. Proximate analysis and gross energy determined for the deteriorated sample proved the effect of microorganisms on the nutritional composition of the sample. There was a drastic reduction in the protein and fat content as well as the gross energy value of the deteriorated sample as a result of disintegration of valuable food components by microorganisms. Moisture content was high and may encourage deterioration and spoilage. Seven genera of bacteria and six genera of moulds and one species of yeast were isolated from the deteriorated sample. The colony count of bacteria are Staphylococcus ( 3.0 × 105) , Bacillus (1.2 ×104), Pseudomonas ( 6.0 × 103), Lactobacillus (2.0 × 102), Acinetobacter (2.0 × 104), Proteus (1.4 × 103) and Enterococcus (3.0 × 104), while the fungal counts were Mucor (3.0 × 102), Rhizopus (1.0 × 102), Aspergillus (3.0 × 102), Penicillium (5.0 × 102), Fusarium (4.0 × 102), Geotrichum (3.0 × 103) and Sacchoromyces (2.0 × 104), Mucor sp (1.5 × 102), Aspergillus flavus (3.0 × 101). Staphylococcus and Bacillus species produce potent toxins and their presence portends health risk to the consumers. Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium verrucosum produce mycotoxins that cause cancer and liver disfunctioning amongst others. Mucor sp are involved in food deterioration and spoilage. Deterioration appeared to be a concerted effort of microorganisms, moisture and high nutrient composition of the sample

The effects of fermentation and boiling on the level of hydrogen cyanide in Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean)

The effects of fermentation and boiling on the level of hydrogen cyanide in Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) were investigated. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of Mucuna pruriens revealed the presence that tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides and cyanogenic glycosides. Quantitative analysis revealed that raw Mucuna pruriens contained 42.10 mg/kg hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The respective fermentation and boiling treatments given to Mucuna pruriens significantly reduced the HCN level in the bean. Fermentation for 4 days reduced the HCN concentration to 8.10 mg/kg (33.25%), while boiling for 60 min reduced it to 26.70 mg/kg (36.38%). Combined 4 days fermentation and 60 min boiling treatments significantly reduced the level of HCN in the bean to 18.85 mg/kg being more effective than its respective fermentation or boiling method in reducing the HCN content by 55.23%. Microorganisms involved in the fermentation were bacteria (Proteus spp, Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas spp) and fungi (Saccharomyces spp, Penicillium spp and Rhizopus, spp). The result showed that a combined 4 days fermentation and 60 minutes boiling treatment was more effective in reducing the level of hydrogen cyanide in Mucuna pruriens to safe levels allowed in human and livestock feeds.Keywords: Boiling, fermentation, hydrogen cyanide, Mucuna pruriens, velvet bean

Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Acalypha hispida leaves

The active ingredients in the leaves of Acalypha hispida plant were extracted with ethanol, methanol, chloroform and water to ascertain the extractive potentials of the solvents and the antibacterial properties of the extracts. The organisms used for the antibacterial properties assessment were E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The susceptibilities of the test bacteria to the extracts were determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and zone of inhibition test (ZIT) methods. The test organisms were susceptible to the extracts, although this varied across different solvent extracts and the test bacteria. The Methanol extract exhibited more antibacterial activity against the test bacteria, followed by ethanol, chloroform and water in decreasing order. There was no significant difference between the antibacterial effect of methanol and ethanol extracts of A. hispida on P. aeruginosa and E. coli (p>0.05). There was however significant difference between the  antibacterial effect of methanol and ethanol extracts of A. hispida on S. aureus and S. typhi (p ethanol > chloroform > water. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts revealed the presence of tannin, alkaloid, steroid, saponin and flavonoid, while hydrogen cyanide and carbohydrate were absent.Key words: Acalypha hispida, bacteria, antibacterial activity and phytochemical properties

Effects of animal wastes treatments of diesel polluted soils on hydrocarbon-utilizing microbial counts and oil degradation

The effect of different organic nutrient supplements on the total  hydrocarbon-utilizing microbial counts and oil degradation in diesel-polluted soil was investigated. Heavily and moderately polluted soil samples were amended with different grades (200, 400 and 600 g) of organic nutrient supplements (poultry waste, pig waste and cow dung) and inorganic fertilizer. Soil samples obtained were also polluted with different percentage of diesel oil. Viable aerobic diesel oil-utilizing microorganisms were enumerated at two weeks interval using the vapor phase transfer method. The residual oil and grease contents of the samples were determined at the beginning and at the end of the study. The microbial counts increased with corresponding increase in the quantity of  supplements added. Poultry waste-amended samples had higher counts, followed by pig waste, cow dung and inorganic fertilizer-amended samples. In the sample polluted with different percentage of diesel oil, the microbial counts decreased with increase in the percentage of diesel oil pollution. The quantity of residual oil and grease increased with decrease in the quantity of supplements. More diesel oil degradation was achieved in poultry waste-amended samples followed by the pig waste-amended, cow dung-amended and lastly, inorganic fertilizer-amended samples. This showed that in the soil, the rate of degradation of diesel oil can be increased by the addition of organic wastes. Poultry waste proved the best organic waste for the remediation process.Keywords: Diesel oil, organic wastes, hydrocarbon-utilizing count, bioremediation, pollutio