Antifungal Activities of a Pasture Honey and Ginger (Ziginber Officinale) Extracts on Some Pathogenic Fungi

Methanol, ethanol, ginger extracts and a pasture honey were tested on Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichoderma viride and Candida albicans using the well-in-agar method. The antifungal sensitivity assay indicated that the chemical solvent extracts of ginger, pasture honey and mixtures of honey and ginger extracts exerted inhibitory zones on the test fungi species except A. Fumigatus. However, the pasture honey displayed higher inhibitory values of 45 mm than the mixtures of honey and ethanol extract of ginger and honey and methanol extract of ginger with 40 mm and 30 mm inhibitory zones respectively. The phytochemicals present in honey were saponin and cardiac glycoside, while in the ginger sample, saponin, phlobatannin, alkaloids, flavonoids and cardiac glycoside were present. Summarily, honey and ginger extracts displayed the highest inhibitory activity on all the tested fungal isolates compared to the employed positive control antifungal (Griseofulvin and Ketoconazole)

Impact of electromagnetic field on the pathogenicity of selected entomopathogenic bacteria (Proteus sp. and Bacillus sp.) on tick (Rhipicephalus decoloratus)

The effect of exposing entomopathogenic bacteria isolated from tick (Rhipicephalus decoloratus) to variable intensities of electromagnetic field for different periods of time was examined on their pathogenicity on tick. Some bacterial isolates from the macerate of tick cadavers were used in the infection of healthy engorged ticks. Two of the bacteria tested namely Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus cereus were able to induce morbid conditions in the ticks both of which were re-isolated from the resulting tick cadavers. Re-infection of different concentrations of both entomopathogenic bacteria of ticks were carried out on the tested ticks to determine the minimum lethal concentration required for pathogenicity. The result reveals that P. mirabilis and B. cereus were able to cause disease at concentrations of 106 and 107 cfu/ml, respectively. These bacteria were then exposed to electromagnetic field with different intensities for different periods of time after which they were reinfected into healthy insects. Conclusively, the study reveals some signs of stimulation in the entomopathogenic potency of B. cereus after exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) when compared to the control treatments while a significant reduction in the  entomopathogenic potency of P. mirabilis was recorded.Keywords: Entomopathogens, electromagnetic field, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(29), pp. 4683-469