Microbiological quality, proximate composition and in vitro starch/protein digestibility of Sorghum bicolor flour fermented with lactic acid bacteria consortia

Abstract Background This study evaluated the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) consortium fermentation on proximate and in vitro starch and protein digestibility of sorghum flour using standard techniques at 12-h intervals. Lactic acid bacteria previously isolated from fermenting maize and sorghum were combined as follows: Lactobacillus nantensis LP33 + Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 + Lactobacillus fermentum CIP102980 + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC53/03 + Lactobacillus reuteri DSM20016 and Lactobacillus fermentum CIP102980 + Lactobacillus brevis ATCC14869 + Lactobacillus nantensis LP33 + Pediococcus acidilactici DSM20284 + Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 for consortium from maize and sorghum, respectively, and used to ferment sorghum flour. The flour was also fermented spontaneously for comparison. Results The result showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in moisture, ash and protein contents; while fiber, lipid and carbohydrate contents decreased with increasing fermentation time in all set-ups. The in vitro protein digestibility increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 63.68 ± 1.46 to 79.89 ± 1.14%, 63.68 ± 1.46 to 83.72 ± 2.08% and 63.68 ± 1.46 to 84.28 ± 2.16% for naturally, LAB consortium from maize-fermented and LAB consortium from sorghum-fermented samples, respectively. Total viable count and total lactic acid bacteria count increased with fermentation with no coliform and fungal count in the consortia-fermented sample. The occurrence of isolates showed that only starter organisms were isolated from the consortia fermentations. Conclusion This study has shown the effectiveness of LAB consortium fermentation in improving the nutritional quality and in vitro starch/protein digestibility of sorghum flour which holds potential in food fortification by food industries

GC-MS Analysis of the Phytochemical Constituents, Safety Assessment, Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> Leaf Extract in Rats

In traditional medicine, Cucurbita pepo L. is used for the treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, inflammations, and wound injuries. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, safety profile, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory activities of Cucurbita pepo leaf extract in rats. The phytochemical analysis of C. pepo extract was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In acute toxicity tests, the rats orally received a single dose of 5 g/kg extract of C. pepo. In a subacute toxicity study, the rats received 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the C. pepo extract via daily gavage for 14 days. Bioactive compounds 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, trans-β-ionone, phytol, trans-farnesol, and squalene were identified. There were no toxic effects detected in any of the evaluated parameters, namely liver, kidney, haematological, lipid, and antioxidant enzymes. In wound healing, C. pepo extract showed greater % wound contraction and tensile strength, as well as reduced wound healing time (12 days) and epithelialization when compared to the control (normal saline) and povidone-iodine treated groups. Rats treated with C. pepo extract elicit anti-inflammatory activity. The findings of this study revealed that the C. pepo extract has wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties with a wide margin of safety

GC-MS Analysis of the Phytochemical Constituents, Safety Assessment, Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Cucurbita pepo Leaf Extract in Rats

In traditional medicine, Cucurbita pepo L. is used for the treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, inflammations, and wound injuries. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, safety profile, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory activities of Cucurbita pepo leaf extract in rats. The phytochemical analysis of C. pepo extract was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In acute toxicity tests, the rats orally received a single dose of 5 g/kg extract of C. pepo. In a subacute toxicity study, the rats received 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the C. pepo extract via daily gavage for 14 days. Bioactive compounds 1-octen-3-ol, nonanal, trans-&beta;-ionone, phytol, trans-farnesol, and squalene were identified. There were no toxic effects detected in any of the evaluated parameters, namely liver, kidney, haematological, lipid, and antioxidant enzymes. In wound healing, C. pepo extract showed greater % wound contraction and tensile strength, as well as reduced wound healing time (12 days) and epithelialization when compared to the control (normal saline) and povidone-iodine treated groups. Rats treated with C. pepo extract elicit anti-inflammatory activity. The findings of this study revealed that the C. pepo extract has wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties with a wide margin of safety

The conventional pathogenic flora compositions: An overview of the trends used for bacterial pathogenicity identifications

Over 250 species of resident flora in the class of bacteria are known to be associated with humans. These conventional flora compositions is often determined by factors which may not be limited to genetics, age, sex, stress and nutrition of humans. Man is constantly in contact with bacteria through media such as air, water, soil and food. This paper reviews the concept of bacterial pathogenesis from the sequential point of colonization to tissue injury. The paper in addition to examination of the factors which enhance virulence in bacterial pathogens also x-rayed the concept of pathogenicity islands and the next generation approaches or rather current trends/methods used in the bacterial pathogenicity investigations. In terms of pathogenicity which of course is the capacity to cause disease in animals, requires that the attacking bacterial strain is virulent, and has ability to bypass the host immune defensive mechanisms. In order to achieve or exhibit pathogenicity, the virulence factors required by microorganisms include capsule, pigments, enzymes, iron acquisition through siderophores. Bacterial Pathogenicity Islands as a distinct concept in bacterial pathogenesis are just loci on the chromosome or extra chromosomal units which are acquired by horizontal gene transfer within pathogens in a microbial community or biofilm. In the area of laboratory investigations, bacterial pathogenesis was initially carried out using culture dependent approaches, which can only detect about 1% of human and veterinary-important pathogens. However, in the recent paradigms shift, the use of proteomics, metagenomics, phylogenetic tree analyses, spooligotyping, and finger printing etc. have made it possible that 100% of the bacterial pathogens in nature can be extensively studied