31 research outputs found
Use of Nicotiana Tabacum, Jatropha Curcas, and Ficus Exasperata for Treatment of Pus-Producing Bacteria
The knowledge of orthodox medicine on the medicinal effects of plant extracts has
continued to be a major booster to our modern healthcare delivery for over 80% of the worldâs
population, especially in the developing world. In this study, we examined the leaf extracts
activities of Nicotiana tabacum, Jatropha curcas, and Ficus exasperate on common pus â
producing bacteria that occur during secondary infection of open wounds. The initial plant
extracts were extracted using methanol via the cold extraction method. The obtained extracts
were fractionated via solvent âsolvent extraction in the following solvents ethyl acetate, hexane,
and distilled water. Preliminary studies carried out revealed that only Nicotiana tabacum was
effective at inducing inhibitions on the selected clinical isolates, namely: Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi. The antimicrobial assay of the
chosen plant was done by agar well diffusion method using 20.0 mg/ml and 40.0 mg/ml
concentrations of the selected plant extract. The selected concentrations (40.0 mg/ml and 20.0
mg/ml) exhibited different degrees of zones of inhibition. The mean zones of inhibition ranged
between ca. 6.0 -14.5 mm. From the obtained result, Streptococcus species were the most
inhibited. In addition, the Nicotiana tabacum ethyl acetate fraction exhibited a significant
inhibitory effect when compared to other fractions such as hexane and aqueous fractions. Thus
it is evident that ethyl acetate might be the best choice for extracting the bioactive components
from tobacco
ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON FIBROUS PROTEINS FROM COWRY SHELL (CYPRAEA MONETA, LINNAEUS)
Background: Biomaterials are non-drug substances used to treat, enhance or replace functions of body tissues or
organs. Natural sources of biomaterials have recently become the focus of several research activities. Cowry shell
constitutes one of the most promising natural sources of biomaterials because of its chemical stability,
biodegradability and biocompatibility in the body. However, its applications may be limited due to immunogenic
and toxic responses that may occur following implantation, hence this study.
Materials and Methods: Crude fibrous protein extracted with citrate buffer from pulverised cowry shells (Cypraea
moneta (L)), was resolved into two components (CSP1 and CSP2) by gel filtration. Immunological studies were
performed with antisera obtained from rabbits by double immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis techniques.
Mice treated with the proteins were observed for signs of toxicity and their liver, kidney, lungs and spleen were
processed histologically.
Results: The native molecular weight of CSP1 and CSP2 determined by gel filtration were 91kDa and 33kDa
respectively. CSP1 and CSP2 displayed single bands on SDS-PAGE with subunit molecular weight values of 19kDa
and 19.5kDa respectively. Antisera obtained from rabbits immunised with the crude citrate buffer extracts
precipitated the antigen in double immunodiffusion tests. Histopathological examinations revealed a dose-dependent
damaging effect of the shell proteins on liver, kidney, lung and spleen tissues of the treated mice.
Conclusion: This study showed that cowry shells contain fibrous proteins which are immunogenic and toxic in mice
at relatively high concentrations, causing visible organ damage without concurrent physical manifestations
Significance of African Diets in Biotherapeutic Modulation of the Gut Microbiome
Diet plays an essential role in human development and growth, contributing to health and well-being. The socio-economic values,
cultural perspectives, and dietary formulation in sub-Saharan Africa can influence gut health and disease prevention. The vast microbial
ecosystems in the human gut frequently interrelate to maintain a healthy, well-coordinated cellular and humoral immune signalling to prevent
metabolic dysfunction, pathogen dominance, and induction of systemic diseases. The diverse indigenous diets could differentially act as biotherapeutics to modulate microbial abundance and population characteristics. Such modulation could prevent stunted growth, malnutrition,
induction of bowel diseases, attenuated immune responses, and mortality, particularly among infants. Understanding the associations between specific indigenous African diets and the predictability of the dynamics of gut bacteria genera promises potential biotherapeutics towards improving the prevention, control, and treatment of microbiome-associated diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The dietary influence of many African diets (especially grain-base such as millet, maize, brown rice, sorghum, soya, and tapioca) promotes gut lining integrity, immune tolerance towards the microbiota, and its associated immune and inflammatory
responses. A fibre-rich diet is a promising biotherapeutic candidate that could effectively modulate inflammatory mediatorsâ expression associated with immune cell migration, lymphoid tissue maturation, and signalling pathways. It could also modulate the stimulation of cytokines and chemokines involved in ensuring balance for long-term microbiome programming. The interplay between host and gut microbial digestion is
complex; microbes using and competing for dietary and endogenous proteins are often attributable to variances in the comparative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae taxa. Many auto-inducers could initiate the process of quorum sensing and mammalian epinephrine host cell signalling
system. It could also downregulate inflammatory signals with microbiota tumour taxa that could trigger colorectal cancer initiation, metabolic type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The exploitation of essential biotherapeutic molecules derived from fibre-rich indigenous diet promises food substances for the downregulation of inflammatory signalling that could be harmful to gut microbiota ecological balance and
improved immune response modulation
Utilization of nanochitosan in the sterilization of ponds and water treatment for aquaculture
Water pollution constitutes the leading cause of infant mortality,
neonatal deformities, and shrinkage of manâs average life expectancy.
Pollutants come from point and nonpoint sources; and water pollution
arises from the discharge of wastewater containing undesirable
impurities used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
More so, high nutrient and wastewater runoffs from fish production
systems contribute to the fouling and eutrophication of recipient water
bodies. Hence, aquaculture which is inextricably linked to the natural
environment is challenged by the dearth of appropriate water quantity
and quality, militating against fish, and fishery production.
Nanochitosans as polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent
deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino)
glucose linked by Ă-(1-4) glycosidic linkages. They are naturally
formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of
aquatic arthropods and crustaceans. The unique attributes of chitin
confer a wide range of biotechnological applications on the polymer,
observed in flocculation as a wastewater treatment and purification
route initiated by chitosan. This chapter highlights nanochitosan
properties of aquaculture relevance; and elucidates the purification
potentials of nanochitosan, compared to inorganic coagulants and
organic polymeric flocculants. Effects of chitosan on contaminants and
microorganisms, as well as applications in fish pathogens detection,
fish disease diagnosis, and control are discussed
Next Generation Nanochitosan Applications in Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Food Conservation
Studies have identified the properties of enzymes, functionalized
molecules, and compounds in food industry applications as edible
coatings and encapsulations, that assure prolonged food quality and
standards. These molecules present benefits of longer shelf-life by
delayed deterioration and inhibition of the proliferation of spoilage and
mycotoxigenic microorganisms. However, challenges of reduced
nutrient levels, miniaturized size, and low chemical stability remain
concerning. Chitosan polymers naturally formed from the
deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of aquatic
arthropods and crustaceans offer improved benefits when
functionalized into nanoparticles as nanochitosans. These
polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin,
comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by Ă-(1-
4) glycosidic linkages. This chapter considers the health impacts and
microbiological health hazards associated with animal feeds quality
and the enzyme immobilization potentials of nanochitosans in animalbased
food and feed packages. Thereafter, nanochitosan properties
and benefits are compared against traditional preservatives from
microbes and plants; with highlights on current challenges in the
application of nanochitosan for enzyme immobilization
Nanochitosan derived from marine bacteria
Nanochitosans are polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin and comprise
a series of 2âdeoxyâ2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by Ăâ(1â4) glycosidic linkages. These are naturally
formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and the exoskeleton of aquatic arthropods and
crustaceans. Reports of chitosan production from unicellular marine bacteria inhabiting the sea, and
possessing distinct animalâ and plantâlike characteristics abound. This capacity to synthesize chitosan
from chitin arises from response to stress under extreme environmental conditions, as a means of
survival. Consequently, the microencapsulation of these nanocarriers results in new and improved
chitosan nanoparticles, nanochitosan. This nontoxic bioactive material which can serve as an
antibacterial agent, gene delivery vector as well as carrier for protein and drug release as compared
with chitosan, is limited by its nonspecific molecular weight and higher composition of deacetylated
chitin. This chapter highlights the biology and diversity of nanochitosanâproducing marine bacteria,
including the factors influencing their activities, survival, and distribution. More so, the applications
of marine bacterial nanochitosans in transfection and gene delivery; wound healing and drug
delivery; feed supplement development and antimicrobial activity are discussed
Chapter 21 - Utilization of nanochitosan in the sterilization of ponds and water treatment for aquaculture
Water pollution constitutes the leading cause of infant mortality,
neonatal deformities, and shrinkage of manâs average life expectancy.
Pollutants come from point and nonpoint sources; and water pollution
arises from the discharge of wastewater containing undesirable
impurities used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
More so, high nutrient and wastewater runoffs from fish production
systems contribute to the fouling and eutrophication of recipient water
bodies. Hence, aquaculture which is inextricably linked to the natural
environment is challenged by the dearth of appropriate water quantity
and quality, militating against fish, and fishery production.
Nanochitosans as polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent
deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino)
glucose linked by Ă-(1-4) glycosidic linkages. They are naturally
formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of
aquatic arthropods and crustaceans. The unique attributes of chitin
confer a wide range of biotechnological applications on the polymer,
observed in flocculation as a wastewater treatment and purification
route initiated by chitosan. This chapter highlights nanochitosan properties of aquaculture relevance; and elucidates the purification
potentials of nanochitosan, compared to inorganic coagulants and
organic polymeric flocculants. Effects of chitosan on contaminants and
microorganisms, as well as applications in fish pathogens detection,
fish disease diagnosis, and control are discussed
Utilization of nanochitosan for enzyme immobilization of aquatic and animal-based food packages
Studies have identified the properties of enzymes, functionalized molecules, and compounds in food industry applications as edible coatings and encapsulations, that assure prolonged food quality and standards. These molecules present benefits of longer shelf-life by delayed deterioration and inhibition of the proliferation of spoilage and mycotoxigenic microorganisms. However, challenges of reduced nutrient levels, miniaturized size, and low chemical stability remain concerning. Chitosan polymers naturally formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of aquatic arthropods and crustaceans offer improved benefits when functionalized into nanoparticles as nanochitosans. These polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by Ă-(1-4) glycosidic linkages. This chapter considers the health impacts and