Bioconversion of Aspergillus niger KM treated rice and wheat bran for experimental rat feed formulation

This study investigated the nutritional value of pre-treated rice and wheat bran wastes as feed formulation in experimental rats. Aspergillus niger KM isolated from decomposing organic matter was tested for cellulase assay. The lignocellulosic agricultural residues (wheat bran and rice bran) were pretreated with ammonia and diluted sulfuric acid after which solid substrate fermentation with Aspergillus niger KM was carried out. Determination of reducing sugar was carried out and the fermented residues were included as components in feed formulation and were fed to different groups of rats for four weeks. The proximate analysis of the feed formulation showed that the NH3 pretreated feeds gave higher protein content of 21.94%, relative to the control or other groups. Growth performances of animals fed with NH3 pretreated wheat bran significantly increased from 158.25 to 201.66 g throughout the feeding periods. Evaluation of the various feeds’ effect on tissue marker enzymes revealed inconsistent alterations relative to the control. Bioconverted wheat or rice bran has nutritive value to support animal growth and could be explored in animal feed preparation

Antimicrobial and toxic potential of aqueous extracts of Allium sativum, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber officinale in Wistar rats

AbstractAllium sativum, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber officinale are medicinal plants with wide use in traditional medicine; however, the increasing use of crude extracts for traditional medicine applications raises safety concerns. We made a preliminary determination of the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial and safety profiles of aqueous extracts of A. sativum, H. sabdariffa and Z. officinale. The extracts were administered orally to Wistar rats for 30 days: a control group received distilled water, three groups received the three extract, and a fifth group received a combination of the three extracts. All three extracts, either individually or in combination, had antimicrobial activity, and all extracts influenced the activities of marker enzymes. The evidence lends credence to use of these plants in traditional medicine but also suggests the probable toxic potential of crude plant extracts

Therapeutic properties and serum iron in T. brucei infected rats treated with amodiaquine and mefloquine

Serum iron was monitored in Trypanosoma brucei-infected rats treated with Amodiaquine and mefloquine antimalarials as the infection progressed. The chemotherapeutic properties of the drugs against African sleeping sickness were also assessed. Results show gradual reduction in the levels of serum iron in the infected but treated rats as the infection progressed. Results also show that reduction in serum iron level is more pronounced in amodiaquine treated but uninfected rats than the mefloquine treated rats. Serum level in infected but not treated rats increased steadily from the day of infection. For prophylactic treatments of infected rat, amodiaquine extended the lifespan of the rats for 14 days while mefloquine extended it for 7 days. For early stage treatment, amodiaquine and mefloquine extended life span for 7 and 4 days respectively while late stage treatment the extensions were 2 and 1 day respectively. Results suggest that these antimalarials especially amodiaquine could be useful in the clinical management of African sleeping sickness and that this may be through reduction of blood iron level, a situation that can inhibit ribonucleotide reductase of the proliferating parasites. Keywords: amodiaquin, mefloquin, T. brucei, serum iron Biokemistri Vol. 17(2) 2005: 115-12