In vitro Action of Vernonia perrottetii Plant Extracts on Staphylococcus species Associated with Vulvovaginitis of Selected Pregnant Women in Lokoja, Nigeria

The study was carried out to test for the in vitro action of Vernonia perrottetii extracts against Staphylococcus species isolated from women with Vulvovaginitis using medically certified standard procedures. A total of 50 samples of intravaginal swab (ICS) samples were collected from consented pregnant women in a State Specialist Hospital in Nigeria and investigated for the presence of Staphylococcus species and effect of V. perrottetii extracts on the isolates. The phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extract shows that the plant contain secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins with absence of phenol and anthraquinone. Isolate S. aureus (c) and Staphylococcus species(c) were resistant to amoxillin which served as control while other isolates were susceptible to the plant extracts. At a concentration of 1000mg/ml, aqueous extract of the plant exhibited appreciable sensitivity with a zone of inhibition of 26.7mm and 20.7mm at 500mg/ml and 1000mg/ml for S. xylosus. The results of the study imply that extracts of Vernonia perrottetii is a potential biocontrol agents of Staphyloccoci infection

Cytogenetic Effects of Radiation from Projector on Meristematic Cells of Allium Cepa (Onions) Root

The objective of this study is to evaluate the cytogenetic consequences of exposing root tips of Allium cepa (onion) to varying distances and durations of radiation from the projector and treatment with sodium azide and distilled water using standard methods. The sodium azide and distilled water served as positive and negative controls respectively. Results obtained in this study revealed that radiations from the projector induced eleven chromosomal aberrations which included; binucleate cells, sticky chromosomes, vacuolated cells, star metaphase, bride chromosome, vagrant chromosome, faculty polarity, C-mitosis, spindle fibre disturbance, ghost cells, and fragmented chromosomes. This suggests that radiation from the projector poses danger to genetic systems. The higher mitotic index of irradiated onion root tip cells compared to negative control groups indicates that radiation from the projector exhibited a promontory effect on cell division. The findings in this study revealed that exposing cells to radiation beyond 20cm from projector reduced its potencies to induce aberrations as well as distortion of mitotic cell division cycles irrespective of the duration of exposure. This suggests that the genotoxic effects of radiations from a projector depend more on distance than the duration of exposure