Antibacterial activities of sawdust and stem bark of Sasswood tree (Erythrophleum suaveolens, Guill. & Perr. Brenan, 1917) extracts against selected wood bacteria

This study assessed the antibacterial properties of sawdust and stem bark of Erythrophleum suaveolens extracts on selected wood bacteria. Erythrophleum suaveolens samples were collected, dried and macerated by dissolving 1 Kg and 0.60 Kg of stem bark and sawdust respectively into 1 L of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Sporfloxacin ciprofloxacin and cefuroxine antibiotics were used as control. The mixture was left for 24 hours then filtered and the filtrates evaporated to dryness. Qualitative phytochemical screening, zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations (MIC/MBC) were determined according to standard methods. Tannins, steroids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, carbohydrates anthraquinones and alkaloids phytochemicals were present in E. suaveolens extracts. Zone of inhibition (32 – 37 mm) of antibiotics on test bacteria compared favourably with 17 – 24 mm of E. suaveolens extracts. Erythrophleum suaveolens ethyl acetate and methanol E. suaveolens extracts inhibited Staphylolococus aureus, Ralstonia solanacearum, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecium and Acidobacterium capsulatum growth at MIC of 10 mg/mL and n-hexane extracts at 20 mg/mL. At MBC of 20 mg/mL methanol stem bark extract completely killed most test bacteria. Methanol extracts were the most active extracts. The study has shown that E. suaveolens extracts can be explored in the control of plant diseases caused by test bacteria in the study. Key words: Antibacterial, E. suaveolens, extract, phytochemicals, zone of inhibitio

Density of Briquettes Produced from Bambara Groundnut Shells and It’s Binary and Tertiary Combinations with Rice Husk and Peanut Shells

The density of briquettes produced from bambara groundnut shells and its binary and tertiary combinations with rice husk and peanut shells was investigated for its potentials in domestic cooking. The bambara groundnut shells, rice husk and peanut shells were collected from various locations in Benue State Nigeria, where the agro products are produced in large quantities. The briquetting process and assessment of compressed and relaxed densities were conducted in the Department of Forestry laboratory of the University of Agriculture Makurdi Nigeria. The experimental design was 4 x 2 x 3 factorial in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 replicates.  There were 4 briquette types, 2 briquette shapes and 3 percentage starch binder levels. Bambara shells and its binary and tertiary combinations with Rice husk and Peanut shells were collected, dried, ground, sieved to uniform fraction of 1.17mm and used to produce donut and puck shaped briquettes at 15%, 25% and 35% of starch binder. The briquette combinations were Bambara (100:0), Bambara + Rice (50:50), Bambara + Peanut (50:50) and Bambara + Rice + Peanut (33:33:33). The results were analysed using ANOVA and LSD at p<0.05 and descriptive statistics. The compressed densities of bambara briquettes and its binary and tertiary combination with rice husk and peanut shells were significant. Bambara briquettes recorded the highest compressed density of 1.0g/cm3, while the relaxed densities of the briquettes were not significant. Bambara briquettes produced the lowest relaxed density of 0.55 g/cm3 while bambara + rice briquettes had the highest relaxed density of 0.87 g/cm3.The effect of percentage starch binder was significant on compressed density of bambara briquettes and its combinations but the relaxed density was not significant. The effect of briquette shape was significant on compressed and relaxed densities of the briquettes. Puck shaped bambara briquettes and its combinations recorded higher compressed and relaxed densities than donut shaped briquettes. Bambara briquettes showed favourable physical and combustion properties that are suitable for utilization as alternative fuel energy. Bambara shells and its binary and tertiary combinations with rice husk and peanut shells are therefore, recommended for production of briquettes as alternative fuel for domestic cooking due to the high energy composition of the briquette. Keywords: Compressed density, Relaxed Density, Briquette type, Percentage binder, Briquette shape

Examen de producción de carbon vegetal en gobiernos locales de Makurdi y Guma áreas del Estado de Benue, Nigeria

Economic adversity, scarcity, joblessness and upsurge in the price of oil have dictated the need for people to find alternative means of making a living in respect of domestic cooking energy in Nigeria. Therefore, this work examined charcoal production in both Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue state to ascertain its impacts, contributions to rural livelihood and efforts in replanting trees felled for charcoal production. Villages involved in charcoal production were identified using snowball sampling techniques. A Multi-stage Sampling Technique was employed to select respondents for data collection as personal interview and semi-structured questionnaire were used. Twelve villages were selected purposively from four Council Wards out of eleven in Makurdi LGA, while six villages were selected from two Council Wards out of ten in Guma LGA. Three charcoal producers and marketers were selected in each village for administration of questionnaire. Results revealed that males (85.4%, 83.7%) were higher than females (14.6%, 16.3%) in charcoal production in both Makurdi and Guma LGAs, respectively. Youths between ages of 21-30 years (27.1% and 32.6%) in Makudri and Guma with highest level of secondary education were foremost in the business. Prosopis africana was the most preferred tree species for charcoal production in the area. Despite fewer number of Council Wards chosen in Guma LGA, respondents felled as much as 132 trees per week for charcoal production against 109 trees felled in Makurdi LGA. The results also revealed that on weekly bases, 22 charcoal producers in Makurdi earned N25,000, while 18 in Guma LGA earned between N11, 000 - N15, 000 from charcoal business. The result further revealed that, respondents met family needs as feeding family members, paying school fees and purchase of motorcycles. The major health hazard encountered by respondents in Makurdi and Guma LGAs was fire burn (50% and 25%), respectively. Efforts in replanting felled trees in the study area was minimal through plantation forestry and agroforestry. In conclusion, charcoal production was observed to improve socio-economic benefits to people. However, it was recommended that alternative sources of livelihood should be provided for the people to mitigate the adverse effects of deforestation in the StateLa adversidad económica, la escasez, el desempleo y el aumento en el precio del petróleo han dictado la necesidad de que las personas encuentren medios alternativos para ganarse la vida con respecto a la energía doméstica para cocinar en Nigeria. Por lo tanto, este trabajo examinó la producción de carbón vegetal tanto en Makurdi como en el estado de Guma LGAs de Benue para determinar su impacto, sus contribuciones al sustento rural y los esfuerzos para replantar árboles talados para la producción de carbón vegetal. Las aldeas involucradas en la producción de carbón vegetal fueron identificadas utilizando técnicas de muestreo de bolas de nieve. Se empleó una técnica de muestreo en varias etapas para seleccionar a los encuestados para la recolección de datos, ya que se utilizaron entrevistas personales y cuestionarios semiestructurados. Doce aldeas fueron seleccionadas a propósito de cuatro salas del Consejo de cada once en Makurdi LGA, mientras que seis aldeas fueron seleccionadas de dos salas del Consejo de cada diez fueron diez en Guma LGA. Se seleccionaron tres productores y comercializadores de carbón vegetal en cada aldea para la administración del cuestionario. Los resultados revelaron que los hombres (85.4%, 83.7%) fueron más altos que las mujeres (14.6%, 16.3%) en LGAs de Makurdi y Guma, respectivamente. Los jóvenes entre las edades de 21-30 años (27.1% y 32.6%) en Makudri y Guma con el nivel más alto de educación secundaria fueron los principales en el negocio. Prosopis africana fue la especie de árbol más preferida para la producción de carbón vegetal en el área. Sin embargo, a pesar de la menor cantidad de salas del Consejo elegidas en Guma LGA, los encuestados talaron 132 árboles por semana para la producción de carbón vegetal contra 109 árboles derribados en Makurdi LGA, que suman 241 árboles por semana. Los resultados también revelan que en las bases semanales, 22 productores de carbón en Makurdi ganaron N25,000, mientras que 18 en Guma LGA ganaron entre N11, 000 - N15, 000 del negocio del carbón. El resultado reveló además que, los encuestados satisfacían las necesidades de la familia como alimentación, pago de cuotas escolares y compra de motocicletas. El principal peligro para la salud encontrado por los encuestados en LGAs de Makurdi y Guma fue la quema por incendio (50% y 25%), respectivamente. Los esfuerzos para replantar árboles en el área de estudio fueron mínimos a través de la plantación forestal y la agrosilvicultura. En conclusión, se observó que la producción de carbón vegetal mejora los beneficios socioeconómicos para las personas. Sin embargo, se debe proporcionar una fuente alternativa de sustento para que las personas mitiguen el efecto adverso de la deforestació

Phytochemical screening and antifungal activity of sawdust and stem bark extracts from Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr) Brena

This study was carried out to investigate the antifungal potentials of stem bark and sawdust of Erythrophleum suaveolens. Stem bark was collected from Federal University of Agriculture (FUAM) while sawdust sample was collected from Timber Shed Makurdi. Both samples were air dried while the stem bark was ground into powder for extraction. Extraction of samples was done sequentially by macerating 1000 g and 600 g of stem bark and sawdust, respectively using 1000 mL (w/v) of n-hexane for 24 hours and filtering off the hexane extract followed by ethyl acetate and methanol in that order for 24 hours each. Extracts were filtered and evaporated to obtain dried extracts and yields calculated. Phytochemical screening of samples was carried out according to AOAC standard methods. Diffusion method was used for antifungal screening of extracts. Sabouraud Dextrose agar was prepared as media in Petri dishes where Zones of Inhibition were observed for fungal growth. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of extracts was determined according to broth dilution technique at 40 g/mL, 20 g/mL, 10 g/mL, 5 g/mL and 2.5 g/mL. Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) determined by sub culturing MIC to determine the least concentration at which fungi were killed. Percentage yield of extract was highest (5.19 %) in stem bark and lowest (0.12 %) in sawdust. Methanol extracts had the highest yield (5.19 % and 3.42 %) for stem bark and sawdust followed by ethyl acetate (1.06 % and 0.36 %) and n’ hexane (0.16 % and 0.12 %), respectively. Flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, and tannins were in the stem bark while, anthraquinones, saponins and tannins were completely absent in the E. suaveolens sawdust. Zones of Inhibition (ZOIs) of antibiotics ranged between 27 mm – 35 mm while ZOIs for crude extracts ranged from 18 mm – 28 mm. At MIC of 5 mg/mL, E. Suaveolens stem bark methanol extract inhibited Coniophora puteana and Fomitopsis pinicoca growth. At MFC of 10 mg/mL the same microbes were killed. Erythrophleum suaveolens stem bark methanol can be used in the control of brown-rot decay and stem decay caused by Coniophora puteana and Fomitopsis pinicoca.Keywords: Antifungal, brown-rot decay, stem decay, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Coniophora puteana, Fomitopsis pinicoca, Antimicrobial, Aspergillus fumigatu