Control of fungal growth in grapefruit and tomato juices by two nigerian spice (Thymus vulgaris and Xylopia aethiopica) extracts

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The Effect of Allium Sativum and Xylopia Aethiopica Extracts on the Growth of Fungi in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) Juice

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effect of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica on the growth of Mucor species, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger isolated from deteriorating sweet potato. While 3% (v/v) aqueous extract of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica reduced the growth of the fungi; a combination of 2% each of both plant extracts retarded the growth better. Partial purification of aqueous extract of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica showed that ethyl acetate fraction of the extracts exhibited the highest level of inhibition of growth of the test fungi compared with n-hexane and diethyl ether fractions. Extracts of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica may be substitutes for conventional chemical preservatives in the processing of juices.Key words: Preservative, conducted, isolated, deteriorating, extract, substitute, conventiona

Blood Pressure Patterns, Stress Assessment and Anthropometric Characteristics of Health Workers in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Background: Globally, the burden of cardio-metabolic diseases especially obesity, hypertension, diabetes is rapidly increasing, and the African continent is most affected region in the world.Objective: The study assessed the blood pressure patterns, stress assessment and anthropometric characteristics of health workers in Jos university teaching hospital, Jos, NigeriaMethods: Apparently healthy 283 staff was randomly selected. Structured questionnaire, anthropometric instruments and digital sphygmomanometer were used to source information from the respondents. Obesity, blood pressurepatterns and stress assessment of the respondents were assessed in according to WHO standard and International Stress Management Association (ISMA) respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square. In all cases, a probability of (<0.05) were taken to indicates level of significanceResults: The mean age of the respondents was 36.72 ± 9.47years. More females (68%) participated in the study than males (32%). Only (21.6%) of the respondents drink alcohol, 2.5% smoke cigarette, 65% did not engage in physical exercise while 18.1% eat late at night. Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity as determined by abnormal values for BMI, WC, WHR, BIA and WHtR were 48.9%, 31.1%, 43.1%, 65% and 71.4% respectively while 30.1% had a raised blood pressure,more than half (69.9%) of the respondents were either moderately or highly stressed. Significant difference was found in age, nature of work and parents with chronic Diseasesacross the gender (p<0.05).Conclusion: Overweight, obesity, moderate stress level and high blood pressure were prevalent among the health workers. Obesity was the risk factor of high blood pressure among them. Keywords: Hypertension, obesity, stress, health workers, alcoho