Cellulase Sources in the Eudrilid Earthworm, Eudrilus Eugeniae

Earthworms have been known to breakdown leaf litter to release the nutrients laden in the leaves. Their ability to breakdown leaf litter implies that they have a source of cellulose. The present work looked at these sources to establish if they were exogenous or endogenous in origin. Earthworm samples of the species Eudriluseugeniaewere fed with tissue paper as cellulose source. The resulting faecal droppings were subjected to various carbohydrate tests to confirm the final products. Some of the worms were defaunated by treating with antibiotics to ensure the cellulose source was exogenous. Survival tests were also carried out on the faunated and defaunated earthworms. The results showed by Molisch's test the presence of carbohydrate in both fresh and egested tissue paper; while Benedict test and Barfoed's test indicate that the ingested tissue paper was digested to monosaccharide level. Seliwanoff's test also confirmed that the breakdown product was the monosaccharide fructose. Result of the survival test showed a significantly higher survival rate in the faunated than the defaunated earthworms. The results also showed that cellulose is of both exogenous and endogenous source to the earthworms. It is thus proposed that in plant litter treatments introduction of earthworms should be encouraged above merely introducing microbes as the gut of the worms is here shown to support microbial activity

in vivo antibacterial and therapeutic properties of P. ostreatus against Staphylococcus aureus

Objectives: The use of natural products is embraced by a larger percentage of the world population. Most species of fungi including mushrooms produce useful secondary metabolites that stimulate the immune system against infection and diseases. Investigations were conducted to assay the therapeutic potentials of P. ostreatus against pathogenic staph infection.Methods: The methanol extract of P. ostreatus was prepared using the cold extraction method. Thirty Wistar albino rats weighing 82.0 g to 99.2 g were distributed into 6 groups of 5 and inoculated orally with actively growing Staphylococcus aureus suspension. P. ostreatus methanol extract LD > 5000 mg/kg 50 was used to determine the graded doses for the study. Graded doses of the extract 625 mg, 1250 mg, and 2500 mg were administered orally to the experimental animals for seven days.Results: The negative control and 625 mg had skin ulceration while 1250 mg to 2500 mg produced apparently healthy skin. Bacterial count after 7 days post-treatment was significantly high in the negative control and 625 mg dose (32.00 x 104 ± 6.10b; 43.40 x 104 ± 6.20b Cfu/ml) P< 0.05. Haematological and serum biochemical values were not significantly P < 0.05 affected. Pleurotus ostreatus administration at 1250 to 2500 mg produced a statistically low colony count that was comparable with 13.33 mg Ciprofloxacin and placebo.Conclusion: Pleurotus ostreatus at 1250 to 2500 mg was able to produce clinical recovery from S. aureus infection while 625 mg could not. The extract had no deleterious effect on the blood parameters, liver enzymes, and kidney biomarkers. &nbsp