Comparative analysis of the phytochemical and antibacterial activity of the root extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla and Vitellaria paradoxa

Background: Over time, herbal plants and their various components have been major sources of therapeutic medicine for man. A comparative study was carried out to determine the phytochemical components and antibacterial activities of the different crude extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla and Vitellaria paradoxa roots on four enteric bacteria; Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. Methodology: Root samples of E. heterophylla and V. paradoxa were collected, washed, air dried and processed to fine powder in the microbiology laboratory of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. Crude extract of the root samples was done by the cold maceration technique using four solvents (chloroform, methanol, petroleum ether and water). Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was done using previously described technique, and in vitro antibacterial activities of different concentrations of the extracts (50-200 mg/ml) and a standard antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) were tested on four enteric bacteria (S. typhi, S. flexneri, E. coli, P. vulgaris) by the agar diffusion test. In vivo antibacterial activities of the two plants were also tested by daily oral administration of 2000 mg/kg bodyweight (for 7 days) of each extract on inbred mice infected through intraperitoneal inoculation of an infective dose of each of the four enteric bacteria. Data were computed as mean ± standard error and analysed by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4. Associations between variables were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA), with p < 0.05 considered as significant value. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts of both plants revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins but V. paradoxa contain more carbohydrates and starch, and less phlobatannins, compared to E. heterophylla. In vitro assay showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity of the methanol, aqueous and chloroform (but not petroleum ether) extracts of the two plant roots. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the different extracts of V. paradoxica extracts were significantly higher (higher mean diameters of inhibition zones) than those of E. heterophylla (p<0.05), and methanol extracts gave the highest antibacterial effects. However, the root extract of E. heterophylla gave a higher antibacterial activity with the in vivo assay on inbred mice than V. paradoxa, and methanol extracts of the two plant extracts gave the highest in vivo activity, followed by aqueous extract and least activity was obtained with the chloroform extract. Conclusion: Crude extracts of E. heterophylla and V. paradoxa roots produce antibacterial activity against enteric Gram-negative bacteria pathogens involved in diarrhoea illnesses. Further researches should be directed towards isolation and characterization of the active compounds in the crude extracts.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infections among blood donors in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Transfusion of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected blood represents a major but avoidable means of HBV transmission, which unfortunately still account for millions of global HBV infections annually. Method: This study determined the prevalence of HBV infection among 550 blood donors aged 18 to 60 years from selected hospitals and blood transfusion centres within the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit and Enzyme linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA). Representative positive and negative samples for RDT and ELISA were tested by both conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay Results: Forty nine (8.9%) and 14 (2.8%) out of the 550 blood donors tested positive for HBsAg with the RDT and ELISA respectively. Replacement donors had higher prevalence rate of the HBV infection than voluntary donors. The highest prevalence of HBV infection was recorded among the 30­39 year age group. The difference in the rate of infection between the males and the females was not statistically significant (p>0.05). A perfect agreement between RDT and PCR and fair agreement between ELISA and PCR were observed. Conclusion: This study report a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus infections among blood donors in Abuja, Nigeria which underscores the need for proper screening of blood for transfusion to completely eliminate the incidence of transfusion transmitted HBV infections

The risk of transfusion transmitted malaria and the need for malaria screening of blood donors in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Blood transfusion saves life but it is also a major risk factor in the transmission of certain infections such as malaria, which remains a public health problem in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology: This study investigated the prevalence of malaria among 550 blood donors aged 18 to 60 years from blood bank units of some selected hospitals in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, using gold standard microscopy for malaria parasite detection. Results: Two hundred and fifty two (45.8%) donors were positive for malaria parasites. Replacement donors had higher prevalence rate of malaria compared to voluntary donors. The distribution of infection on the basis of age revealed the highest prevalence rate of malaria among the 20- 29yrs age group. The rate of infection among the males and the females was not significantly different (p>0.05). No association was observed between the blood group types and the rate of malaria infection (p > 0.05). Conclusion: A high prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was observed among blood donors in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria in this study. The introduction of malaria screening as part of routine screening for blood donation and the provision of modern blood screening equipment within healthcare facilities are highly advocated

Changes in Serum Electrolyte Levels in Typhoid Fever Patients Attending Minna General Hospital, Nigeria.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Typhoid fever on the serum levels of electrolytes in patients attending Minna General Hospital, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were obtained from sixty patients with established typhoid fever attending General Hospital Minna, Nigeria. Serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate levels were determined in the samples using Spectrophotometric method. The case studies included 15 adult males and 15 adult females; 15 male and 15 female children of junior secondary school age (9 – 14 years). Widal test was carried out to ascertain the presence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Results: The mean ± standard deviations of serum Na+, K+, Cl-, and HCO3- in the sixty patients were 116.11±20.65 mmol/L; 3.40±0.90 mmol/L; 87.13±16.34 mmol/L; and 24.10±5.54 mmol/L respectively. When compared with the controls and the laboratory reported normal values, 50% of the patients were found to be hyponatraemic, 51% were hypochloraemic, 36% were hypokalaemic, while 11% had metabolic acidosis. Results based on sex showed insignificant differences between males and females for all electrolytes determined (p< 0.05). Insignificant differences were also observed between children and adult patients for all parameters determined (p< 0.05). In addition, weak positive correlations were observed between cations and anions determined in this study. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed that electrolytes’ abnormalities exist in patients with established typhoid fever attending General Hospital Minna, Niger state, Nigeria.

Cellulase Producing Potential of Aspergillus terreus Uv2 on Cellulosic Wastes Pretreated with Acid and Alkali.

Aims: Cellulases offer very wide applications in biotechnology and enzymes from microbial origins present inexpensive source. Production of value added chemicals from wastes will be an exciting translation from waste to wealth and an eco-friendly initiative instead of the incineration option often given to cellulosic wastes. Study Design: Sulphuric acid and Sodium hydroxide solutions were prepared at 0.5 M and 2 M concentrations to pretreat three cellulosic wastes that had been made neutral prior to fermentation with a known cellulase producing mold Place and Duration of Study: All experiments were conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria for a period of six weeks. Methodology: Hypercellulase producing Aspergillus terreus UV2 strain was used to ferment pretreated cellulosic wastes: Corn cob, corn straw and bagasse, using submerged fermentation in Mandel basal medium. The crystalline lignocelluloses were milled and fractionated into 850 μ particle size and pretreated in two concentrations (0.5 M and 2 M) of both acid (sulphuric acid) and alkali (sodium hydroxide) independently and were left for varying residence time of one hour or three hours in the digester at ambient temperature, Optimum spore concentration of 1.0 x 106 spores/ml and pH of 4.8. Supernatants of crude enzyme were taken and assayed at 24 hours interval. Results: Cellulase activity peaked at 96 hours. Enzyme secretion in the cellulosic wastes was highest in sugarcane bagasse, followed by the corn cob and then the corn straw corresponding to 51%, 40% and 16% respectively. Alkali pretreated cellulosics gave higher yield of cellulase than its counterpart acid. Non-pretreated residues gave only low enzyme titers. Bagasse produced optimum cellulase yield of 0.068 IU/ml/min within 120 hours when subjected to 2 M NaOH digestion for one hour before fermentation. This translated to 39% increase in enzyme expression when compared with non-treated bagasse of 0.049 IU/ml/min. Conclusion: Sugarcane bagasse therefore when digested with mild alkali (2 M NaOH) for a pretreatment period of one hour holds a great possibility for cellulase production using a mutant mold, Aspergillus terreus UV2. Production of value added chemicals from cellulosic wastes will be an exciting translation from waste to wealth.