ABSTRACT
Background: Bitter leaf and palm oil combination in treating diarrhoea is common in Africa. The aim of this study is to determine the synergistic and antimicrobial potential of Vernonia amygdalina and Elaeis guineensis on bacteria isolates from diarrheic stool.Methodology: One hundred and fifty (150) diarrheic stool samples from the Diagnostic Laboratory in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, were inoculated in Selenite F broth, MacConkey, Nutrient and Salmonella-Shigella agar plates using standard methods. Fresh and dry bitter leaf extracts were prepared by mashing, weighing and dissolving 100 grams(g) and 150 g concentrations of each in 100 milliliters(mls) of ethanol and sterile distilled water respectively. Undiluted mixture of bitter leaf and palm oil were prepared by mixing 2 mls of each in a sterile beaker. Zero-point one milliliter (0.1ml) of each undiluted extract, their mixture, ethanol and palm oil were separately dispensed into appropriately labeled wells using sterile pipette for sensitivity test on the isolated bacteria. The pH, temperatures and the phytochemical contents of the bitter extracts and palm oil were determined using pH meter, thermometer and spectrophotometric method.Results: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. were isolated. The pH and temperature of bitter leaf extract and palm oil were 7.2 and 26?C and 6.7 and 26?C respectively while the pH and temperature for bitter leaf and the palm oil mixture was 6.9 and 26?C. The bitter leaf and palm oil extracts, their combination, ethanol and distilled water used on the isolates as antibiotics did not show any sensitivity. The phytochemicals identified in the bitter leaf were saponins, alkaloids and tannins while carotene was detected in the palm oil.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the bitter leaf extract, palm oil and their combination did not inhibit the growth of bacteria as a result of lack of bioactive components from the bitter leaf. The nature of the diluents used for the extraction may not have been the right one as it would have caused the low concentration, dilution and disfiguring of the molecules of the bioactive compounds that prevented the proper reaction between the bacteria and the extracts used.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the health risks of solid waste disposal workers and scavengers, involved in the handling and disposal of municipal wastes, especially their cardiovascular health. The study was carried out in Port Harcourt, Nigeria from 2011 to 2013. Male solid waste disposal workers and scavengers (n=100) aged between 19 and 53years who have worked from six months to 15 years in waste disposal industry, were used in this study. Twenty six percent were aged 40 years and above while 74% were aged between 19 to 39 years. These were compared with 100 male subjects of same age group (21 to 50) who were not solid waste disposal workers; they served as the control group. Their blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) were measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer, weight was measured using calibrated electronic scale and height was measured using a Stadiometer. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by the formula (weight/height2). These were used as indices of cardiovascular disease in the volunteers. The level of malaria parasitemia was evaluated. A well-structured questionnaire was given to each volunteer in this study as a behavioral determinant. Mean systolic pressure of the solid waste disposal workers and the control group were 136±13.58 mmHg (Mean ± SD) and 117±12-04 mmHg respectively. The diastolic pressures were 88±12.73 mmHg and 71±10.71 mmHg respectively. This was significant (p<0.01) despite the fact that the solid waste disposal workers had a lower BMI value (24.25±3.19 Kg/M2) than the controls (29.46±3.75 Kg/M2). The increase in blood pressure cuts across duration of exposure, 55.84% of the solid waste disposal workers reported regular alcohol intake, while 43.27% reported current tobacco use against 20% and 7% of the control group. There was no significant difference (p>0.01) when the blood pressures of solid waste disposal workers aged 40 and above was compared with that of 19 to 39 age group. Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was higher in the solid waste disposal workers in comparison to the controls 92% and 69% respectively.