Balanites aegyptiaca is a medicinal plant that serves as a source of phytochemicals with antimicrobial effect. This work aimed at screening for phytochemical constituents and investigating the antifungal activity of B. aegyptiaca seed and callus extract against Candida albicans. Callus induction from B. aegyptiaca seed kernel explant was done on MS basal nutrient medium supplemented with 0.5 BAP + 1.0 2, 4-D + 1.0 NAA.  Cultures were kept under a controlled temperature and light conditions for five weeks. Plant materials were extracted using solvent extraction. 50 ml of the solvents: methanol and n-hexane were mixed with five grams (5 g) each of the grounded plant materials (1:10) w/v. Determination of antimicrobial activity was done using disc diffusion assay. Diffusion discs of approximately 6 mm diameter were prepared from Whatman No. 1 filter paper, then sterilized and autoclaved before drying in an oven. 10 µl of 50 and 100 mg/ml concentration of each crude extracts was impregnated on separate sterile disc using sterile micropipette tips. The diameter of zone of inhibition at 100 and 50 mg/ml showed the methanolic extract of callus had the highest zone of inhibition with 17 ± 0.69 mm and 11 ± 0.94 mm. The lowest diameter of zone inhibition of callus extracts was recorded by n-hexane extract at 100 (15 ± 0.46 mm) and 50 mg/ml (09 ± 0.57 mm) respectively. Also, the MIC ranged between 6.25 and 12.50 mg/ml and MFC recorded value of 12.50 mg/ml. Seed methanolic extract had the highest zones of inhibition of 15 ± 0.34 mm and 10 ± 0.62 mm at 100 and 50 mg/ml respectively, while the lowest value (12 ± 0.51 mm and 09 ± 0.23) was recorded in n-hexane at 100 and 50 mg/ml. From the results, both the MIC and MFC of seed extracts ranged from 12.50 to 25.00 mg/ml. Callus extracts showed stronger antifungal activities compared to the seed extracts. Therefore, from the result, Callus extract from B. aegyptiaca can serve as a good source of therapeutic compounds for fungal related disease.

ABSTRACT:Field experiments were carried out between 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at the Teaching and Research Dry Land Farm of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to investigate the effects of planting date (mid may, early and late June) and weeding regimes (weedy check, weeding once, weeding twice and weed free) on the growth and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results obtained indicated that planting date had significant (P<0.05) influence on plant height, number of branches and number of capsules per plant, seed yield kg/ha and weight of 100 seeds. Weeding regime also significantly(P<0.05) affected plant height, weight of capsules and number of capsules per plant.

Some mango fruits marketed in Yola and environs show some anthracnose diseases symptoms. Aims: Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify fungal organisms associated with Anthracnose disease of mango in Yola, Adamawa state, Northeastern Nigeria and to test their pathogenicity. Study Design: Laboratory based controlled experiment. Methodology: Naturally anthracnose infected mango fruits and leaves were purposely sampled from different home gardens, farms, and markets in Yola. The symptomatic plant parts were immediately taken to the laboratory for direct isolation, characterization, identification and pathogenicity testing of fungal isolates. Results: A total of 19 fungal colonies were obtained from the anthracnose infected mango fruits and leaves. Based on similarity of morphological features (colony colour, texture presence of septate mycelia or not, spore shape and number of septa), fungal colonies were grouped into 3 species and were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae. C. gloeosporioides had the highest percentage (66.7%) (77.8%) frequency of occurrence in infected fruits and leaves respectively, compared to A. niger which recorded 11.1% and 20.0% and R. oryzae with 22.2% and 10%. Pathogenicity test revealed only C. gloeosporioides was found pathogenic while the remaining two; A. niger and R. oryzae were non-pathogenic. Conclusion: Findings of this study has indicated that C. gloeosporioides is the etiological agent of anthracnose of mango in the area.

Schiff base derived from the reaction of 2-amino phenol and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and its Co (II), and Mn (II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by solubility test, melting point/ decomposition temperatures, molar conductance, IR and magnetic susceptibility. The number of ligands coordinated to the metal ion was determined using Job’s method of continuous variation. Their molar conductance values indicate that all the complexes are non-electrolytes. Magnetic moment values of the complexes showed that both Mn (II) and Co (II) are paramagnetic. The spectroscopic data of metal complexes indicated that the metal ions are complexed with azomethine nitrogen and deprotonated oxygen atom. Corrosion inhibition of the schiff base and Mn (II) and Co (II) complexes were evaluated using the weight loss method in a 0.1MHCl solution for copper metal. The inhibition efficiency increased with increasing inhibitors concentration. The negative values of Gibb’s free energy of adsorption (ΔGads) confirmed the spontaneity and physical adsorption of the inhibition process which is inconsistent with Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Medicinal plants offer endless opportunities for new drugs discovery due to their supremacy for the possession of phytochemicals compounds known for diverse antimicrobial activities. The world ever increasing demand for therapeutic drugs from natural products with particular interest in edible plants for safety purposes is now catching researchers’ attention. This study therefore aimed at determining the presence of some bioactive phytochemical components of methanolic leaf extract of M. citrifolia L. Qualitative screening of leaf extract has confirmed the existence of Tannins, steroids, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids in the mixture. And these bioactive compounds correspond to phytochemicals with antimicrobial, nematicide, pesticidal, antioxidant, ant-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-allergy, and anti-carcinogenic properties (bioactive compounds) earlier documented by previous researchers.