Profilistic study of bioactivities of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of Gongronema latifolium in combination with potassium aluminium sulphate (Alum) against some clinical bacterial pathogens were investigated by disc diffusion (DD) and Agar well diffusion (AWD) methods respectively. The leaf extracts at concentrations of 0.1-0.3g were reconstituted in sterile distilled water as well as 1.0-3.0g of alum prior to application. In-vitro bioactivity of various concentrations of the extracts and in combination with alum were evaluated by measuring diameter of inhibition zones (DIZs) respectively. Methanolic leaf extract (MLE) had the largest mean DIZs of 14.5±0.5 and 11.5±0.0mm on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, with enhanced bioactivity of 19.5±0.7 and 17.5±0.7mm with alum against Bacillus subtilis, Sal. typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by DD and AWD methods respectively. However, aqueous leaf extract (ALE) and ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) and their combinations depicted appreciable antibacterial activity on the pathogens but incomparable to MLE. Generally, there was enhancement of bioactivties with the incorporation of Alum to the leaf extracts (irrespective of solvent of extraction) on a dose response fashion particularly by AWD method. Furthermore, the low MIC values of <0.05 to 0.2mg/ml on the bacteria with MLE and ALE, validates their potency and broad spectrum activity. In contrast, the very large DIZs of Ciprofloxacin (CP) reflects the beneficial impact of purified chemotherapeutics against pathogens. Thus, the improved efficacy of these extracts with alum would justify future application in ethnomedicine as well as in nutraceuticals/pharmaceuticals or in food systems as “green chemicals” or “biopreservatives”.International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, October 2018, 6(12): 92-98

The study was undertaken to assess the application of myco-fabricated silver nanoparticles in the adsorption of Malachite green and Trypan blue from an aqueous solution. The cell biomass suspensions of fungal endophytes isolated from the leaves of Mannihot esculenta and Carica papaya were used in the silver nanoparticles. The method involved in nanoparticles characterization, decolourization and adsorption treatment efficacy used UV-spectroscopy FT-IR, XRD and SEM, spectrophotometric analysis and phytotoxicity testing. The result revealed that the endophyte strains PDA 1 and PDA 2 were identified as Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. There was colour change from colourless to dark brown revealing the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles due to the formation of clumps after 24 hr. The peaks observed in FT-IR spectra reflect the role of metabolites (functional groups) which act as capping and reducing agents. The UV-Vis spectral result showed the maximum peak of PDA 1 to be 620 nm at 0.933 absorbance while that of PDA 2 were 300 nm and 450 nm at 0.684 absorbance revealing the surface plasmon resonance. The XRD peaks of the nanoparticles were clearly distinguishable and broad indicating an ultra-fine nature. The microscopic characterization of PDA 1 and PDA 2 showed the presence of flake type, a smooth and irregularly shaped granulated compact powder with bright facets. The results of the decolourization profile showed that the adsorption efficiencies of both dyes were significantly concentration and time-dependent (P < 0.05). These findings suggest the potential of these nanoparticles in the environmental remediation of harmful dyes