This study was carried out to investigate the effects of 7-day-old fungal filtrates of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum isolated from maize seeds on percentage germination, morphological and anatomical structures of maize seedlings. The seeds were soaked in culture filtrate of each fungus for 12hrs before planting. Blotter method was used to observe seed germination. Results showed that the percentage germination of the seeds treated with culture filtrates of A. niger and P. chrysogenum (65.33% and 79.67% respectively) was lower than the control (100%) and significantly different from each other at significant level of P ≥0.05. The leaf area showed significant difference between the experimental and control plants but there was no significant difference in the leaf number. The tetracytic stomatal complex type and wavy anticlinal walls remained constant in all the treatments and control. The stomatal index of seed treated with A. niger on abaxial leaf surface (43.61%) showed significant difference with adaxial leaf surface (31.97%). The treatments had no significant difference on stomatal density at abaxial surfaces. Reduction in stomatal size and density suggests physiological implication. © JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v18i4.15

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom commonly used in folk medicine especially Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but information on its nutritional and chemical profiles remains insufficient. This work aimed at evaluating proximate composition and identification of bioactive compounds in ethanolic extract of G. lucidum. Pulverized G. lucidum was suspended in ethanol in 1:10 and extraction was carried out by rotary evaporation to produce G. lucidum extract (GLE). Proximate composition of the sample was analyzed. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was carried out to identify different functional groups in GLE. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the bioactive compounds of the sample. Proximate analysis revealed that the amount of carbohydrate in sample was the highest (44.95%), followed by protein (15.75%). FTIR results showed that OH, C=O, C-OH, N-H 1* and 2* and alkyl halide are functional groups in GLE. A total of twelve (12) bioactive compounds were identified and the most prevailing compound in GLE was ethyl octadeca-9,12-dienoate (45.95%), followed by ethylhexadecanoate / ethyl palmitate (18.09%). Guaiacol (4.95%), octadecanoic acid (5.37%), ethylcyclohexane (3.31%) were also present. It can be inferred from this study that G. lucidum is nutritional and contains bioactive compounds that are useful in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

ABSTRACT:Hay fever allergy could either be from pollen or fungi spores. Using the Hirst model of pollen trap, pollen buckets were constructed; with pollen trap solutions inside them, they were placed in specific locations in the University of Ilorin for four months (December 2012/January 2013 to March/April 2013). Using acetolysis reaction, pollens and spores were recovered from the trap solution and were analyzed and identified in the microscope. Pollen/spore were counted and compared with meteorological parameters i.e. rainfall, sunshine, wind speed, humidity, and temperature. It was observed that pollen/spore concentrations were influenced by these meteorological factors. Hence there is need for us to always determine the amount of these pollen/spore concentrations all year round as it will help to predict the vegetation of a given area as well as helping hay fever sufferers manage their allergies effectively. ©JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v19i1.7

This study aimed at evaluating toxicological implications of aqueous P. ostreatus extract (POE) in male Wistar rats. POE was prepared in 1:10 (pulverized P. ostreatus : distilled water). In  acute toxicity test, single oral dose of 2 mL/kg of POE was administered and observed for 28 days. The sub-chronic toxicity study was conducted by daily oral administration of graded doses (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mL/kg b.w) of the extract for 28 days. Clinical signs of toxicity, hematological, serum biochemical parameters and histopathological studies were subsequently evaluated. No treatment-related signs of toxicity or mortality in the animals were recorded in both toxicity tests. Rats administered with lowest dose of POE (25 mL/kg) had highest percentage weight gain. POE had no significant difference (P>0.05) on Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell (WBC) and differential WBC, and serum biochemistry across all the treated groups when compared to the controls. The result of photomicrographs of stomach, spleen, heart, lung, kidney and liver showed a well outlined arrays of normal tissues in both acute and sub-chronic doses connoting that POE had no toxic effect on them. In view of these, POE may be concluded to be non-toxic within the tested doses and period of investigation.

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