Aim:To investigate the levels of total aflatoxin (AF) in herbal medicines from selected vendors in South-Eastern Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study designed to investigate the levels of aflatoxin (AF) mycotoxin in herbal traditional medicines selected randomly from vendor dealers in Ebonyi State of Ikeagwulonu et al.; JAMPS, 22(1): 26-31, 2020; Article no.JAMPS.54073 27 Nigeria. Fifty-seven (57) herbal medicine samples were obtained from local markets and stores in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Original Research Article Place and Duration of Study:This study was carried out at Abakaliki, Ezza-North, Afikpo North, Ohaukwu, Ikwo in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. This study covered a period of one year from April, 2018 to April, 2019. Methodology: Fifty-seven (57) herbal medicine samples were analyzed to detect the level of aflatoxin (AF) mycotoxins with the controls. They were selected with self-administered questionnaire using a multistage random sampling technique. Wet extraction was performed on the liquid herbal samples whereas aflatoxin occurrence and levels were evaluated using lateral flow immunoassay technique. Data were analyzed using One sample t-test and descriptive statistics and statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The incidence of Aflatoxin contamination in the samples were 48(84.21%) out of 57 herbal medicines examined with the highest level seen in African Iba herbal (20.00±2.00 ppb) and the lowest level seen in Dunamis and Divine roots herbals (0.00 ± 0.00). Data from the analysis of herbal medicine samples showed different concentration range of mycotoxins AFs (0-20 ppb). Conclusion: Although aflatoxins concentration observed in the herbal samples were below Nigerian and European Union (EU) upper limits of 20 ppb, the high incidence rate observed in the study should be of concern to public health. The policy makers in the Nigerian agricultural and health sectors have been provided with research evidence as contained in this study on the dangers posed by consumption of some herbal medicines as a result of their aflatoxin contamination.

This study was undertaken to evaluate  the antimicrobial activities of crude  ethanol and methanol extracts of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (scent leaf) on Escherichia coli, Klebsiella  pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus auerus and Candida albicans.The antimicrobial activities were carried out using  agar well diffusion method. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of the plant extracts on the test isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. Ciprofloxacin and fluconazole (positive controls) were used in comparison with crude extract of O. gratissimum leaves and also, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as the negative control. The ethanolic extract of O. gratissimum showed antibacterial activity with the mean inhibitory zone diameter of 3 -7mm against S. auerus, 2 mm against E. coli, 2 – 12 mm against K. pneumoniae, 2 mm against P.aeruginosa. Ethanol and methanol crude extracts of O. gratissimum leaves   showed no effect on   C.albicans. O. gratissimum extracts showed the lower   antimicrobial activity than the commercially available antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and fluconazole). The minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of the extracts on the test organisms also increased in the following order; methanol < ethanol. Hence, this   extract could   only serve   as antibacterial agent in the management of bacterial infection because it has no antifungal activities on Candida isolates used in this study.

No abstract

Background: Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium have many nutritional values that contain bioactive components such as alkaloids, saponin, tannin, steroids and terpenoids, as  antimicrobials.            Objective: The general purpose of this study was to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimal bactericidal concentration(MBC) of both Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium  extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. Method: This is laboratory experimental research involving post test only control group design using the Kirby Bauer dilution method. With treatment combination of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium extracts concentration ranging from 50-200 mg/ml and positive control (gentamycin). Result: Mininum bacterial concentration was found between 6.25 mg /ml – 12.5mg /ml for Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium extracts while minimum inhibitory concentration of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium was found between 12.5 mg / ml – 25.0 mg/ml respectively. U-Mann whitney results showed that the value of p < 0.05 were significant. In this study, the Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest inhibition zone diameter compared to other isolates. Conclusion: The results from this work affirms the use of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium as antimicrobials and emplores the attention of pharmaceutical companies to exploit production of antibiotics for treatment of infections resulting from Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus isolates.