The antimicrobial activities of the aqueous, ethanol and n-hexane fruit pulp extracts of Dialium guineense were evaluated against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion technique. The results reveal that the crude aqueous and ethanol extracts possess antimicrobial activities on the tested organisms with the exception of n-hexane extract which showed no zone of inhibition. The highest zone of inhibition diameter at 24.67 mm of the ethanol extract and 19.33 mm of the aqueous extract was recorded against C. albicans while S. aureus showed the lowest inhibition zone to the aqueous extract with 7.33 mm in diameter. However, statistical analysis indicates no significance as P>0.05. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the aqueous and ethanol extracts to the isolates was between 100 -200 mg/ml with only C. albicans at 50 mg/ml of the ethanol extract. Also, the minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of the aqueous and ethanol extracts on majority of the organisms was above 200 mg/ml but P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis showed MLC at 200 mg/ml and, C. albicans at 100 mg/ml of the ethanol extract. Meanwhile, only C. albicans showed MLC to the aqueous extract at 100 mg/ml. In addition, the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannin, saponins, oxalates and glycosides. The results of this work suggest further exploitation of the fruit pulp of D. guineense to possibly unveil its potential use for the treatment of diseases.

Adansonia digitata is a massive and deciduous tree with a height of about 24 m and of significant economic importance. The antimicrobial and  phytochemical screening of the aqueous and ethyl-acetate extract of stem bark of the plant were determined on some clinical isolates. The stem bark of the plant was collected and washed o properly before drying at 28 C. The pulverised stem bark was extracted with water and ethyl-acetate and screened for phytochemicals (qualitative and quantitative) using standard methods. The clinical isolates used were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts were carried out using the agar well diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations were carried out using standard methods. The aqueous extract exhibited a higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus (14.00 ± 0.57 mm) at a concentration of 200 mg/ml while a zone of inhibition of 11.66±0.33 mm was observed for E. coli using ethylacetate extract. Candida albicans had a zone of inhibition of 11.66±0.88 mm and 11.00±0.57 mm using aqueous and ethyl-acetate extracts respectively at 200 mg/ml. The MIC was 200 mg/ml for the crude extracts against the clinical isolates. The qualitative ethyl-acetate phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenol, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponin and terpenoids. Phenol had the highest concentration of 2.02±0.25 mg/ml while terpenoids had a value of 1.38±0.02 mg/ml. Aqueous and ethyl-acetate extract of A. digitata possess significant antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans. However, K. pneumoniae showed resistance to ethyl acetate extract. Key words: Adansonia digitata, Antimicrobial activity, Clinical isolates, Phytochemical  screening

Poultry birds are very important source of essential proteins in developing countries, but also play an important role in transmission of Salmonella to human and nonhuman. Exposure to this pathogen also occurs through use of poultry droppings as manure for crop and vegetable production. This study investigated prevalence of Salmonella in feces of poultry farms in Ilorin, Nigeria. Salmonella isolated were further characterized by molecular method. Fecal samples were cultured in pre-enrichment medium, Selenite F medium and finally sub-cultured on Salmonella-Shigella agar. None lactose fermenting colonies with black center were picked for presumptive identification using biochemical tests and confirmed by serological test by method previously described. Molecular characterization was carried out using 16S rRNA gene sequencing following standard procedure. Out of 170 samples collected and examined, 8 (4.7%) gave biochemical characteristics that resembled Salmonella, but only 6 (3.5%) were confirmed as Salmonella by polyvalent antisera. Molecular characterization revealed that serovars isolated were Salmonella Enteritidis 3 (1.8%) and Salmonella Paratyphi 3 (1.8%). Phylogenetic tree constructed by neighbor-joining method as derived from analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed close relationship to Salmonella Paratyphi strain FB0015 16S ribosoma RNA gene partial sequence to our Salmonella Paratyphi isolates. The detection of 3.5% prevalence rate of Salmonella serovar from feces of laying poultry birds my serve as potential source of transmission of this pathogen to human through chicken meat, egg or use of poultry dropping as manure in crop or vegetable production.

Concerns about first generation bioethanol's impact on the food chain and biodiversity have shifted research to second generation (2G) bioethanol technologies. The 2G-bioethanol is made from lignocellulosic biomass, which is more sustainable and does not harm food security or the environment. This production process uses non-food crops, food crop residues, wood or food wastes, such as wood chips, skins, or pulp from fruit pressing. The present study examines the bioethanol production potential of three lignocellulosic biomass residues: corn cob, corn husk, and corn stem, as well as their physiochemical and mineral composition before and after fermentation. Before fermentation, the corn waste samples were hydrolyzed into sugar monomer and the hydrolysate was fermented separately to produce bioethanol for five days at 282oC using two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains: typed yeast ATCC 3585 and Baker's yeast ATCC 204508/S288c. At one-day intervals, the pH, simple sugar and ethanol production were measured. ANOVA was used to find significant differences between the investigated organisms. The results showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 35858 produces more ethanol than the other strain (20.25±0.63). Corn cob also produced more ethanol than stem and husk. During fermentation, the typed yeasts outperformed the Baker's yeast in pH, reducing sugar, and specific gravity. Average dry yeast cell mass (ADM) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 35858 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 204508/S288c were 1.82±0.07 and 1.98±0.03, respectively. According to proximate composition, fermentation lost over 50% of the corn waste's nutrients (ash), while recovering over 50% of the minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). The ability of the two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains to produce bioethanol was not significantly different at p value ≤ 0.05.

Mono‐culture fermentation by Rhizopus stolonifer could promote the healthiness of immune systems and cholesterol levels. Hence, we examined the effect of diet from mono‐culture fermentation of Moringa oleifera seeds by R. stolonifer (MCF‐MORS) on hematological parameters and fundamental indicators of hypercholesterolemia in rat. The animals were divided into six groups (n = 6). Group 1 was placed on basal diet. Group II, III, IV and V were placed on a basal diets supplemented with 7.5%, 15%, 22.5% and 30%, respectively, of MCF‐MORS. Group VI was placed on basal diet fed with unfermented M. oleifera seeds (UF‐MOS). The experiment lasted for eight weeks. The results revealed 7.5% MCF‐MORS as better biological method to augment PCV, RBC and Hb count in animal model. Also, 7.5% and/or 15% MCF‐MORS demonstrated highest levels in centrophils, neutrophils and eosinophils, whereas the levels of lymphocytes, basophils and monocytes showed no significant difference. Similarly, 7.5% and 15% MCF‐MORS modulated LDL and HDL, respectively, better than UF‐MOS; but showing no difference in cholesterol level. MCF‐MORS also maintained architectural integrity of villi and splenocytes better than UF‐MOS. We therefore concluded that diet from MCF‐MORS at 7.5% and 15% modulates HDL, LDL, cholesterol and immune system‐related disorders better than UF‐MOS in rat model.