Objective: To characterise and investigate antimicrobial resistance of Esherichia coli and salmonella strains isolated from indigenous Gallus gallus in a leading slaughterhouse/ market outlet in Nairobi-Kenya. Design: A repeated cross sectional study and based on random sampling was used. Setting: The study was carried out in a leading market outlet in Nairobi, Kenya. Results: A hundred and four indigenous chicken rectal swabs were analysed, of which 67.3% were contaminated with Escherichia coli and 12

Rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) is a major foliar disease that reduces yield and pod quality in beans.The field trial of French beans was established at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Single plant extracts and combinations of Boscia angustifolia, Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Melea volkensii were used to evaluate their effect on U. appendiculatus in the field. During the growing period, beans were infected with rust from natural inoculum at the field. Physiological responses such as carbon dioxide assimilation, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and photosynthetic rate (Pn) of French beans treatments were examined after extracts of three antifungal plants were sprayed. B. angustifolia -Z. chalybeum combination and single plant treatment M. volkensii had positive effects on enhancing the rate of photosynthesis in bean plants. The high regressions between stomatal conductance and rate of transpiration in the treatments indicated that stomatal conductance and rate of transpiration were interdependent and it was interpreted to mean that stomatal conductance enhanced rate of transpiration at different times of the day. These plant extracts however caused an increase in the rate of transpiration of the bean plants, which resulted in loss of water. Results reveal bioactive potential of the flora from M. volkensii and a combination of B. angustifolia and Z. chalybeum to produce metabolites with potential applications as botanical pesticides.

In vivo evaluation of the efficacy of selected plant extracts; Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) derivatives (Neem oil, Neem cake powder and Neem leaf powder) and leaf extracts of pawpaw (Carica papaya L), Tephrosia vogelii, stinging Nettle (Urtica massaica L), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and commercial fungicide: Kocide DF, against bean rust was conducted. The synergistic effect of known concentrations of their combinations was also evaluated. French bean variety Army that is susceptible to bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) was used in evaluation. Results revealed significantly (P= 0.05) high inhibitory effect on rust severity, incidence and uredospores germination by nettle, tobacco and pawpaw as single treatments and combinations of nettle, Neem oil and nettle, neem oil and pawpaw. These treatments and Kocide DF also recorded significantly (P= 0.05) high pod yields and high percentages of unblemished pods, with the exception of tobacco treatments that had high phyto-toxic effects to the plant. However, Kocide DF, nettle, neem leaf powder and all combinations had significantly (P = 0.05) high effects on plant vigour. These studies propose the inclusion of nettle, pawpaw and neem oil extracts and their combinations as natural controls of bean rust and the need for bioassayguided research to identify new and more potent compounds in these plants.

Aims:The anti-bacterial effect of some selected Samburu medicinal plants were evaluated on bacterial strains like Staphylococcus aureus-ATCC 20591, Bacillus subtillis-local isolate, Salmonella typhi-ATCC 2202, Escherichia coli-STD-25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-ATCC 25852. Methodology and Results: Methanol was used as an extraction solvent for the medicinal plants after they had been dried and ground using the laboratory grinding miller. The in vitro anti-bacterial activity was performed by agar disc diffusion method. The significant anti-microbial activity of active extracts was compared with the standard antibiotics, cefrodoxima and amoxicillin. These results were significant at p < 0.01. The MICs were also determined by the micro titre-plate method. The MICs of the most active plants ranged from 18.75 mg/mL to 37.5 mg/mL. The MBCs ranged between 18.75 mg/mL to 37.5 mg/mL. The most active plant that had substantial activity in at least all the test cultures was found to be Lannea triphylla (A.Rich) Engl. A number of phytochemicals were also found to be present with tannins being the most abundant followed by flavonoids and saponins. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The findings show that most of the medicinal plants used by the Samburu community have some significant activity on the bacterial isolates known to cause diarrhoea.

Aims:The Samburu are a marginalized nomadic people in Kenya who have no access to conventional medical services thus they mainly depend on the medicinal plants for most of their medicare. Antimicrobial activity of the commonly used medicinal plant (Plumbago dawei Rolfe.) by the Samburu community was investigated to verify claims by locals of its medicinal properties. Methodology and results:The antimicrobial bioassays of the methanol extracts of Plumbago dawei Rolfe was carried out by the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus -ATCC 20591, Bacillus subtilis-local isolate, Salmonella typhi -ATCC 2202, Escherichia coli-STD-25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa -ATCC 25852., By use of the micro dilution method MICs and MBCs were also determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done on the extracts. The methanol extracts were highly active against all the test strains. The inhibitory zones ranged from 16mm-25.66mm. The zones of inhibition were not significantly different except for the E. coli (16.33mm) at P< 0.05. The extract showed strong MIC and MBC against S. typhi, S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa (MIC-9.38 mg mL -1 and MBC-9.38mg mL -1 ). Thus the extract was more of bactericidal than bacteriostatic in most test strains. Preliminary phytochemistry revealed presence of flavonoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Conclusion significance and impact of study:The data suggests that methanolic extracts of Plumbago dawei could be a rich source of antimicrobial agents. These results give scientific backing for the use of the Plumbago dawei Rolfe. barks by the Samburu in the treatment of conditions associated with diarrhea and other associated infections caused by the test organisms.