Aim: To determine the microbiological quality of zobo drink preserved with scent leaves. Methods: The zobo drink and scent leaves were prepared and evaluated using standard microbiological techniques. Results: Twenty three (23) bacteria species and fourteen (14) fungi species were identified from zobo drink preserved with scent leaves samples. This reveals the major bacterial species to be Enterobacter spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp, and Micrococcus spp. and fungi species to be Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus spp and Penicillium spp. The bacterial and fungal counts decreased as the days increased with day 1 having the highest bacterial and fungal counts at 1.41x105 (cfu/ml) and 3.1x104 (cfu/ml) respectively. The control samples were generally higher than the counts recorded on the bacterial and fungal counts. Zobo + scent leaves (ZSC) recorded the highest bacterial count at 1.41x105 (cfu/ml), while the least was recorded for (ZSA) at 1.01x106 (cfu/ml). Zobo + Scent (ZSC) recorded the highest fungal counts at 3.1x104 (cfu/ml), while the least was recorded for ZSA at 1.2x105 (cfu/ml). From this study, Bacillus spp and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently occurring bacterial isolates with a high percentage occurrence of 8(21.6%) and 6(16.2%), while Penicillium spp was the most frequently occurring fungal isolate. Conclusion: The association of these microorganisms with foods such as the commercial zobo drinks may be as a result of poor hygiene or poor sanitary condition. The microbial counts showed that among the zobo drink preserved with scent leaves samples, zobo + scent leaves (ZSC) is the most predisposed product to microbial population due to the high microbial counts recorded. Therefore, the result revealed that the samples of zobo drink were directly and indirectly contaminated with high levels of pathogenic bacteria, but can be reduced by the addition of scent leaves as a preservative.

Aim: The present study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous stem extract of Loranthus micranthus (African mistletoe) plant. Methods: The Disc agar diffusion method was used for the antimicrobial susceptibility test of test organisms to determine the minimum zone of inhibition. The brine shrimp lethality test method was used in determining cytotoxicity, and the heat-induced membrane diffusion method was used for anti-inflammatory indices. Results: In this study, the antimicrobial activity was evaluated using Escherichia Coli., Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus as test organisms which showed significant zones of inhibition at increasing concentrations (25, 50 and 100 mg/ml) of the plant extract. The result of the cytotoxic investigation after the use of brine shrimps as test organisms revealed that the plant was not toxic as the LC50 did not fall within the concentrations used in this study. Also, the aqueous stem extract of L. micranthus showed significantly lower optical densities of hemoglobin compared to the corresponding standard (Aspirin) concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 µg/ml. This result was in agreement with the % protection of the experimental plant, which showed a significant increase with an increase in concentration, which implies that the aqueous stem extract of L.micranthus has anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion: It can, therefore, be concluded that the usage of the aqueous stem extract of Loranthusmicranthus as a therapeutic drug would exert health benefits by virtue of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and less toxicity, proved in this study.

Background: Carica papaya is commonly used in the treatment of various diseases like constipation, piles, hypertension and malaria. The ameliorative effect of Carica papaya on alloxan-induced diabetic rats has been suggested by several studies. Aim: The present study aims to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of unripe Carica papaya pulp on the lipid profile and liver biomarkers of a diabetic rat. Materials and Methods: After acclimatization, thirty-two (32) animals were randomly classified into 8 groups (4 rats per group). The different test (extract) groups received in addition to normal diet ad libitum, dosages of 200, 400, 600 and 1000 mg/kg/day of the Carica papaya extract. The normal and negative control groups received a normal diet, while the positive control was given oral treatment with 6 mg/65 kg/day of glibenclamide as well as the normal diet. After 28 successive days of treatment, all the experimental rats were sacrificed by ocular puncture and the serum used in the evaluation of body lipids, liver function parameters and biochemical indexes. Results: The administration of the unripe Carica papaya extract resulted in a dose-dependent and significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, and in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level.  There was, however, a significant increase in High-density lipoprotein (HDL) level for 400-1000 mg/kg extract groups. The result also showed a reduced cholesterol level at an extract dose of 1000 mg/kg/day. Conclusion: The ameliorative properties of the unripe pulp of Carica Papayaon biochemical parameters of a diabetic rat, as shown from the result could be indicative that unripe Carica papaya can be valuable in the management of diabetes mellitus and other complications that may arise.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Moringa, Neem, and Ginger plant extracts on the bacteria species isolated from fruit juice samples. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, between October 2019 and November 2019. Methods: The fruit juice sample was prepared and cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA), and Blood Agar using streak plate techniques. Four (4) bacteria species were isolated and identified from the fruit juice sample. These organisms served as the test isolates. Two (2) solvents (methanol and water) were used to get a comparative result. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial effects of the Moringa, Neem, and Ginger on the test organisms. Results: The methanolic extract of Moringa, Neem and Ginger was found to exhibit high degrees of antibacterial activities against the test isolates. This was shown by the clear zones of inhibition produced by the methanolic extract on the test microorganisms. The highest in-vitro antibacterial activity is 16 mm, which was exhibited by the methanolic extract of Moringa at the highest concentration of 200 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. In comparison, the Methanolic extract exhibited no antibacterial activity (0.0 mm) at the lowest concentration of 50 mg/ml against all the test organisms. The minimum bactericidal concentration from this study revealed that methanolic and aqueous extract was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella species, Bacillus species, and Escherichia coli. However, the water extract of Moringa demonstrated more significant antibacterial activity on Shigella species, Bacillus species, and Escherichia coli with the range of 200 mg/ml each. In contrast, methanol extract of neem demonstrated antibacterial activity on Shigella species alone, with the range of 200 mg/ml each. Conclusion: Moringa, Neem, and Ginger extract had both a bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity when tested in vitro using methanolic and aqueous preparation of Moringa, Neem, and Ginger extract. Therefore, these plants may be used successfully for treating illness caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Aim: To evaluate the nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials of artesunate in humans. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, between November and December 2019. Methodology: 70 blood samples were collected from 35 normal individuals (control group), and 35 malaria patients treated with parenteral artesunate (treatment group). These were analyzed for biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The treatment group was further regrouped according to gender (19 males and 16 females), age (20 patients aged 20-29 and 15 patients aged 30-40 years) and duration of treatment (29 patients on 3rd or 4th day and 6 patients on 5th or 6th day of treatment). Biochemical tests were carried out using standard Randox test kits. One-way ANOVA was done on the parameters using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), and comparisons were made. Results: Compared to control group, the treatment group showed significant increases (p<0.05) in BUN (15.89+1.30 against 11.69+0.62), Creatinine (0.96+0.62 against 0.82+0.03) and AST (22.14+2.45 against 16.66+0.85), a non-significant increase (p 0.05) in ALT (26.57+3.18 against 21.66+2.56) and ALP (85.31+4.06 against 77.54+3.09) and a non-significant decrease (p 0.05) in total bilirubin (0.59+0.06 against 0.65+0.06). However, all parameters examined were within the normal ranges. There was no significant relationship found in any parameter in a comparison of gender, age and duration of treatment. Conclusion: Since all parameters examined were in the normal ranges, administration of artesunate in the recommended dosage and the right duration may not have any significant toxic effect on the kidney and liver. However, further studies may be necessary to ascertain if the observed elevations could be attributed wholly to artesunate or other medications taken by the malaria patients.