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The study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial activities of Carica papaya and its major antimicrobial constituents (phytochemicals). The aqueous and ethanol extracts from the leaves and stem back of these plants were tested using well Diffusion method for their antimicrobial activity against some members of Enterobacteriales family isolated from diarrheic stool sample (Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Statistical analysis of the result shows that both the extracts demonstrated higher activities against bacteria tested, with the average zone of inhibition of 15.44mm, 14.78mm, 12.92mm and 11.31mm for Shigella, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranges between 12.5-100 mg/ml. Preliminary phytochemical analyses showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, reducing sugar, amino acid, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and phenols. Demonstration of antibacterial activity against the test isolates is an indication that there is possibility of sourcing alternative antibiotic substances in these plants for the production of newer antibacterial agents.

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Malaria and typhoid fever are of tremendous public health concern in sub inclusive). Because of the high prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever in Nigeria, co common. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence co-infection among febrile patients in Kumbotso Local Government Area Kano, Nigeria. A Total of 125 subjects of both age and sex suggestive of Malaria and/or typhoid fever were used as participants. Five milliliter (5 ml) of blood samples were collected from each of the participant for widal tests and blood film from a period of April, 2015 to October, 2015. The results revealed a malaria prevalence of 55% (69/125). The sero while 22% (28/125) had malaria and typhoid fever co negative for both malaria and typhoid fever. However, the result showed that malaria is more likely to cause fever than typhoid infection. Statistical analysis of th significant different on the incident of malaria and that of typhoid fever among febrile patients at p > 0.05. It is recommended that intervention programs aimed at reducing malaria and typhoid infections should be increased in such areas, especially in the wet seasons.

Objectives of the Study: An Epidemiological Research, a cross-sectional study, was conducted to determine the magnitude of human contamination of irrigation canal perimeter as it relates to the prevalence and intensity of schistosome cercarial infection in snail vectors. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted along water canal located within an irrigation area, Kano River Project Phase I, Kadawa, between January and June, 2012. Methodology: The study area was categorized into Zone of Heavy Contamination (ZHC), Zone of Light Contamination (ZLC) and Zone of Free Contamination (ZFC) based on the density of faecal lumps observed along the canal perimeter using 1 m2 quadrat sampling technique. Snail vectors of schistosomiasis were collected from these zones, identified and subjected to cercarial shedding. Brevifurcate apharyngeate cercariae were identified as schistosome cercariae. Results: Of the 827 snails collected 28.54% shed schistosome cercariae. The breakdown of infection prevalence was 31.37%, 27.69% and 26.26% for ZHC, ZLC and ZFC respectively. Three snail species recovered in the study area, Bulinus globosus, B. rohlfsi and Biomphalaria pfeifferi had infection intensity of 8.6, 5.67 and 3.94 respectively, with total mean intensity of 4.67. A Chi-squared analysis did not show any significant difference in infection prevalence in the three zones (χ2cal. 0.025, χ22, 0.05 = 5.99). However, infection intensity was significantly different in the three zones and among the three snail species using analysis of variance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Human environmental contamination with faeces and urine around irrigation canals remains the source of infection to snail hosts and then to humans. It is presumed that contact control through avoidance of defaecation in the open and building of pit latrines near water contact points along irrigation canals will be effective means of drawing a barrier to infection with schistosomes in the study area.

Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided by emerald-srm:215438 [] For AuthorsIf you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-bacterial anti-fungal activity of six Lamiaceae family coleus plants based on their traditional uses (breast-milk stimulants) from two Asian countries (Malaysia and Indonesia). Design/methodology/approach -Plants leaves of coleus species were collected from Kuantan (Malaysia) and Jakarta (Indonesia). From Kuantan, Coleus aromaticus -Malaysia (CATM), Pogostemon cablin -Malaysia (PCM), Coleus blumei-purple leaves -Malaysia (CBPM), Coleus blumei-red leaves -Malaysia (CBRM), Coleus amboinicus -Malaysia (CALM) and from Jakarta Coleus amboinicus -Indonesia (CALI) were collected freeze dried and extracted with aqueous methanol. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was determined by making use of macro dilution and disc diffusion methods. The selected bacteria and fungus used were namely Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive) and Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative) and Candida albicans (a fungi). Findings -All leaf extracts showed activity at least against one strain of bacteria and the result shows that there were significant differences ( p , 0.05) between the activities on microorganism. The minimum inhibitory concentration of all leaves extracts ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 mg/ml in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis. This study shows that the coleus plants leaves can be used as anti-bacterial anti-fungal agent apart from the breast-milk stimulation properties.Research limitations/implications -This research was carried out with a limited grant and it was not possible to study some more aspects, for example, the composition and the active components isolation, etc. Furthermore, to establish the relationship among the components and bacteria or fungus, etc. Practical implications -This research would have greater impact since the leaves of coleus plants are already in use in some communities for the purpose of breast-milk stimulation and insect bite therapy and many more. Originality/value -This research takes into consideration the effec...

Fresh ugwu (Telfairia occidentalis) and spinach (Spinacia olairaceae) leaves play important roles in human nutrition. Leafy vegetables including Telfairia occidentalis and Spinacia olairaceae are considered as agents of transmission of goitrogens which interfere with iodine uptake thus causing goiter. Cyanogenic glycosides are naturally occurring goitrogens found in staple foods in the tropics. Thiocyanate and isothiocyanate have been demonstrated as the goitrogenic principles of cyanogenic plants Thiocyanate ion acts as a goitrogen when present at high concentration especially when the iodine content of the diet is low. Thiocyanate inhibits the uptake of iodine by the iodide pump of the thyroid gland thus acting as a goitrogen which suppresses thyroid function leading to goiter. This study examined the effect of cooking on the goitrogenic potential of Ugwu and Spinach leaves. A total of (10g) of fresh/ andraw ugwu and spinach leaves were randomly collected and cooked. All samples were examined according to standard methods for detection of goitrogens. The cyanogenic glycosides content of rawand fresh ugwu leaves were 1. 6mg /kg - 1. 82mg/ kg while that of cooked leaves were 0. 004mg/ kg - 0. 0 l3mg/ kg. The glucosinolates content for raw and fresh Ugwu leaves were15.7mg/kg-17.28mg/kg, while that of cooked Ugwu leaves were 11.18mg/kg- 12.51mg/kg . For Spinach the cyanogenic glycosides content for raw and fresh were 0.24mg/kg-1.28mg/kg, while that of cooked spinach were 0.013mg/kg- 0.00Smg/kg. The glucosinolates content for raw and fresh spinach were 4.0mg/kg-2.64mg/kg while those of the cooked leaves were 2.52mg/kg-1.82mg/kg. there was a significant diference (P=0.085) in the level of reduction of glucosinolate content between raw and cooked Ugwu leaves and Spinach. There is also a significant difference (p=3.04) in the concentration of glucosinolates between Ugwu leaves and Spinach. Ugwu leaves had a higher concentration of glucosinolates than spinach in both fresh (raw) and cooked conditions respectively. These findings provide evidence that the risk of acquiring goiter from the consumption of ugwu and spinach leaves is reduced when cooked. Keywords: Ugwu leaves, Spinach leaves, Cooking, Goitrogens, Cyanogenic glycosides, Glucosinolates

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