Dermatophytes cause superficial fungal infections that pose public health problem to man and animals. Long term treatment with antifungal agents is required to control these infections. Various parts of Azadirachta indica are claimed to have significant medicinal value in treatment of infections especially ringworm. To determine the antifungal activity of the oil and fractions against dermatophytes isolated from clinical cases. Seeds of A. indica were collected, dried, grinded and extracted with hexane using soxhlet and cold maceration. Physicochemical analysis of the oil was carried out as described by Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods (AOAC, 1990). Fractionation of the oil was subjected using column chromatography and Infra-Red (I.R) analysis using spectrophotometer. Swab samples were collected from pupils in Kudan, Kaduna State with suspected cases of Tinea corporis (ringworm). The causative fungal organisms were isolated and identified by routine mycological and biochemical procedures. The antifungal activities of the extracts were evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and diameter zones of inhibition. Hexane extract from soxhlet method of extraction showed higher diameter zone of inhibition against isolated dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis), ranging from 14.33-17.33 mm. The MIC and MFC values of the extract range from 3.13 to > 50% v/v and 50 to >50%v/v respectively. The oils and fractions recorded class of compounds which include alkyl, alkanes, alkenes, aliphatic esters, ketone, carboxylic acid, amide and alkyl halide. Hexane extract of seed of A. indica extracted by soxhlet and cold maceration methods had inhibitory activities against the causative agents of T. corporis (ringworm) when tested.
Fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane serves as an essential component of a healthy diet, but despite their benefit they are prompt to bacterial contamination. The bacteriological quality of four types of fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane obtained from selected markets in Zaria, Nigeria was determined using standard microbiological method. The fresh vegetables, peeled sugar-cane, water and hand-swab samples were collected from four different locations namely; Samaru, Sabon-gari, Tudun-wada and Zaria-city. The total bacteria plate counts ranged from 3.3 x 10 6 cfu/g to 1.6 x 10 7 cfu/g with Tudu-wada having the highest bacteria load in lettuce. The coliform count of fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane varies from 1.3 x 10 4 to 8.6 x 10 5 cfu/g in the entire markets with Tudu-wada having the highest value in cucumber, the counts were obviously above specified Standard of 10 5 cfu/g and 10 3 cfu/g (ICMSF, 1978). Pathogenic bacteria isolated include; Citrobacter fruendii, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella. spp., Shigella spp., Serratia spp., Cronobacter sakazaki, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., and others Staphylococci spp.. This study showed that, fresh vegetables and peeled sugar-cane are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria making them unsafe for human consumption; hence fresh produce should be pre-treated thoroughly, so as to reduce the risk of food-borne outbreaks.
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