Aim: The study evaluates the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Hunteria umbellata against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for three months in 2019 in Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry unit), School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos- Nigeria. Methodology: The qualitative and GC-MS analysis of Hunteria umbellata methanolic seed extract were determined using standard procedure. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and agar well diffusion method. The experimental data was resampled 1000 times to allow for higher degrees of freedom in carrying out t-test to test for the difference of the effect of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellata against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp using mathematical software R language (3.6.1 version). Line plots, histogram and t-test are used to explain the effect of antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on the selected bacteria. MIC and MBC were determined using standard methods. Results: The Phytochemical analysis of methanolic seed extract of Hunteria umbellata showed the presence of secondary metabolites like saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenol among others. GC-MS assay of the H. umbellata seed extract revealed the presence of eight different compounds. Agar well diffusion method was characterized by inhibition zones of 18.36±0.87, 19.13±1.03 and 21.62±2.53 mm for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 300 mg/ml-1 and 21.70± 1.60, 23.83± 2.64 and 28.57± 1.52 for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 500 mg/ml. The results of the analysis show that there is a significant difference between the effects of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on 3001 and 500 mg/ml on each bacteria tested at 5% level of significance. E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp were tested against 12 standard antimicrobial agents, of which six was sensitive and another six was resistance to E .coli, seven was sensitive, and five was resistance to S. aureus while four was resistance and eight sensitive to Streptococcus sp. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for E.coli, S. aureus, and  Streptococcus sp were 250, 125 and 31.25 mgml-1 while their minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 500, 250 and 125 respectively. MIC and MBC tests showed that H. umbellata methanolic seed extract had noticeable bactericidal effects with MBC/MIC values ranging between 2 to 4. The extract has strong potency against these microorganisms with Streptococcus sp being the most susceptible. Conclusions: Hunteria umbellata has potential as natural therapeutic agents against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp and they may prevent pathogenic diseases.

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Aim: The study evaluates the phytochemical screening, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and antibacterial activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).     Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for six months in 2020 in Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Basic Sciences, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH),  Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Methodology: The phytochemical screening, GC-MS and AAS were determined using standard methods. Antibacterial activities were evaluated by disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using standard procedures.  Results: The aqueous and methanolic extracts of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome showed the presence of phytochemicals like tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, reducing sugar and saponin. Mineral composition analysis shows that the plant contains Na, Ca, Mg, K and Fe. Nineteen compounds were identified using GC-MS analysis of turmeric with a R-Turmerone being the most abundant with peak area of 50.05%. The results revealed that at 250 and 500 mg/mL for both aqueous and methanolic root extract of C. longa were sensitive to both organism, with zone of inhibition of 22.29±2.35, 29.56±2.23, 21.79±1.04 and 29.95±1.83 against E. coli and 22.31±1.59, 28.67±1.42, 22.96±0.96 and 30.13±1.94mm against S. aureus respectively. Azithromycin has zone of inhibition values that ranges from 19.35±1.02 to 32.03±1.23 mm for both organisms tested at 12.50 and 25.00 mg/mL respectively. E. coli and S. aureus were susceptible to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, roceplin, and streptomycin and resistant to chloramphenicol and septrin for only S. aureus. The MIC of the aqueous and methanolic root extract of turmeric on E. coli and S. aureus were 62.50, 31.25, 31.250 and 15.625 mg/mL while their MBC values were 250.00, 62.500, 62.500 and 31.2500 mg/ml respectively. MBC/MIC values show that both extracts had bactericidal effects. Conclusions: Curcuma longa has essential minerals, phytochemicals, antibacterial activity and may prevent pathogenic diseases caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

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Aim: The study determines the GC-MS and the anti-malarial activity of methanolic leaf extract of Carica papaya in Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Study Design: The experimental study lasted for five weeks. Place of Study: Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry Unit) and animal House unit in Department of Biological Sciences (Environmental Biology Unit), School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. Study Design and Methodology: AAS, GC-MS and phytochemical analyses were determined in the plant extract using standard procedures. Thirty-six Swiss mice of both sexes (26–32g) were divided into six groups of six mice each. Group A (normal control) was untreated and uninfected. Groups B–F were intraperitoneally inoculated with P. berghei NK65, while group B (disease control) was untreated-infected group, group C and D (standard drugs) received standard drugs, chloroquine (10 mg/kg B.WT) and artesunate (10 mg/kg B.WT); groups E and F received methanolic leaf extract of C. papaya at 400 and 600 mg/kg B.WT respectively. WBC, HCT and HGB were determined in the whole blood using BC-3200 Auto Hematology Analyzer. MDA, TP, SOD % inhibition, SOD unit, CAT and GSH were all determined in the liver homogenate using standard procedures. Results: The AAS analysis shows that the extract contains minerals like: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and sodium. Twenty-six compounds were identified to be present in the extract using GC-MS analysis. The active compounds with their retention time, molecular weight, molecular formula, peak area and activities were predicted. The three major prevailing compounds and their percentage abundance are: squalene (27.28%), neophytadiene (12.71%) and phytol (10.16%) respectively. The phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds etc. The C. papaya extract caused 56.76% and 75.53%  significant (P<0.05) reduction in parasitemia at 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively while chloroquine exerted 92.86% and artesunate exerted 90.67% reduction at 10 mg/kg body weight respectively carried out during  curative test. The extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced WBC count and increase HGB and HCT concentration in the treated mice compared to the infected untreated mice. There were significant (p<0.05) increase in the TP, SOD % inhibition, SOD unit, GSH and CAT levels in the liver homogenate of animals treated with chloroquine, artesunate and extract of C. papaya compared to the untreated mice. MDA level was significantly decreased in the malaria treated mice compared to the untreated mice. Conclusions: The study shows that methanolic leaf extract of Carica papaya possess antimalarial activity in Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK 65.

Aim: The study evaluates the molecular identification of Escherichia coli isolate from abattoir wastes and its susceptibility to ethanolic root extract of Azadirachta indica (neem). Methodology: The isolation, cultural characterization and identification of Escherichia coli isolate using biochemical methods and molecular identification (polymerase chain reaction)  were carried out using standard methods. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic root extract of Azadirachta indica (neem) were determined using standard methods. Antibacterial activities were determined by disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using standard procedures.  Results: The result of the phytochemical screening shows that the plant contains phenolic       compounds, flavonoids, carbohydrate, alkaloids, saponins, tannin and cardiac glycosides. forty compounds were identified in the root of A. indica using GC-MS analysis with 9-Octadecenoic acid, (E)- being the most abundant with peak area of 28.13% and retention time of 22.044. The organism was confirmed to be Escherichia coli using polymerase chain reaction with specific primer pairs and later resolved in an agarose gel electrophoresis for 16S rRNA gene with band size of 253 base pair. The organism was susceptible to gentamycin, amoxicillin, pefloxacin, sparfloxacin and resistant to tarivid with weak response. The study shows that ethanolic root extract of A. indica exhibited strong response antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli with zone of inhibition of 19.48±0.23 and 21.36±0.54 at concentration of 250 and 500 mg/dl respectively. At 100 mg/ml, the extract showed little or no response with zone of inhibition of 9.33±0.33. Azithromycin solution at 12.50 and 25.00 mg/ml showed strong response and potent response against E. coli with zone of inhibition of 23.37±0.48 and 37.34±0.65 respectively. At 5.00 mg/ml, azithromycin antibiotic exhibited weak response against E. coli with zone of inhibition of 15.37 ± 0.33. The ethanolic root extract of A. indica and azithromycin solution have MIC and MBC values of 31.25, 15.63, 62.50 and 31.25 mg/ml respectively against E. coli. The ethanolic root extract of A. indica was bactericidal with MBC/MIC ratio of 2.00. The plant has antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and may prevent pathogenic diseases caused by the organism. Conclusions: The root of Azadirachta indica (neem) contains phytochemicals, possesses antibacterial activity and may prevent pathogenic diseases caused by Escherichia coli.

Background of Study: Onion (Allium cepa) plant has been used for multiple purposes both for modern and traditional medicine. The study evaluates the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and antibacterial activities of aqueous red onion (Allium cepa) and azithromycin solution against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Methodology: The AAS, GC-MS and phytochemical screening of the aqueous red onion (Allium cepa) extract were determined using standard procedures. Antibacterial activities were determined by agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations were determined using standard procedure. Results: Mineral analysis shows that the minerals that were found in the red onion are: Na, Mg, Fe, Ca, K, Al and Cu. Aqueous extract of Allium cepa shows the presence of secondary metabolites like: saponin, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, reducing sugar, steroids etc. 56 compounds were identified using GC-MS analysis with 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- being the most abundant with peak area of 50.50% and retention time of 16.563. The results revealed that aqueous A. cepa extract with concentration of 250 mg/ml showed strong response against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with zone of inhibition of 22.67±1.585 and 28.18±1.689 respectively. At 100 mg/ml, the onion extract exhibited weak and moderate response against both organisms. The azithromycin solution has zone of inhibition values that ranges from 9.25 ± 0.73 to 20.03 ± 1.16 mm for both organisms tested at 5.00 and 20.00 mg/mL respectively. The MIC values of the azithromycin solution and aqueous red onion extract for S. aureus and E. coli were 31.25, 31.25, 500 and 250 mg/mL while their MBC values were 62.50, 62.50, 1000.00 and 500.00 mg/ml respectively. MBC/MIC values indicate that azithromycin solution and aqueous red onion extract had bactericidal effects on both organisms tested. The red onion has potential as natural therapeutic agents and may prevent pathogenic diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

The study investigates the phytochemistry, Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), atomic Absorbtion spectroscopy (AAS) and antidiabetic activities of aqueous ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract in diabetic alloxan-induced Wistar rats. Qualitative phytochemical analysis, GC-MS, AAS and antidiabetic properties of the aqueous ginger extract were determined using standard procedures. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous ginger extract shows that the extract contains tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, simple phenolic, glycosides, carbohydrates, reducing sugar and steroids. The GC-MS study of the aqueous Zingiber officinale extract revealed the presence of eleven different compounds with 1,3-Cyclohexadiene, 5-(1,5-dimethy 4-hexenyl)-2-methyl-, [S-(R*,S*)]-been the most abundant with peak area of 33.98%. The AAS analysis shows that ginger contain: Ca, Na, Fe, K, P and Zn minerals. Twenty five (25) Wistar rats were grouped into 5 groups and investigated for antidiabetic study for a period of 15 days. Group A and B animals were normal and negative control respectively. Group B rats were induced with alloxan and not treated with drugs or extract. Animals in other groups (C, D and E rats) were diabetic and treated with standard drug (glibenclamide with concentration of 10 mg/kg), 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous ginger extract respectively. The group of rats treated with 10, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of glibenclamide and aqueous ginger extract showed significant reduction (p<0.0001) in the level of blood sugar level when compared to group B animals. There were significant reduction (p<0.0001) in plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoproteincholesterol and an increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and body weight in the treated rats compared to the untreated group B rats.