The microbial contamination of locally processed beverages has been familiar among microbiological researchers who have repeatedly implicated them as the major cause of endemics due to poor processing. However, due to antimicrobial resistance and the need to discover new antimicrobial plants, Antibacterial activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of Andographis paniculata against isolates of Salmonella spp. and Esherichia coli from zobo and soya milk was studied. Andographis paniculata leaves were collected randomly from a local farm in Emene Enugu East L.G.A Enugu State. The leaves samples were identified morphologically, washed, air dried at room temperature and milled into powder. 39.7 g of the powder was macerated with ethanol during the extraction process. Phytochemical analysis was carried out on the extract and result showed that Saponins, Tanins, Flavanoids, Phenols, Steriods were present with Flavanoids and Saponins being in higher concentration, while Terpernoids, Alkaloids and Glycosides were absent. The zobo and soya milk samples were diluted using 10-fold serial dilution method and introduced into the already prepared MacConkey and Salmonella Shigella Agar for incubation. Isolates from zobo and soya milk were characterized, biochemically and morphologically and were identified as E. coli and Salmonella spp. Antibacterial activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of A. paniculata against E. coli and Salmonella spp. was determined using agar well diffusion method, and result showed that there was no antibacterial activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of A. paniculata against E. coli and Salmonella spp. However, absence of Terpernoids, Alkaloids and Glycosides exhibited non-comparable activity with the positive control (ciprofloxacin).
Food contaminated with antibiotic resistant bacteria pathogens is a major threat to public health. Apart from infecting man they serve as reservoirs of genes for antimicrobial resistance and they easily transfer the resistant genes to both related and unrelated bacterial species; hence the aim of the present study. The prevalence, antibiotic sensitivity pattern and plasmid profile of Salmonella spp isolates from ready-to-eat ugba (Pentaclethra macrophylla) samples vended in various markets in Enugu State, Nigeria was investigated. The samples were further examined to determine the effect of post treatment with brine and steam respectively. A total of 40ugba (P. macrophylla) samples were obtained from different food vendors in the selected markets in Enugu metropolis, Enugu state, Nigeria. Cultures were done on Salmonella-shigella agar and characterized by standard microbiological methods. Post treatment with brine involved rinsing 5g of P. macrophyla samples in three changes of brine solution while post treatment using steam was done by boiling5g of P. macrophyla samples for 10 mins to an internal temperature of 30°C, 60°C, 75°C and 90°C and subsequently cultured on Salmonella-Shigella agar by pour plate method. Antibiogram of the isolates were determined by using disc diffusion method and plasmid DNA was extracted using plasmid alkaline lysis method and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Salmonella spp. was recorded at high prevalence of 95%. The isolates showed varied resistance to different antibiotics; amoxicillin (50%), augmentin (100%), streptomycin (61%), septin (95%), gentamycin (45%) and chloramphenicol (68%). Multiple antibiotic resistant was observed in 26% of the isolates. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that all the ten selected isolates had single plasmid bands of 20kb size. The results revealed relative similarities between the Salmonella isolates but possibility of five clones among the Salmonella isolates. At p<0.05 steam reduced the microbial load of isolates in P. macrophyla than in brine. The results from this study show that Salmonella spp. contamination of P. macrophyla was high in the study area and isolates were multidrug resistant; therefore food handlers should be properly educated and monitored to ensure compliance to proper food hygiene guidelines and P. macrophyla should be steamed prior to consumption to reduce the rate of infection.
This study was undertaken to examine the insecticidal properties of Neem plant. Powder and aqueous extracts of Neem, Azadirachata indica leaves were evaluated as grain protectants against the bambara nut weevil (Callosobruchusmaculatus) and bean seed weevil (Acanthoscelidesobtectus), in the laboratory at 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 (%v/w) concentrations per 20g of bambara nut and bean seeds respectively. Aqueous and powder extracts of Azadirachataindica leaves were applied to the bambara nut and beans seed using the contact method of application in the laboratory. Results revealed that 2.0%v/w (p=0.014) and 2.5% v/w (p=0.008) had significant increase in adult mortality of C. maculatus and A. obtectus in aqueous treatment of A. indica on beans and bambara nut after 72h at p<0.05. Similar results were obtained for beans and bambara nuts using powdered A. indica treatment. Percentage grain weight damage in bambara nut powder treatment of A. indica decreased significantly (p=0.002) at (P<0.05) in a proportionate, dose dependent manner and there was no adult emergence for either of bambara nut weevil or bean weevil. The 1.5 (%v/w) concentration was the least effective when compared with other concentrations. There was significant difference between A. indica treated grains and the control. There was no observed discoloration of the treated seeds. A. indica (aqueous and powder) extracts effectively reduced the weight loss of the treated bambara nut and seeds with 2.5% concentration being the most effective after 168hours. Phytochemical analyses of the extracts revealed presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, terpenes, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids while reducing sugars, carbohydrates and anthraquinones were absent. This study shows the insecticidal effects of A. indica against crop pests and at such there is need to further exploit Neem in order to maximize the potential. Farmers in developing countries can use A. indica as an alternative to chemical pesticide in rural grain storage.
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