The development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to advocacy for the use of natural products in the treatment of fish diseases. The antimicrobial activity of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of walnut leaves and onion bulbs were evaluated against six pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphyloccocus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Samonella typhi) using the cupplate method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Onion bulbs and walnut leaves were also screened for secondary metabolites and this indicated the presence of saponins, tannin, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides and flavonoids; while anthraquinones were not detected in both plants. The zone of inhibition varied with the bacteria and type of extract. The average diameter of inhibition zones was 10 ± 0.00 and 9 ± 0.02 mm for methanolic and ethanolic extracts of walnut leaves and onion bulbs, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa were most sensitive to the extracts. However, S. aureus was more sensitive to the extracts of walnut leaves and S. typhi was the least sensitive. Bacillus subtilis was more sensitive to the extracts of onion compared to E. coli which was the least sensitive. Minimum inhibitory concentration of walnut leaves and onion bulbs extracts on the bacteria tested were both 500 µg/ml. The results indicated that walnut leaves and onion bulbs had antibacterial activity on the tested organisms and showed their prospects for their use in the treatment of fish diseases.

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0.05) among the treatments, the treated groups had better area of absorption and cryptal depth compared to the control. Treatment with 1.5% inclusion of walnut leaf residue recorded highest villi length and villi width and treatment with 1.5% inclusion of onion bulb recorded highest cryptal depth (30.00±0.00). These results indicate that using walnut leaf and onion bulb as a supplement in plant ­based diets may be useful in improving feed acceptability and growth performance of cultured C. gariepinus fed low cost, plant ­ based diets and it was concluded that walnut (T. conophorum) leaf at 1.5% inclusion in the diet of Clarias gariepinus improved body weight gain, feed conversion ratio by increasing the absorptive capacity through increased villi length, villi width and cryptal depth.]]>

The application of organic and inorganic fertilizer to the soil is considered as good agricultural practice because it improves the fertility of the soil and plant quality. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of organic (saw dust, poultry droppings and cow dung: 500 kg haG 1) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK: 500 kg haG 1) on the mineral composition of Amaranthus spinosus on a plot of land in Akparabong, Ikom Local government Area of Cross River State. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in three replicates. Parameters assessed include proximate, mineral, anti nutrient, vitamins A and C. Data were analyzed using student t-test. Results were also expressed as percentage difference and differences between mean values were determined at 5% probability. Phytochemicals (percentage crude alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and reducing compounds) were higher in organic leaf samples with mean values of 0.84±0.

RESUMENEl presente estudio evaluó el efecto de la inclusión en la dieta de distintos niveles de hojas nogal (WL) y residuos de bulbo de cebolla (OB) sobre la cicatrización de heridas en la dermis de Clarias gariepinus. El experimento se llevó a cabo en nueve tanques experimentales (1,8 m x 2 m x 1,2 m) durante 14 días. Se formularon nueve dietas experimentales al 40% de proteína bruta con los siguientes niveles de inclusión: control (0%), OB2 (0,5%), OB3 (1,0%), OB4 (1,5%), OB5 (2,0%), WL6 (0,5%), WL7 (1,0%), WL8 (1,5%) y WL9 (2,0%). Los peces (peso promedio 1 kg) fueron alimentados dos veces al día con 3% del peso corporal. El porcentaje de cicatrización y la tasa diaria de cicatrización en las zonas laterales y caudales de macho y hembra de Clarias gariepinus se investigaron a los 0, 7 y 14 días. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva y ANOVA (P < 0,05). Los resultados mostraron que los peces alimentados con hojas de nogal y residuos de bulbo de cebolla mostraron un mejor rendimiento que el control. La cicatrización dermal de heridas en Clarias gariepinus fue mejor en la parte lateral y caudal (100%; 14,29%; 100%; 14,29%) en WL 8 en comparación con el control (98%; 14,00; 80%; 11,43), respectivamente. Clarias gariepinus macho tenía una mejor cicatrización en comparación con la hembra (100%; 14,29; 82%; 11,71), respectivamente. Las dietas con hojas de nogal y residuos de bulbo de cebolla tienen propiedades curativas y podrían ser usadas en acuicultura, además la inclusión de un 1,5% de nogal en la alimentación de los peces favorece la cicatrización de heridas en Clarias gariepinus.Palabras clave: Clarias gariepinus, hoja de Nogal, bulbo de cebolla, cicatrización de heridas. SUMMARYThe study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion levels of walnut leaf (WL) and onion bulb (OB) residues on dermal wound healing of Clarias gariepinus. The experiment was carried out in 9 experimental tanks (1.8 m x 2 m x 1.2 m) for 14 days. Nine experimental diets were formulated at 40% crude protein representing the following inclusion levels: Control (0%), OB2 (0.5%), OB3 (1.0%), OB4 (1.5%), OB5 (2.0%), WL6 (0.5%), WL7 (1.0%), WL8 (1.5%) and WL9 (2.0%). Fish (mean weight of 1kg) were fed twice daily at 3% body weight. Percentage healing and daily healing rate on lateral and caudal parts of the male and female Clarias gariepinus were investigated at 0, 7 and 14 days. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the fish fed with walnut leaf and onion bulb residues showed better performance than the control. Dermal wound healing of Clarias gariepinus was better on lateral and caudal parts (100%, 14.29; 100%, 14.29) in WL 8 compared to the control (98%, 14.00; 80%, 11.43) respectively. The results obtained showed that the male Clarias gariepinus had better healing compared to the female (100%, 14.29; 82%, 11.71), respectively. Diets with walnut leaf and onion bulb residues had wound healing properties and they could be use in fish farming. Also, the inclu...

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Feeding trial were conducted in experimental tanks (50 x 34 x 27 cm) to assess the growth responses and nutrient utilization of Walnut Leaf (WL) and Onion Bulb (OB) residues in Clarias gariepinus. Nine experimental diets: control (0%), OB2 (0.5%), OB3 (1.0%), OB4 (1.5%), OB5 (2.0%), WL6 (0.5%), WL7 (1.0%), WL8 (1.5%) and WL9 (2.0%) were formulated and replicated thrice at 40% crude protein. Fish (mean weight 7.39±0.02 g and length 10.37±1.24 cm) were fed twice daily at 3% body weight for 12 weeks. Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were determined using standard methods and economic analysis was investigated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05.Results showed that the Fish on OB and WL residue-based diets had higher growth than those on control diet but C. gariepinus fed WL8 had significantly higher MWG, SGR and FCR of 53.81±1.20 g, 1.09±0.11 g and 2.16±0.01 respectively of all treatments. The values of temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were closely related and were still within the range for fish culture in the tropics. WL8 had higher profit index (1.40) and incidence of cost (0.032) and the least in OB5 (1.18) (0.039) respectively. These suggest that walnut leaf residue at 1.5% inclusion could be a potential, less expensive and promising dietary supplementation than onion bulb residue and control that would positively affect growth and water quality of Clarias gariepinus in aquaculture.