<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Alcaligenes faecalis</italic> was previously isolated from Sodwana Bay, South Africa and was shown to be a bioflocculant producing microorganism. The bioflocculant production potential was further assessed through the optimization of the standardized culture media. The production of biofloculant as well as the flocculation was evaluated using different variables such as the size of inoculum, sources of carbon and nitrogen, time course and pH. Through optimization <italic>A. faecalis</italic> showed an improvement in the production of its bioflocculant and also flocculating activity for the following factors: flocculating activity of 71% for an inoculum size of 1%. The bioflocculant produced when maltose was used as source of carbon, showed flocculating activity of 91%, urea, as the most efficient nitrogen source, showed a flocculating activity of 97%, the optimum pH was 9. The time courses analysis between 60 and 72 hours showed the peak for flocculation and by implication highest level of bioflocculant production.</abstract>

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

Assessment of the flocculating potentials of <italic>Alcaligenes faecalis</italic> Isolated from the Estuary of Sodwana Bay

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This study evaluated the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, toxicological and environmental potentials of the <italic>Datura metel (D. metel) leaves</italic> extracts. Fresh leaves of <italic>D. metel</italic> were harvested at three different times of the day (morning, afternoon and evening), extraction done in succession using n-hexane and ethanol solvents respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical analysis for specific gravity, pH, colour, total ash and moisture contents of the dried extracts were determined. The characterisation of the bioactive compounds using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, showed the presence of different compounds at the three different times of the day, out of which phytol and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid were present at all times. These results confirmed that some bioactive compounds present in this plant are dependent on environmental factor , time of harvest and the choice of solvent used while the presence of others are independent on these factors. Each extract was administered orally to Wistar rats for two weeks. There were significant difference (<italic>p &lt; 0.05</italic>) in activities of AST (serum and heart), ALT (liver and serum) and ALP (Serum, liver and kidney), as well as the concentrations of albumin and protein in the liver and serum and urea in the serum of experimental rats given n-hexane and ethanolic extracts of <italic>D. metel</italic>. Generally it also suggest that the leaf extracts collected at three different times of the day had some significant toxicological effect, thus may not be totally safe for consumption at the dosage indicated since tissues membranes integrity of the Wistar rats were not potentially preserved.</abstract>

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

Assessment of Environmental Factors on Secondary Metabolites and Toxicological Effects of <italic>Datura metel</italic> Leaves Extracts

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The qualitative assessment of putative bacterial pathogens on the surfaces of canned drinks sold in Benin metropolis was evaluated in this study. Standard bacteriological culture-based techniques employing the use of selective and differential media (Oxoid) such as <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> agar, mannitol Salt agar, <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> cetrimide agar, bile esculin agar and MacConkey agar were used for isolation and identification of bacteria from swabbed surfaces of canned drinks. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique was used for antibacterial susceptibility testing. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was deduced from the antibiogram characterization to evaluate the public health importance of the bacterial isolates. Refrigerated samples had 25% contamination while 75% were not contaminated and about 15.39% contamination was observed for non-refrigerated samples (stored in crates or cartons) compared to the counterpart 84.61%. The bacterial species include <italic>Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus</italic> sp. and <italic>Enterococcus</italic> sp. The bacteria were found to be sensitive to ciprofloxacin (92.5%) and gentamicin (90.1%) and least susceptible to cefixime (23.1%) and vancomycin (26.4%). They were found to be multi-resistant because they have an MAR index above the tolerable permissible limit (0.2) for common antibiotics usually used for their eradication. It is important to ensure that the surfaces of canned drinks must be rinsed with water before consumption.</abstract>

Qualitative Detection and Isolation of Bacteria from Surfaces of Canned Drinks Sold in Ugbor, Benin City

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Volume 3 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Assessment of the flocculating potentials of Alcaligenes faecalis Isolated from the Estuary of Sodwana Bay

Assessment of Environmental Factors on Secondary Metabolites and Toxicological Effects of Datura metel Leaves Extracts

Qualitative Detection and Isolation of Bacteria from Surfaces of Canned Drinks Sold in Ugbor, Benin City

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