February 2007
Protocol for isolation of genomic DNA from dry and fresh roots of medicinal plants suitable for RAPD and restriction digestion
A simple and efficient protocol for isolating genomic DNA from fresh and dry roots of medicinal plants was developed. It involves a modified CTAB procedure using 3%CTAB, 4% b-mercaptoethanol, 2 M NaCl and 5% PVP. The extraction was carried out at 70°C. A slight increase in the concentrations of these chemical components and temperature helped in the removal of secondary metabolites and polysaccharides from...
February 2007
Rep-PCR reveals a high genetic homogeneity among Ugandan isolates of Xanthomonas campestris pv musacearum
Wilting of plants incited by a bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris pv musacearum(Xcm), was first described on Ensete (Ensete ventricosum) and later bananas (Musa species) in the highlands of Ethiopia in 1968. Although the spread outside Ethiopia remained unreported for several decades, an epidemic of the disease on banana in Uganda was observed in 2001, in the districts of...
February 2007
Influence of EDTA and magnesium on DNA extraction from blood samples and specificity of polymerase chain reaction
This study consisting of two trails conducted to examine the impact of initial EDTA level added to blood samples on quantity and quality of genomic DNA isolated from avian fresh blood and the influence of initial EDTA level with various levels of MgCl2 added to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) final volume on amplification pattern. EDTA level added to collected blood samples had no significant impact on quantity as...
February 2007
Analysis of binding energy activity of TIBO and HIV-RT based on simple consideration for conformational change
Tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5,l-jk][1,4]-benzodiazepin-2 (1 H)one (TIBO) is a noncompetitive non nucleotide antiretroviral drug with a specific allosteric binding site of HIV-1 RT. The conformational analysis shows that the effect of the drug depends on the potential energy which varied due to the beta rotatable dihedral angles (N6 - C15 - C16 = C17) of the TIBO side chain. The change of binding energy between TIBO and HIV-RT...
February 2007
Pseudomonads and symbiotic micro-organisms as biocontrol agents against fungal disease caused by Pythium aphanidermatum
Experiments were undertaken to assess the antagonistic aptitude of Pseudomonas spp. alone or associated with mycorrhizal fungi on Pythium aphanidermaturm, the causal agent of seedlings damping-off and stem rot of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Evaluation was made using selected strains of pseudomonad (Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. putida and Pseudomonas sp.) isolated...
February 2007
Molecular characterisation of Mycovellosiella koepki, the causal agent of yellow spot disease of sugarcane
Yellow spot of sugarcane is a fungal disease caused by Mycovellosiella koepki. Yellow spot symptoms are variable and differ in several sugarcane varieties and the existence of more than one strain of the fungus has been evoked. 29 isolates of the fungus were characterised morphologically and no significant differences were observed on the type, colour and size of the spores. Following restriction digestion of the...
February 2007
Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using poplar leaves as activator material
This study was carried out to determine pin head formation time and mushroom yield ofAgaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tea leaves using poplar leaves as activator material. In this study, moreover, in order to follow the evolution of the composting process, daily temperature measurements were taken. According to the results of the study, in both...
February 2006
Inhibition of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz) Sac. causal organism of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) leaf spot using plant extracts
In vitro and in vivo antifungal evaluations were carried out on twenty-one plants selected from fourteen families on a folial pathogen of para rubber, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz). Sac. Extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. and Allium sativumL. exhibited total inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of C. Gloeosporioides. An evaluation of concentration effects was...
February 2007
Pathological and rhizospherical studies on root-rot disease of squash in Saudi Arabia and its control
Isolations from diseased squash roots revealed the presence of Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and Rhizoctonia solani. The last two fungi were more frequent than any of the other fungi. Pathogenicity tests proved that squash plants were highly vulnerable to attack by Fusarium solani andRhizoctonia solani in descending order, during...
February 2007
Characteristic of Cd sorption in the copper tailings wasteland soil by amended dissolved organic matter from fresh manure and manure compost
Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting their carbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the...
February 2007
Preservative property of Aframomum danielli fractions in stored grains
The use of petroleum ether and ethanol fractions of Aframomoum danielli was explored in the preservation of stored grains; soybean, cowpea and maize. Preservation property of A. danielli increased with increase in concentration of fractions used. The ethanolic fractions showed higher activity in reducing fungal infestation than petroleum ether fractions. Key words: Preservative...
February 2007
Removal of heavy metal from industrial wastewater using hydrogen peroxide
The batch removal of heavy metals lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from industrial wastewater effluent under different experimental conditions using hydrogen peroxide was investigated. Experimental results indicated that at pH 6.5, pre-treatment analysis gave the following values: Pb 57.63 mg/l, Zn 18.9 mg/l and Cu 13.9 mg/l. Removal of heavy metals was optimum at pH 7.6, a temperature of 30oC, 1.5% hydrogen...
February 2006
Potentials of cellulosic wastes in media formulation
Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting their carbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the...
February 2006
Long term effects of aqueous stem bark extract of Cissus populnea (Guill. and Per.) on some biochemical parameters in normal rabbits
In vivo clinical trials involving oral daily administration of crude aqueous extracts ofcissus populnea to grouped sprague-dawley rabbits at two dose levels of 200 and 600 gkg-1 body weight over a 60 day study period revealed that continuous exposure of the plant extract had no damaging effects on the organs of xenobiotic metabolism (liver and kidney). results of levels of serum ast, alt, alkaline...
February 2007
Development of immunoassy for the identification of cold shock proteins from diversified microflora
Cold shock response in various organisms is induced by an abrupt downshift in temperature and leads to a dramatic increase in production of a homologous class of cold shock proteins. These proteins are essential for low temperature survival of bacteria. To identify CSP from diversified microflora, immunoassay was developed. A small 14 kDa protein from cold tolerant mutant, CRPF8 of Pseudomonas fluorescenswas...
February 2007
Assessment of nutritional status of soil supporting coconut (Cocus nucifera) cultivation in some localities of Edo State of Nigeria
Coconut cultivation and information on the nutritional status of soils and fertilizers recommendations for its cultivation are limited in Nigeria. Since a high yield of coconut is related to the fertility status of the soil, a study was conducted to evaluate the status of soils supporting coconut cultivation. The evaluation of the surface soil (0 – 15 cm) and the subsoil (15 – 30 cm) of seven localities...
February 2007
Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among pregnant women in an ante-natal clinic in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Women attending ante-natal clinic in Nigeria are routinely screened for HIV/AIDS. A retrospective study was conducted between 2000 and 2004 to investigate the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Braithwalte Memorial Hospital (BMH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data on positive cases of HIV infection within the duration were retrieved from the...
February 2007
Some Swazi phytomedicines and their constituents
Ethnobotanical surveys of Manzini and Shiselweni regions of Swaziland were conducted to document new phytomedicines used in Swaziland and to determine their chemical constituents with a view to provide the scientific basis of the use of the remedies in traditional medical practice and as a guide to bioprospecting for drugs. The plants collected in the surveys were extracted with suitable solvents and analysed for...
February 2007
Antioxidant and chemoprotective properties of Momordica charantia L. (bitter melon) fruit extract
Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, is used as a vegetable in number of countries. Extracts of M. charantia plant, fruit pulp, and seed have been reported to have a wide medicinal use in the traditional medical systems, most often as hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic agents. We have studied the effect of M. charantia,collected from Kazdaglari (Mount Ida) in Balikesir, fruit extract on...
February 2007
Preliminary studies of the antibacterial activities of processed Kenyan and Nigerian tea
The antibacterial activities of extracts in Kenyan and Nigerian tea bags were tested for activity against six organisms; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerea, Salmonella sp., Proteus sp. and Escherichia coli using the agar-gel diffusion method. The result obtained showed that 20% extract of both teas showed antibacterial activities against S. aureus, E....
February 2007
Losses in β-carotene and vitamin C due to frying of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) chips
Slices of plantain (unripe and ripe) of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm thickness were fried at 130 ± 5, 150 ± 5 and 170 ± 5°C for 1 and 10 min in refined palm oil. The results obtained showed that β-carotene and vitamin C contents decreased significantly with the elevation of the temperature and duration of frying (p<0.05). The decrease is more important when the thickness...
February 2007
Transfer zone behaviour of As(III), Co(II) and Mn(II) ions on sulphur-hydryl infused cellulose surface
Penetrant transport phenomenon was applied to determine the strive of As(III), Co(II) and Mn(II) ions across the adsorbate/cellulose interface. Penetrant-n and K values calculated for the metals on differentially thiolated (mercaptoacetic acid treated) cellulose surfaces were highest for As(III) at UCF-n, K (3.1278, 0.3064), 0.5MF-n, K (2.4248, 0.4716) and 1.0MF-n, K (1.9136, 0.4885). For Co(II), n and K values were UCF...
February 2007
In vitro effects of metals and pesticides on dehydrogenase activity in microbial community of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) rhizoplane
Effects of heavy metals and pesticides on cowpea (Vigna unquiculata) rhizoplane microbial community were assessed in vitro via dehydrogenase activity. The microbial community was exposed to various concentrations of heavy metals and pesticides in a nutrient broth-glucose-2,3,5-triphenyl chloride (TTC) medium. At 0.2 mM, iron and cadmium stimulated the dehydrogenase activity of the microbial...
February 2007
Biodegradation of phenol by Pseudomonas pictorum on immobilized with chitin
Biodegradation of phenol using Pseudomonas pictorum (ATCC 23328) a potential biodegradant of phenol was investigated under different operating conditions. Chitin was chosen as a support material and then partially characterized physically and chemically.The pH of the solution was varied over a range of 7 – 9. The maximum adsorption and degradation capacity of bacteria immobilized with chitin at 30oC...
February 2007
Dehalogenation and decolorization of wheat straw-based bleachery effluents by Penicillium camemberti
This paper examined the capability of Penicillium camemberti to dechlorinate and decolorize wheat straw-based pulping and bleaching effluents. In batch tests, the highest removals for CEH (Chlorination-Extraction-Hypochlorite) bleaching sequence [65% organic halides (AOX) 84% color] were obtained with 2 g/l acetate concentration in 10 days under non-shaking conditions. Experiments in shaking flasks...
February 2007
Larvicidal effect of Hemidesmus indicus, Gymnema sylvestre, and Eclipta prostrata against Culex qinquifaciatus mosquito larvae
The larvicidal effect of aqueous extracts of Hemidesmus indicus roots, Gymnema sylvestre and Eclipta prostrata leaves were tested against Culex quinquefasciatuslarvae at the concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% up to three days. All extracts showed larval mortality. Larval mortality was 100% with the use of 5% concentration of root extract of H. indicus, leaves extracts of G....
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