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OPTIMIZATION OF ALKALINE Α-AMYLASE PRODUCTION BY THERMOPHILIC BACILLUS SUBTILIS
Get PDFBackground: Starch‐degrading amylase enzyme is important in biotechnological applications as food, fermentation,
textile, paper and pharmaceutical purposes. The aim of current study to isolate alkaline thermostable α-amylase bacteria and
then study the composition of medium and culture conditions to optimize cells growth and a-amylase production.
Materials and Methods: Thermophilic amylase producing bacterium was isolated from local hot water-springs in Gazan
city Saudi Arabia.
Results: Phylogenetic analysis of 16 S rRNA sequence for the strain revealed that the strain have the same sequence of
Bacillus subtilis. Maximum amylase production was observed, when B. subtilis cultured in medium containing starch at
concentration 0.5%, and 10 g/L peptones as nitrogen source at pH 8.5 in when it was incubated for 48 h at 45°C.
Conclusion: An amylase-producing bacterium were isolated from hot-spring water and was identified as B. subtilis.
Amylase produced from B.subtilis had optimum temperature 45°C and pH 8.5 in shaking media
KAEMPFEROL, A FLAVONOID COMPOUND FROM GYNURA MEDICA INDUCED APOPTOSIS AND GROWTH INHIBITION IN MCF-7 BREAST CANCER CELL
Get PDFBackground: Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, has been shown to induce cancer cell apoptosis and cell growth inhibition in several
tumors. Previously we have conducted a full investigation on the chemical constituents of Gynura medica, kaempferol and its
glycosides are the major constituents of G. medica. Here we investigated the growth inhibition and apoptosis induction effect of
kaempferol extracted from G. medica.
Materials and Methods: The inhibition effects of kaempferol were evaluated by MTS assay and soft agar colony formation assay.
Fluorescence staining and western blotting were be used to study the apoptosis. The structure was identified by 1H- NMR),
13C-NMR and ESI-MS analyses.
Results: Our results showed that kaempferol’s inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth may through inducing apoptosis and
downregulation of Bcl2 expression.
Conclusion: Kaempferol is a promising cancer preventive and therapeutic agent for breast cancer
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF CERATOTHECA TRILOBA FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ANTHRAQUINONES FROM HAIRY ROOT CULTURES
Get PDFBackground: Ceratotheca triloba was found to contain three anthraquinones (9, 10-anthracenedione, 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone
and 5, 8-dimethoxy-2, 3, 10, 10a-tetrahydro-1H, 4aH-phenanthrene-4, 9-dione [DTP]) in its roots. Inhibition of the human topoisomerase
II enzyme is the basis of some currently used cancer drugs such as doxorubicin which is shown to be cardio-toxic. For this reason we
decided to investigate anthraquinones from C. triloba as a possible anticancer drug, however the main limitation was the large quantities
of roots that are required to obtain a good yield of the active compound. Therefore the aim of this research was to obtain a higher yield of
anthraquinones in hairy roots cultures than the parent plant as well as to compare yields of hairy root, cell suspension and shoot cultures.
Materials and Methods: Protocols for seed sterilization, seed germination, shoot cultivation, callus induction, A. rhizogenes mediatedtransformation
and hormone supplementations of hairy roots were developed.
Results:The results revealed that stem explants was susceptible to transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes at a low optical density
of 0.2. Induced hairy roots were decontaminated by exposure to cefotaxime at 500mg.l-1 for five days and then 200mg.l-1 for eight days.
Visualization of culture extract profiles by TLC revealed anthraquinones were present in all cultures. Analysis of the culture extracts by
HPLC showed the highest yield of anthraquinones was produced in hairy root cultures supplemented with 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid
[NAA] (8 mg). This was a 17 fold increase compared to field roots (0.47 mg).
Conclusion:Therefore C. triloba hairy root cultures are the preferable biological system for anthraquinones production over shoot (0.13
mg) and cell suspension cultures (0.70 mg)
THE EFFECTS OF EXTRACTS OF ATRACTYLODES MACROCEPHALA KOIDZ COMBINED WITH TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICALACUPOINT STIMULATION IN TREATING THE OVARIECTOMIZED FEMALE RATS
Get PDFBackground: The present study was to explore the effects of the extracts of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (EAMK) combined
with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the ovariectomized female rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operation, model, livial
and EAMK+TEAS groups (n=10 in each group). After the individual treatments for 8 weeks ended, the serum levels of estradiol
(E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), osteocalcin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured with
commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: We found that in the sham-operation group, the serum E2 and osteocalcin levels were significantly higher, and the serum
levels of FSH, LH and IL-6 were markedly lower than those of other groups (P0.05), however, the serum FSH and IL-6 levels of
EAMK+TEAS group were significantly lower than those of the livial group (
THE PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE AND THEIR HANDLERS IN NORTH TONGU DISTRICT OF VOLTA REGION, GHANA
Get PDFBackground: Brucellosis is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for great economic losses in most sub-Saharan nations. Although
Ghana has successfully implemented the “One Health” initiative for the control of some emerging infectious zoonotic diseases with
pandemic potential like Avian Influenza, there is very limited data available on brucellosis especially human brucellosis prevalence.
He objective of his study is to determine the seroprevalence of human and bovine brucellosis as well as the predisposing factors at
the community level in the North Tongu District of Ghana.
Materials and Methods: Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) was used to analyze blood samples from 178 cattle farmers, and 315 cattle.
The positive samples were further confirmed with cELISA. Predisposing factors were determined by questionnaires administered to
cattle farmers. All sample sites were geo-referenced.
Results: Human and bovine brucellosis seroprevalence using RBPT were 10.1% and 22.9% respectively. Eighty six percent (62/72)
of bovine cases were confirmed with ELISA. Delivery assistants were more likely to be infected (p=0.043) with odds ratio of 2.7.
Out of the human cases (18), males constituted 88.9%. Ages 11-20 years recorded 77.7% seropositivity whilst cattle drovers
represented 44.5% (8/18) of positives. Significant risk factors in cattle were herd size (p=0.037), history of retained placenta (0.000)
and abortion (0.005).
Conclusion: Bovine and human brucellosis is prevalent in North Tongu district, Ghana. Close contact with parturient cows was a
major predisposing factor for human infection. Early referral of positive persons to the Hospital for confirmation and treatment is
required to comply with the “One Health” initiative on brucellosis and other zoonoses
CONSUMERS PREFERENCE AND ASSOCIATED PATHOLOGY OBSERVED IN CATTLE AND GOAT OFFALS IN KUMASI, GHANA
Get PDFBackground: The global population demands high quality meat and the preference for offal continue to be on the increase. This
investigation evaluates consumers’ preference and associated pathological conditions observed in cattle and goat offal in Kumasi, Ghana.
Materials and Methods: Cross sectional survey and structured questionnaires involving 200 adult respondents were adopted. 105 samples
of cattle and goat offal from selected retailers or vendors were also evaluated for associated pathological conditions.
Results: From the questionnaire, results showed that on the average, one (1) pound of offal was consumed by a household of seven (7) per
meal twice a week. The most preferred offal was the fore-stomach (52.70%) followed by the liver (38.10%). However, 75% and 50% of the
liver sampled had one or more lesions in the goat and cattle respectively with presence of abscesses, metazoan parasites and granuloma.
Factors like availability, affordability, nutritional value, taste, customs and level of education influenced the consumer’s preference for
edible offal.
Conclusion: Presence of metazoan parasites, granuloma and microabbscesses further undermine the quality of the offal supply in Ghana and
it calls for further investigation into causal agents of these pathological conditions; hence, strict inspection and assessment should be
enforced and maintained for continual provision of edible and wholesome offal
ASYMPTOMATIC INTESTINAL PROTOZOA IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN PATEGI, PATEGI LGA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.
Get PDFIntestinal protozoan infection is one of the principal diseases contributing to human illness and suffering in tropical countries with significant effect of morbidity and mortality on children. The prevalence of intestinal asymptomatic protozoan infection was assessed (November, 2012 through May, 2013) among school age children in Pategi, Pategi Local Government area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Four public primary schools with nursery, prebasic and basic sections were used for the study. The age range was from 1 to 15 years old. Seven hundred and forty eight (748) stool specimens were collected and examined for protozoan cysts using the direct wet preparation and formol-ether concentration methods. One hundred and ninety seven (26.3%) of the samples were positive for intestinal protozoan parasite. The distribution of the parasites was E. histolytica/dispar (75.1), E. coli (18.8) and G. lamblia (6.1%). Balantidium coli cyst was not detected in the stool samples of the pupils. Highest prevalence of E. histolytica was observed among Gboke primary school (35.0%), closely followed by Nyamkpan (31.7%) and Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) (5.9%). Due males (28.0%) were more infection and female (24.7%), the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) except for G. lamblia infection (
A SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AROUND UPPER SONGKHLA LAKE, THAILAND
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to explore medicinal plants from upper Songkhla lake, Songkhla and Phatthalung provinces. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven key informants to get information regarding to the local names, parts and utilization, method of preparation, route of administration and properties of plants. Voucher specimens were prepared, identified and deposited. In total, 95 species belonging to 82 genera in 46 families were found. Among them 26 groups of ailments could be classified, and most of herbal plants were used for antipyretic (24.30%). However, only 39 medicinal plants were related to biological activities previously reported. Therefore, it is interesting to focus on these activities of remaining plants to confirm folk utilization of local healers. This compilation of medicinal plants will promote their practical use and be the data evidence for further conservation of the plants
QUANTIFICATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF FLAVONOIDS IN COFFEE SAMPLES
Get PDFBackground: Flavonoids are the phenolic substances widely found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and coffee.
Methodology: In the current study quantity of flavonoids and antibacterial activities were determined in different coffee samples namely Nescafe
classic, Nescafe gold, Nescafe martina, original, creamy and cafe soluvel by using standard methodology available in literature.
Results: Nescafe original and gold showed highest content of flavonoid while cafe soluvel showed lowest content of flavonoid. Cafe soluvel, gold
and classic showed good antibacterial activities.
Conclusion: This study showed that coffee is good source of flavonoids and had excellent antibacterial potential
PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF INDIGENOUS LANDRACES OF OMANI FENUGREEK SEEDS
Get PDFBackground: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L) is receiving global attention as a functional food due to its unique nutritional and medicinal properties as anti-diabetic, hypocholesterolemic, antipyretic, anti-carcinogenic and seasoning and flavoring agent.
Materials and Methods: Seeds of indigenous fenugreek accessions were collected from three different ecological regions (Al-Dakhaliyah, Al¬Dhahirah, and Al-Batinah) of Sultanate of Oman. The samples were analyzed for proximate chemical composition, phytochemical contents and antioxidant properties.
Results: Only significant (