International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Eco-Friendly Management of Allopeas clavulinum (spike awl snail) Through the Application of Herbal Pesticide
Get PDFThe Allopeas clavulinum (spike awl snail) is a mud loving garden and nursery inhabiting mollusc which is very harmful for seedlings of plants as well as a vector for some parasitic helminths. Keeping in the mind the hazardous effect of synthetic chemical pesticides, some plants were screened for their eco-friendly pesticidal effect. The Leaf extract of Prosopis cineraria was found very effective for the eco-friendly management of these harmful snails.
 
Effect of Selected Plant Materials against Insect Pest Infestation of Stored Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantaz) Chips
Get PDFOver 500 million people depend on Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantaz) for dietary energy and research has shown that storage for just 4-6 months causes damage and losses (25-75%) due to insect pest infestations. This study is thus designed to determine the dominant insect species associated with stored cassava chips and evaluate the suppressive effect of selected plant products on pestiferous species. The study was conducted in Wukari, Nigeria (latitude 7.89N and longitude 9.77E) from January-October, 2020. The experiment consists of 5 treatments (leaves of Vernonia amygdalina, Azdirachta indica and Bombax ceiba flowers all at 100g per kg of chips; Permethrin powder at 2.0g per kg of chips and untreated control) in 4 replications of bags filled with 10 kg of cassava chips. Gallery counts were taken at 2 months interval and insect identification (including their counts and abundance) was computed at the end of the storage period. Variation in number (mean) of galleries and insects count among the treatments was compared by variance analysis after appropriate transformation. Significantly different means compared by Student Newman Keul’s Test and presented in bar charts. The relationship between pest insect count and gallery was determined by correlation and linear regression analysis. The result shows that, difference in infestation of dominant insects across treatments were significant among treatments except for R. litoralis (F=2.79, p=0.06). Untreated chips had higher number of insects (range; 9.75±4.59-13.25±3.64) while, Permethrin powder treated chips had the least number of insect counts (range; 0.50±0.50-1.75±1.03). Among the plant based treatments, A. indica had the least infestation (range; 1.00±0.71-5.50±2.72). Contrarily, B. ceiba treated chips consistently had higher presence of insects (range; 6.00±0.81-11.50±7.86). The number of galleries were positively and insignificantly (r = 0.82; p = 0.093) correlated with pest insects. Of the plant-based products used, neem leaf (A. indica) was most effective.
 
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Activities of Citrus sinensis Leaves Extracts
Get PDFThe biological activities and medicinal benefits of different plants have been long known. Therefore, humans have ever since researched, tried and utilised them for their betterment. In the present study, an effort was made to perceive the existence of microbial infections alongside with herbal remedy of these infections. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of Citrus sinensis leaves extracts. In vitro anti-bacterial and anti-fungal potentials of Citrus sinensis leaves extracts were investigated. Four different solvents i.e. ethanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and water were used for extract preparation from the plant leaves. The anti-microbial activity potency of leaves extracts was evaluated by Standard Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method against reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. Four different concentrations (2000 µg, 1000 µg, 500 µg and 200 µg) of each extract were investigated against the test organisms. Significant anti-bacterial activity was displayed by ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). No activity was displayed by petroleum and aqueous extracts at all concentrations. A significant anti-bacterial activity was displayed against Salmonella typhi (ATCC 14028). No activity was displayed by ethyl acetate extract except at 1000 µg. There was no activity displayed by all the extracts against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) at all concentrations. Ethanol extract displayed an exceptional anti-fungal activity against Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404) and Aspergillus fumigatus (ATCC 16404). No activity was displayed by aqueous extract at all concentrations. This study justifies the claimed uses of Citrus sinensis leaves extracts in the Pakistan’s traditional system of medicine to treat various diseases. The results of this study show the extracts to possess significant antibacterial and antifungal activities to leaves extracts of Citrus sinensis, and are considered appropriate for empirical treatment of various diseases in the study area. It is therefore, recommended that further studies of these extracts should be carried out by agar well dilution and other methods prepared in different solvents and evaluated again through in-depth analysis by fractionation, structure elucidation and docking studies.
 
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Schoolchildren at Dhamar City, Yemen
Get PDFHelicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic infections and a global public health problem, affecting over 50% of the population worldwide. Childhood is the age in which most H. pylori infections tend to be acquired particularly in developing nations. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among Schoolchildren as well as to evaluate the correlation between risk factors including age, sex, education, symptoms and nutrition with the infection rate. H. pylori-antigen and H. pylori- antibody tests were used to detect the infection by H. pylori. Total 120 blood-serum samples and 120 fecal samples were collected randomly from schoolchildren comprising eleven schools at Dhamar city. Study was carried out from November 2019 to March 2020. The results revealed that the rate of infection was 75.8% of H. pylori Antigen and 74.2% of H. pylori Antibody. The highest rate of infection by H. pylori-Ag was recorded in Oqbah, Hafsah and Yemen Modern Schools, whereas H. pylori-Ab recorded the highest rate in Oqbah, Al-jawdah and Al-motafawgeen Schools. According to the gender, the rate of infection among female students was higher compared to the male students. Moreover, the highest infection of H. pylori was in students aged between six to eight. In addition, the elementary school showed high infections in correlation with education. Finally, the current study showed a significant relationship between H. pylori infection with the pathological symptoms and type of nutrition.
 
Mosquitoes and their perceived nuisance in Tripoli
Get PDFDespite the high numbers of mosquitoes observed in some areas, little is known about the biting nuisance of mosquitoes in Libya. Tripoli municipality is a place notorious for nuisance mosquitoes perceived in year 2015, The objective was to assess the impact of mosquito nuisance on the residents of Tripoli municipality and to show results of mosquitoes collected during the nuisance outbreak. Two hundred people were randomly selected and asked if they had been bitten by mosquitos. If they said yes, they were asked to explain where and when they were attacked by mosquitos, as well as what precautions they took to avoid mosquito bites. The questionnaire was filled out by 160 participates. 65% of those reported being bitten by mosquitoes, with most bites occurring outdoors during the summer. Thirty-nine percent said most of the biting happened in the evenings and at night. 43 (27%) took protective measures against being bitten. Of those respondents who protected themselves against biting using repellents (44%), with the remainder changing their behavior to avoid mosquitoes, including closing or screening windows and windows or doors screen with (35%), (2%) respectively, wearing thicker clothes (4%) and spraying insecticide (21%).one person stayed inside (2.3%). Mosquitoes are a major issue for a large section of Tripoli`s population, according to this study. Given the growing worry about the threat posed by potential and emerging viruses in Libya, health officials need to make major efforts to alert the public about the threats posed by mosquitoes in areas where they are common.
 
Phytochemical and in vitro Antimicrobial Assessments of Various Parts of Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill.
Get PDFSecurinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill. is a deciduous perennial shrub. The phytochemical and antimicrobial activity screenings of the leaf, stem, root, and blend (root+stem) extracts of the plant were carried out using standard techniques. Test of significance was measured using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenes, saponins, and sterols were detected in all the parts examined while hydrogen cyanide was found only in the leaf. The plant extracts exhibited a dose-dependent effects on the microorganisms tested. At 150 Mg/ml, the blend of stem and root extract had the highest inhibitory activities against Streptococcus agalactiae (6.27±0.04 mm), Salmonella typhi (5.77±0.04 mm) and Escherichia coli (5.74±0.02 mm) while the leaf extract had the highest level of inhibitory effects against Geotricum candidum (7.52±0.11 mm) and Aspergillus fumigatus (6.62±0.25 mm). The leaf, stem and root of S. virosa are endowed with phytochemicals that possess antimicrobial qualities, hence, suggesting their extraction for pharmaceutical applications.
 
The Effect of Herbal Treatment against Tick
Get PDFThe present study was done with the use of effective herbal plant extracts against ticks to estimate the acaricidal activity. Two herbal plant i.e. Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Allium sativum (Garlic) were used as an extract against different species of ticks (Hyalomma anatolicum, Boophilus microplus and Rhiphicephalus) which were highly reactive to ticks mortality. In the present study, when Allium sativum plant extracts were used it showed 100 % tick mortality within 43 minutes and Azadirachta indica showed 100 % tick mortality within 30 minutes The combination of both the plant extracts showed 100 % tick mortality within 20 minutes.
 
Prevalence of Rotavirus among Iraqi Children with Diarrhea in Diyala Province
Get PDFIn children under the age of five, rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis. The aim of this study was to see how common rotavirus is in children who have diarrhea, the efficacy of Immuno Chromatography Assay (ICA) and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and evaluate the relationship between the demographic agent and clinical presentation associated with rotavirus. At AL-Batool Teaching Hospital in Baqubah, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from the first of April 2019 to 31 of March 2020, on (300) children with diarrhea below five years of age. The patients included (n=161, 53.6%) males and (n=139, 46.3%) females. The patient’s age, gender, living area, season, mode of feeding, source of water supply and sterilization, were gathered using a questionnaire designed specifically for this study. Rotavirus is detected in fecal specimens using the ICA and ELISA tests. The rotavirus antigen was detected in (47.33%) stool specimens by the ELISA test and (59%) by ICA from (300) children with diarrhea and high infection in the age group between 13-24 months at the rate (49.40%). The highest infection rate in spring was (56.00%) and lower in summer (33.33%). Males were infected at a higher rate than females (42.24% vs. 39. 57%).High significant infection among children living in rural areas (55.68%) compared to those living in urban areas (35.48%). According to the clinical features, the findings revealed the prevalence of rotavirus infection in children who had a fever (54.90%), vomiting (42.03%), those suffering from severe dehydration (48.85) some dehydration 78 (46.15%). However, rotavirus infection was significant with fever only.
 
Biodegradation of Crude oil Contaminated Soils Using Fungal Species
Get PDFCrude oil contamination of soil in the environment has increase due to increase in vandalizations and corrosions of pipelines particularly where refineries and deports are located as well as accidental discharge during transportation and increased in demand on hydrocarbon products, which lead to the need to clean up spilled petroleum using biodegradation method. This research aimed at isolating fungal species from crude oil contaminated soil and their ability to degrade volatile organic compounds within petrochemical company (KRPC) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The fungi were determined using poured plate method. Aspergillus flavus (4[20%]), Aspergillus fumigatus (6[30%]), Aspergillus niger (6[30%]), Rhizopus oryzae (2[10%]) and Microsporum audouinii (2[10%]) were isolated and identified with different frequencies. The degradation level of fungi species analyzed, using gas chromatography, showed Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger were the highest degraders that have degraded all the natural products found in crude oil and Aspergillus flavus was the least degrader. The use of these fungal species to clean impure crude oil soils could be employed. Therefore, these species more especially Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzea might be produced in large quantity and employed in bioremediation process.
 
Growth Dynamics of Major Mangrove Species in the Sundarbans Reserve Forest of Bangladesh
Get PDFTo conduct the present study, data was collected from 33 Permanent Sample Plots with a view to observing the growth dynamics of important mangrove species with a multistage sampling technique in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF), Bangladesh. The salinity of the soil varies from 5 to 28 ppt and PH ranges from 5.0 to 6.0. There were 25970 ha-1 of seedlings in the LSWZ (>5 ppt), 32212 ha-1 in the MSWZ (5-18 ppt), and 26424 ha-1 in the SSWZ (>18 ppt). The chronology of the total number of seedlings in each salinity zone were 43%, 24%, and 33% respectively. Total numbers of regeneration for H fomes 9303, 5970 and 4818; E agallocha 7273, 12970, 3091; for C decandra 2303, 636, 11242; for X moluccensis 879, 909,233; for B sexangula 2788, 1303, 152; for S apetala 333, 1273, 0; for A officinalis 697, 636, 30; for C ramiflora 758, 30,0; for A corniculatum 242, 30, 4576; for R apiculata 121, 606,0; for A cucullata 394, 394, 182; for P paludosa 485, 0,0 and for N fruiticans 485, 455,0 in less, moderate and strong salinity zones consecutively. Total regeneration percentage with average annual increase of growth (DBH, cm and Height, m) of each species of H fomes 27.5%, 0.025 and 0.020; E agallocha 7.0%, 0.023 and 0.012; C decandra 39.2%, .033 and 0.034; B sexangula 13.6%, 0.156 and 0.055; X mekongensis 3.1%, 0.029 and 0.028; A officinalis 4.6%, 0.024 and 0.053; S apetala 0.8%, 0.146 and 0.348; A corniculatum 0.6%, 0.019 and 0.156 in different saline zone of Sundarbans.