Dynamics of the vaginal microbiome during the menstrual cycle of HIV positive and negative women in a sub-urban population of Kenya
November 2023
Vaginal microbiome (VM) is dominated by Lactobacillus for maintenance of vaginal health. The objective of this study was to characterize changes in the VM during the menstrual cycle of HIV positive (HIV+) and HIV negative (HIV-) women in a sub-urban population of Kenya. In this longitudinal study of 38 women-20 HIV+,18 HIV-high vaginal swabs were for genomic DNA and Gram stain and quantitative PCR (qPCR). qPCR nested on...
Introducing cotton farming by the use of transgenic cotton for phytoremediation of industrial wastes polluted soils in Southern Nigeria
October 2023
Industrialization in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria has resulted in excessive discharge of industrial wastes, especially oil spillage. Farming in this region has declined and cotton farming has not survived there due to this menace. Phytoremediation, which is an emerging green technology has been adopted for the revitalization of farming in polluted sites and has been integrated towards solving this...
Effects of sound waves on conidiospores of Aspergillus oryzae strain RIB40 and characterization of the enzyme activity of rice–koji
October 2023
It was reported that the glucoamylase activity of rice-koji prepared with sound-irradiated conidiospores of yellow-koji, Aspergillus oryzae, at 16 kHz was decreased as compared with that of conidiospores that had not been sound irradiated. To reveal why the glucoamylase activity was changed, we observed the changes of the expression level of glaB encoding glucoamylase. We also determined to observe how the germination...
Screening extracts of fungal endophytes isolated from Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst. Radlk.) for control of bean anthracnose
October 2023
Common bean is consumed in large quantities globally but it is highly susceptible to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, leading to 90 to 100% yield losses. This study investigated the bioactivity of secondary metabolites from Allophylus abyssinicus fungal endophytes against C. lindemuthianum, causing bean anthracnose. A total of 37 fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves, bark and roots of A. abyssinicus and 20%...
Quality evaluation of low free fatty acid and high free fatty acid crude palm oil and variation of total fatty matter and fatty acid composition in Nigerian palm oil
October 2023
Quality of palm oil determines its consumer and market acceptability and price. This correlates directly to its moisture (%), free fatty acid (% FFA) and total fatty matter (%TFM) content. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of low free fatty acid (LFFA) and high free fatty acid (HFFA) crude palm oil (CPO) samples aged 5 to 10 days, purchased from four locations in Southern Nigeria. HFFA CPO is...
An optimized protocol for in vitro regeneration of tropical maize inbred lines through cell suspension and semi-protoplast cultures
October 2023
Maize being an important staple food crop is widely consumed in Kenya but its production remains low due to biotic and abiotic challenges that have not been addressed sufficiently through conventional breeding. This study sought to optimize the establishment of cell suspension and protoplast cultures for 10 tropical inbred maize genotypes in order to identify genotypes that can readily establish in liquid cultures and...
Nutritional and physicochemical characteristics of natural fruit juice formulated from papaya (Carica papaya), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
September 2023
Maintaining optimal nutrition and healthy population continues to be a global priority. The group of liquids and beverages plays an important role in human nutrition. Most beverages consumed are artificial and contain an array of chemical molecules that can be harmful to the health of consumers. Papaya, pineapple and beetroot are the most popular fruits and legumes in Cameroon with several therapeutical effects. This...
Optimization of regeneration protocol and prospecting spectinomycin resistance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv Haider-93
September 2023
Immature zygotic embryos from spring barley cv. Haider-93 were used to induce somatic embryogenesis. The type of the explant, the level of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and handling of calli during subculture are critical factors to obtain maximum number of regenerants. Different concentrations of 2,4-D (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mg/L) and Kinetin (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/L) were used for callus induction...
Molecular characterization of probiotic Enterococcus hirae from fermenting acalypha wilkesiana (Irish Petticoat) and Talinum triangulare (Water Leaf) medicinal plants
September 2023
Research on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) continues to be relevant in the development of nutraceuticals. In this study, edible medicinal Talinum triangulare and Acalypha wilkesiana were collected and subjected to spontaneous fermentation for 24 h. Samples were collected at 6 h intervals for determination of pH and microbial analysis. Determination of LAB percentage frequency occurrence, probiotic properties, and safety...
Study of the effectiveness of essential oils of Mentha aquatica L. and Pimpinella anisum L. in the microbiological stabilization of pasteurized plant extract of Cyperus esculentus L. in Mali
September 2023
This study evaluates the antimicrobial properties of essential oils of Mentha aquatica and Pimpinella anisum in the stabilization of pasteurized plant extract of Cyperus esculentus in Mali. The extraction of essential oils was carried out by steam distillation of the aerial organs of M. aquatica harvested in Bamako and the seeds of P. anisum harvested at Diré in Timbuktu Region. Aging tests were carried out by...
Phytochemical composition, GC-MS analysis and toxicological profiling of Gouania longipetala leaf extract in rats
September 2023
This study investigated the phytochemical composition and toxicity potentials of Gouania longipetala leaf extract in rats. Crude extract was prepared from freshly collected leaves of the plant and was subjected to phytochemical analyses including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and acute toxicity. 15 rats were used for the sub-acute toxicity evaluation, 5 rats in each group of 3, each were treated such...
Current status of molecular tools development for cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] improvement
August 2023
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a popular tropical grain legume which is widely produced and consumed in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The grains are rich in dietary protein for human while the haulm is high quality fodder for livestock particularly ruminants. Compared with many other crops cowpea is a laggard in development, evaluation and deployment of different molecular markers for use in genetics and breeding....
Expression of bioactive compounds in different pepper cultivars (Capsicum annuum L.) in response to different fertilizer treatments
August 2023
This research aimed at evaluating four cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. with different nutrient sources to ascertain the nutrient source that would improve the soil characteristic and promote the accumulation of carotenoids and flavonoids in peppers. Four nutrient sources: poultry manure, pig manure, goat manure, and nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium (NPK) were used for the study. The experiment was conducted as a 4...
Antioxidant activities and GC-MS profiling of fractions of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata
August 2023
This study was intended to investigate the antioxidant activities of different solvent fractions (hexane (HEX), chloroform (CHL), ethylacetate (ETHYL) and methanol (MET) fractions) of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata and GC-MS profiling of the most active fraction (MET). The crude methanol extract was fractionated using vacuum liquid chromatography method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using total...
Genome-wide association analysis identifies resistance loci for bacterial blight in diverse East African rice germplasm
August 2023
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial blight disease has been extensively characterized, and loci against different races identified. Many rice cultivars have been developed and utilized to combat the disease, however, due to the rapid evolution of Xoo, several resistances have broken down. The continuous challenge of ever-evolving Xoo and the breakdown of resistance in cultivated rice...
Contact activities of Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) and Eugenia aromaticum (L). (Merril and Perryl) extracts against larvae of hide beetles, Dermestes maculatus (Degger) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
August 2023
Contact activities of Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) and Eugenia aromaticum (L). (Merril and Perryl) extracts in the control of Dermestes maculatus larvae infesting stored fish (Clarias gariepinus) were investigated under laboratory condition (28±3°C and 65±5% RH). The extracts were tested by application of 2.0 µL each to ten third instars larvae using micro pipette at a concentration of 6.00,...
Propagation of cochineal scale insect free cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) by in vitro regeneration culture technique in Tigray, Ethiopia
July 2023
Cactus in northern Ethiopia is an endangered plant due to the attack by cochineal scale insect (Dactylopius coccus). The aim of this study was to micro propagate disease-free and cochineal resistance cactus pear by in vitro regeneration culturing technique. The study started with young cladodes carefully removed from mother plants. The surface-sterilized 1 cm2 cladode with one areole was cultured on shoot initiation MS...
Contact activities of Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) and Eugenia aromaticum (L). (Merril and Perryl) extracts against larvae of hide beetles, Dermestes maculatus (Degger) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
July 2023
Contact activities of Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) and Eugenia aromaticum (L). (Merril and Perryl) extracts in the control of Dermestes maculatus larvae infesting stored fish (Clarias gariepinus) were investigated under laboratory condition (28 ±3°C and 65±5% RH). The extracts were tested by application of 2.0 µL each to ten third instars larvae using micro pipette at a concentration of...
Bioactive compounds from Juniperus procera (Cupressaceae) with activity against common bean bacterial pathogens
June 2023
Common bean is an important source of protein in sub-Saharan Africa but its production is constrained by various factors especially bacterial diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate compounds from Juniperus procera for bioactivity against common bean pathogens, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. Solvent extraction method was used to obtain crude extracts from the...
The use of microsatellites in the characterization of three plantain cultivars from the Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2023
Knowledge of the genetic variability of plantain cultivars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is limited. This study assessed genetic diversity and relationships in three plantain accessions differing in pseudostem color at seven microsatellite loci using SSR markers. DNA was extracted from banana leaves, and PCR was performed with unlabeled and fluorescent-labeled SSR primers and eventual capillary...
Harnessing the bio-stimulatory properties of heavy metals in improving biogas yield from agro-wastes: Two-phase logistic modeling of diauxic response
May 2023
This study aimed to harness the bio-stimulatory properties of two heavy metals, Zn (II) and Cd (II) at low concentrations in improving biogas yield from anaerobic digestion of cow dung (CD) and pig dung (PD). Proximate characteristics of the feedstocks were estimated by adopting standard methods. The batch fermentation experiment which was set-up in triplicates with equal weights of CD/PD and three concentrations: 0.02,...
Bioactive compounds from Hagenia abyssinica with activity against bean pathogenic bacteria
May 2023
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major food crop in Africa and its production is plagued by diseases that reduce the potential yield, thus threatening food security. This study evaluated compounds from Hagenia abyssinica for bioactivity against bean bacterial pathogens Xanthomonus axonopodis pv. phaseoli and Pseudomonus savastanoi pv. phaseolicola. One triterpenoid, 1,3,19-trihydroxy-2-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid...
Variability in the chemical composition and phenolic compounds of wild Tunisian populations of Nitraria retusa (Forssk.) Asch. and study of their antioxidant properties
April 2023
Six wild populations of Nitraria retusa growing in Tunisia (Mehdia, Mtorech, Kataena, Matmata, Bechima, and Tataouine) were evaluated for their mineral contents, phytochemical composition, phenols content and antioxidants activity. The preliminary phytochemical composition revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, sterols terpenes and free quinones. Analysis of mineral...
Evaluation of the grain yield performance of 5 soybean genotypes in Mozambique using the GGE Biplot method
March 2023
Soybean is a peculiar crop due to its photoperiod sensitivity. The introduction of this crop to a new production region requires a detailed study of its adaptability to select the best genotypes with high production stability for the region. In Mozambique, the demand for soybean grain has been growing. However, national production is low due to little knowledge of the performance of genotypes. The objective of this...
Chemical components of the volatile and non-volatile extractives of Croton species and their microbial activities
March 2023
Essential oil compounds of Croton pseudopulchellus and Croton gratissimus were analysed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrophotometry and screened for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pimilus (ATCC 29212), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10702), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 3983), Streptococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 4983), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 2983) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 19582)...
Production and characterisation of chitosan from chitin of snail shells by sequential modification process
February 2023
Presently, the snail shells produced wastes that are detrimental to clean immediate environment while over reliance on synthesized polymer are suicidal to environment because they are not degradable. Hence, biological production of polymer through shells of snail recycling will signal an ending to consequences associated with wastes and polymer synthesis. Therefore, the current study is targeted at chitosan extraction,...
In vitro anthelmintic activities of stem and root barks extracts of Parkia biglobosa on infective larvae and adult of Haemonchus contortus
January 2023
The treatment of gastrointestinal nematode infections in the 21st century is largely through the use of modern synthetic anthelmintics. However, there is over growing drug resistance to anthelmintics in treatment of gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats and sheep. This present study was carried out to determine the in vitro anthelmintic activitities of Parkia biglobosa using Larval motility inhibition assay...
Adsorption of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions in aqueous solution using groundnut and sheanut shells biochars
January 2023
The adsorption performance of toxic ions and effect of initial pH using groundnut shells and sheanut shells biochars were studied to ascertain the practical and theoretical basis of the use of biochars to remediate water pollution. Biochars were prepared using groundnut and sheanut shells as the feed stocks. The removal efficiencies of lead (Pb) were 100%, > 65.90% for cadmium (Cd) and 96.70% for mercury (Hg) in mono...
Assessment of anticoccidial efficacy of chitosan nanoencapsulated bromelain against coccidia in naturally infected goats in Kenya
January 2023
The current study assessed the anticoccidial efficacy of chitosan nanoencapsulated bromelain (CNB) against coccidiosis in goats. Bromelain was extracted from the pineapple peels using standard methods while oral solution of CNB was prepared using standard manufacturing methods. The in vivo study was done on fifteen healthy male goats naturally infected with coccidia. The goats were divided into three groups consisting...
Engineering of high production of salicylic acid in transgenic hairy roots of Marigold Calendula officinalis L. by Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 13332
December 2022
This study is directed to engineering the high production of salicylic acid from both genetically transformed hairy roots and callus cultures of Marigold, Calendula officinalis L., by pRi-DNA plasmid of the wild type Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 13332, via "Direct injection" and "Co-cultivation" techniques. High frequency of transformed hairy roots was recorded as leaves were inoculated by mixture...
Microbial analysis and detection of Aflatoxin from Irvingia gabonensis kernels sold in Oyo Town, Oyo State, Nigeria
December 2022
This research work aimed at screening for different microorganisms associated with Irvingia gabonensis var. gabonesis Kernels, its nutritional value and detection of aflatoxins from some of the infested I. gabonensis Kernels sold in Oyo town. A total of 30 different I. gabonensis var. gabonesis Kernels were randomly purchased from six different points in the five major markets in Oyo town and isolation was...
Molecular and physiological characterization of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding lines for fungal diseases tolerance
December 2022
Fungal diseases are one of the major causes of losses on wheat yield in the world. Recent studies on plant defense mechanisms have highlighted the role of amino acids and total polyphenols in disease tolerance. Thus, with the objective of identifying on the basis of morphological and physiological variables the high-performance wheat accessions in high and low altitude, we characterized sixteen wheat accessions via...
Some physicochemical properties of tyrosinase from sweet potato (Ipomea batatas)
December 2022
Tyrosinase catalyzes formation of browning in plants, foods and vegetables. Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) undergoes browning after harvesting or during post-harvest operations leading to spoilage and loss of economic value. The physico-chemical properties of purified tyrosinase from I. batatas are here described with a view to providing information on the suitability or otherwise of the enzyme for several industrial and...
Evaluation of Fagara zanthoxyloïdes and Mucuna pruriens extracts phenolic profile and their in vitro antioxidant activity
November 2022
In this study, the antioxidant activity and phytochemical analysis of extracts from the bark of Fagara zanthoxyloides and seeds of Mucuna pruriens were performed. Phytochemical analysis quantified total polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH method. The high levels of polyphenols are obtained from the aqueous extract of F. zanthoxyloïdes (488.6 ±...
Antibacterial Activities of selected Medicinal Plants Against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, B and C, Clinical Isolates in North Central, Nigeria.
November 2022
The aim of the research was to investigate the antibacterial activities and the phytochemical properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Mango (Mangifera indica) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, on clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, B and C, in Lafia, Nigeria. The agar well diffusion technique was used and the analyses were done in triplicates. At the highest aqueous and ethanolic...
Improved SSRs-based genetic diversity assessment of coconuts (Cocos nucifera L) along the coast of Kenya
November 2022
Coconut is the most important cash crop along the Coast of Kenya, yet its genetic diversity has not been fully established. Genetic diversity study of 48 coconut genotypes, collected at the Coastal Kenya was conducted with 13 polymorphic short sequence repeats (SSRs) markers. SSR analysis was performed using GeneMapper while data analysis was done with PowerMarker and DARwin softwares. Analysis revealed a total of...
Effect of temperature on lipid accumulation in three green microalgae species
October 2022
The objective of this work was to analyze the growth of Scenedesmus acutus, Nannochloropsis oculata and Chlorella vulgaris at different temperatures (25, 30 and 38°C) in order to identify changes in lipid content, accumulation of neutral lipids and fatty acids profile. According to the results obtained, the temperature of 30°C does not affect the growth of the microalgae S. acutus, N. oculata and C. vulgaris;...
Cordycepin production by the potential fungal strains Cordyceps militaris BCC 2819 and Cordyceps cicadae BCC 19788 in submerged culture during batch and Fed-batch fermentation
October 2022
Cordycepin is one of the most important bioactive compounds; the low productivity and long production cycle of cordycepin are barriers to its commercialization. The optimal media for cordycepin production by Cordyceps militaris BCC 2819 and Cordyceps cicadae BCC 19788, which are potent cordycepin-producing-fungal strains, were determined through statistical experiments. Six nutrients including glucose, adenine, glycine,...
Semi-artificial method of induced breeding of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) under varying broodstock ratios using Ovaprim®
October 2022
Modern methods of producing African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings require that the male brooder is sacrificed to obtain milt for artificial fertilization of the eggs stripped from the female under hormonal induction. This study assessed the semi-artificial technique of producing catfish larvae with different broodstock ratios using Ovaprim®, a synthetic spawning inducing hormone. The treatments with 3...
Screening for phosphate deficiency tolerance and expression of phosphate uptake genes in Nigerian local rice landraces
October 2022
Twenty-one Nigerian rice landraces were screened for tolerance to phosphate deficiency in nutrient medium using selected morphological indices from which Phosphate Deficiency Tolerance Index (PDTI) was evaluated. All landraces were analyzed for the presence of four phosphate uptake 1 (Pup-1) gene-linked markers while relative expression levels of two Pup-1 genes were evaluated in selected landraces under zero, normal...
Encapsulation by complex coacervation of total flavonoids and total phenols of methanol extract of Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardeaceae) obtained by microwave assisted extraction
October 2022
The study was carried out to produce a microcapsule powder of total flavonoids and total total phenols of methanol extract of the cashew, using a complex coacervation encapsulation method. In the search for optimal conditions for encapsulation, a three level factorial design was set up, while taking into account factors like time and proportions in Arabic gum and gelatin. The kinetic of encapsulation follows a kinetic...
In vitro regeneration of Tripsacum laxum Nash
September 2022
Tripsacum laxum Nash (Guatemala grass) is widely used globally as a forage crop. Its strong roots and long period of growth and utilization allow it to be harvested for many years, and given its high yield, high nutritional value, and good taste. Here the peduncles of T. laxum Nash were used as explants to induce shoots and then efficient shoot proliferation and regeneration system were established for the first time....
Prevalence of drug resistance and genetic characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains from pulmonary tuberculosis patients co-infected with malaria at Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé
September 2022
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and remains a major global public health concern. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of drug resistance and the genetic variation among MTBC population in pulmonary tuberculosis patients co-infected with Malaria at Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé-Cameroon. This was a 12 months cross-sectional study that enrolled 336 participants aged...
Effects of 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol on mitotic chromosomes and nucleic acid content using Allium cepa and Vicia faba assays
September 2022
Chlorophenols are compounds used as intermediaries in manufacturing agricultural pesticides. Despite the efficiency on their targets, they are considered as environmental pollutant substances. This study assessed two chlorophenol substances, 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2-CP, 2,4-DCP) for their cytogenetic, genotoxic, and nucleic acid content affects using Allium cepa and Vicia faba assay....
Characterization of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria isolated from soils of Senegalese Semi-arid Sahelian Zone
September 2022
The semi-arid Sahelian region of Africa, characterized by its deleterious agro-climatic conditions, is also subject to agricultural overexploitation to support human and livestock food. This situation has strongly accentuated the continuous degradation of arable land. However, green biotechnologies are often proposed to promote more sustainable agricultural systems. Thus, the soil microbiome is explored for the...
Rhizosphere competence and abiotic stress tolerance of commercially sold Pseudomonas fluorescens biofertilizers: Implications for their bioremediation potential
August 2022
Microbial remediation research has become front and centre gaining momentum for numerous environmental biotechnological applications. Agronomical bioproducts have been widely used for many years and their availability, low costs and safety makes them potentially suitable for alternative biotechnological applications, specifically environmental remediation. In this study, the commercially available biofertilizer,...
Association of serum MMP-9 with recurrence in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after chemotherapy or concurrent radiotherapy
August 2022
Esophagectomy is a common standard treatment of localized disease. However, local recurrence frequently occurs in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after operation, resulting in the need for using biomarkers to evaluate recurrence in patients with advanced ESCC during postoperative therapies. This study examined serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as a prognosis factor in recurrent...
Assessment of Exserohilum turcicum using molecular markers for sustainable maize production in Tanzania
August 2022
The Exserohilum turcicum fungus causes the Northern leaf blight (NLB) of maize all over the world. In Tanzania, this disease is considered as a major foliar disease with yield losses of 23.9 to 62.8%. To understand the genetic variations of E. turcicum from maize fields in Tanzania, a survey was conducted in four regions, including Morogoro, Iringa, Njombe, and Mbeya. Leaf samples were collected from diseased plants...
Studies of Salvia officinalis leaf extract on some biochemical parameters in rats induced with overdosed-tramadol
August 2022
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Salvia officinalis leaf extract in overdosed-tramadol induced rats. Standard methods of analysis were used for the study. Fifty rats were divided into Group A (Control) - feed and water only, Group B-induced with tramadol at 50 mg/kg body weight, Group C-induced with tramadol + 150 mg/kg of S. officinalis leaf extract, Group D-tramadol + 300 mg/kg S. officinalis...
The value-chain of cotton industry in Kenya with focus on product stewardship for timely provision of certified quality Hybrid Bt cotton seeds to farmers
August 2022
For there to be sustainable revival of Kenya’s Cotton Industry, its cotton-value needs to be analyzed, there is need to identify its weak points and implement measures to ameliorate its key constraints. Various authors have developed and analyzed the value-chain of the Cotton Industry in Kenya. This paper reviews important components of the value-chain focusing on strengthening the supply of safe, adequate and...
Page 2 of 251, showing 50 records out of 12504 total, starting on record 51, ending on 100
Advertisement
Advertisement
