Objectives: This study examines the rationale, if any, behind combining the extracts from the fruits of Alchornea cordifolia and Pterocarpus santalinoides and aerial parts of Cassytha filiformis in the traditional treatment of diarrhoegenic bacterial infections. Results: Four diarrhoegenic bacterial isolates: Salmonella typhi, Shigellae dysenteriae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used and their antibiotic susceptibility screening showed that they were multi-antibiotic resistant. The extracts exhibited activity against all the test isolates with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 3.125 to 12.5 mg/mL. From the checkerboard assay, the fractional inhibitory concentration indices showed that C. filiformis has antagonistic and indifference activities in combination with either P. santalinoides or A. cordifolia. This showed that the combination of extracts from the fruits of A. cordifolia and P. santalinoides and aerial parts of C. filiformis is counterproductive and invalidates any claim for positive results in the management of diarrhoegenic bacterial infections.

Here, we aimed to investigate the predominance of cervicitis agents with minimal testing rates among asymptomatic students in a Tertiary Institution and its associated risk factors. Endocervical swabs were collected from randomly selected 133 female students (15–34 years of age) in Benin City, Nigeria and screened for six genital pathogens (Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, M. genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, U. parvum and Trichomonas vaginalis) using multiplex PCR. Out of the 133 subjects, 80 were positive for cervicitis with 46.3% of its agents. Five different species of the pathogens were identified with highest and lowest prevalence as: T. vaginalis (71.0%) and U. urealyticum (6.45%). Co-infection had predominance of 19.35 and 9.67% for three-organism and two-organism colonisation respectively. Strong associations were observed between the presence of cervicitis and co-infection with other genital pathogens, abortion, inconsistent condom use (p < .05). The high occurrence of cervicitis agents in our study combined with asymptomatic outcome among the subjects justifies screening for these pathogens in this population.

A culture medium is a liquid or gelled substance that promotes microorganism growth in the laboratory. This study is aimed at exploring various local plant sources for fungal media formulation. The local plant materials used in this study were grains of Zea mays, seeds of Glycine max, and boiled and peeled Dioscorea dumetorum tubers. These plant materials were dried separately in the oven at 60°C, pulverized individually, measured in different proportions, and poured separately into conical flasks containing distilled water at various proportions to evaluate the potential of the fungal media formulation. The best formulation was derived from Z. mays (5 g), D. dumetorum (2.5 g), and G. max (2 g) in 50 ml of sterile distilled water (M₅Y_2.5S₂). It was then autoclaved at 121°C for 15 mins at 15 psi and dispensed in various Petri dishes. Media characteristics such as gelling ability and consistency were compared with Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) as the standard media. Isolates of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum were used; these were derived from deteriorating yam and bread and cultured on the media. The colony diameter, aerial growth, and sporulation of the test fungal isolates were ascertained. When compared to SDA ( ), the colony diameter of A. niger on M₅Y_2.5S₂ ( ) did not differ significantly ( ). This is also applicable in the case of P. expansum on M₅Y_2.5S₂ ( ) when compared with SDA ( ). There was a significant difference ( ) in the sporulation of A. niger (M₅Y_2.5S₂ ) when compared with SDA ( ). This is also applicable in the case of P. expansum (M₅Y_2.5S₂ ) when compared with SDA ( ). The fungal isolates showed luxuriant growth in both media. M₅Y_2.5S₂ performed favorably in comparison to SDA in relation to all the parameters studied. M₅Y_2.5S₂ is recommended for use in fungal culture and will save funds used for the importation of media.

Aims: The study aims to investigate the antimicrobial activities of the leaves, seeds, bark, and root of Pterocarpus santalinoides plant. Study Design: Agar well diffusion and Agar well dilution methods were used to test the preliminary antimicrobial and minimum inhibitory/bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations respectively of Pterocarpus santalinoides plants. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Nigeria, between February – October, 2017. Methodology: Primary extraction and fractionation of the plant parts were undertaken with methanol, butanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Agar diffusion method for the primary antimicrobial screening on Muller-Hinton agar (bacteria) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (fungi) were used to assess the antimicrobial activities of the sixteen (16) samples on some microbial isolates namely Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Microsporon canis, and Trichophyton rubrum. The minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) and percentage inhibition diameter growth (PIDG) of the samples that yielded positive activity were also evaluated. Results: Twelve (12) samples exhibited inhibitory activity on at least one or more of the test isolates. The MIC range observed for the extracts and fractions that yielded positive activity was 12.5 – 100 mg/ml. The n-hexane fraction of the plant root indicated the best value of 12.5 mg/ml against M. canis. The best MBC/MFC value of 25 mg/ml was observed with the ethyl acetate fraction of the bark (against E. coli and M. canis) and the n-hexane fraction of the root (against M. canis). The result showed S. typhi to be the most sensitive organism to the metabolites of P. santalinoides. Extended-spectrum activity was observed with the ethyl acetate fraction of the bark against three (3) of the test isolates namely S. typhi, E. coli and M. canis. The determination of PIDG values for the test organisms against the plants’ extracts/fractions showed that crude methanol extract (28.57%) and ethyl-acetate fraction (0.14%) of the leaves, butanol fraction (0.14%) of the root (all against S. typhi) were the most potent test samples. Conclusion: The results indicated that the plant parts may have potential medicinal values and confirmed its use in traditional medicine.