Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Abstract: Aqueous and methanol extracts of Parrotia persica leaves were assayed for antifungal activity against phytopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and human pathogenic Candida albicans by poisoned food technique. Both the aqueous and methanol extracts demonstrated significant antifungal activity. Further fractionation of methanol extract guided by antifungal activity resulted in the isolation of an active principle and it is identified as phenolic compound. The structure of the active principle was elucidated by mass spectro…

Abstract: Periodate-oxidized tRNA (tRNAox), the 2’,3’-dialdehyde derivative of tRNA, was used as a zero-length active site-directed affinity labeling reagent, to covalently label proteins at the peptidyl transferase center (PTC), the catalytic site of the large ribosomal subunit. When human 80S or Escherichia coli 70S ribosomes were reacted separately with tRNAox positioned at the P-site, in the presence of an appropriate 12 mer mRNA, a set of two tRNAox- labeled ribosomal proteins was observed. These proteins referred to in…

Abstract: Melanin is the pigment that determines skin color. Melanin synthesis is catalysed by the enzyme tyrosinase and is controlled by TYR, TYRP1 and TYRP2 genes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti pigmentation property of palm tocotrienol rich fraction by determining melanin synthesis and expression of genes involved in its regulation in skin melanocytes. Palm tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) which contains 75% a-tocotrienol and 25% tocopherol was used to inhibit melanin synthesis which was determined by…

Abstract: This work aimed at examining the effect of malaria parasites and ascorbic treatments in mice. The relevance of this research derives from the desire to understand the role of ascorbic acid in malaria infection. In this study design, three groups of ten mice each categorized as non-parasitized-non-treated (control), parasitized-non-treated (PnT) and parasitized ascorbic acid treated (P+asT) were used. Results collected and analyzed using adequate statistical software revealed that parasitism in mice had significant…

Abstract: Alpha amylase yield in sprouting Maize, Acha, Rice and Sorghum were studied for 180 h. The result was analyzed using 2nd order polynomial model. The result showed that the rate of - amylase secretion with growth period is significantly high (p < 0.05) and the R2 for each ranged from 67 - 90%, while the R2 for sprouting vigour ranged within 99% for all the cereals studied. The prediction for amylase activity from sprouting vigour was significant (p < 0.05) for all the cereals studied, the R2 for all the cereals rang…

Abstract: Transportation causes stress in livestock that may alter numerous physiological variables with a negative impact on production and health. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of road transport on oxidative stress biomarkers in camels. Ten Iranian dromedary camels were selected and subjected to a journey of approximately 300 km in a truck by road in August 2008. Blood samples were collected immediately before loading at 8:30 A.M., after 1 h transportation, at 9:30 A.M., and at the end o…

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible ameliorating effect of crocin and curcumin on certain biochemical alterations associated with iron overload-induced liver injury in rats. 5 groups of rats were used, a normal control group received daily i.p. injections of saline and 4 groups received daily i.p. injections of ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) for 8 successive days, the dose of iron was increased during the experimental period (from 6 to 15 mg Fe/kg). The first iron overloaded group kept witho…

Abstract: The present study was carried out to detect amino acids profile in women saliva in order to establish the qualitative and quantitative differences that might have potential value in detection of ovulation by noninvasive methods. For the collection of sample, the stages of menstrual cycle were decided by the physical and morphological examination of salivary fern pattern. The saliva from various reproductive phases (prepubertal, preovulatory, ovulatory, postovulatory phases and menopause) was collected and analyzed…

Abstract: Lipase or triacylglycerol acylhydrolase (E.C.3.1.1.3) was purified to homogeneity from rapeseed-germinated cotyledons (Brassica napus L.). The purification scheme involved homogenization, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation and affinity chromatography using polyclonal antibodies raised against porcine pancreatic lipase. The purified rapeseed lipase was homogenous and did not contain contaminating proteins detectable by SDS-PAGE and HPLC analysis. The specific activity of the purified preparation was increased about…

Abstract: In the present in-vivo study, the capacities of five antimalarial drugs (Fansidar, Halfan, Quinine, Coartem and Chloroquine phosphate) to alter/distort methaemoglobin concentrations of three human erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) was investigated. Spectrophotometric method was used to ascertain this erythrocyte parameter. The male participants enrolled for this study were grouped according to their genotypes, pathologic status, (that is, non-malarious and malarious individuals). Determination of erythroc…

Abstract: Cowhides ‘ponmo’ prepared by various and unknown processing methods were purchased from several markets in Lagos and environs and the contents of lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, mercury and arsenic were determined before and after boiling. Significantly high levels of these metals except cadmium and zinc were found in all the samples obtained after boiling. The highest levels of Pb (1.54 mg.kg-1), Cr (0.79 mg.kg-1) and As (2.85 mg.kg-1) were found in singed hides processed with flame fuelled by plastics mixed with r…

Abstract: The dehydrated seeds of wild pomegranate fruits (Anardana) are used as acidulent in culinary preparations and in making various medicines. For easy separation of seeds, fruits were subjected to sand roasting, hot water dipping and soaking in cold water. Hot water dip for 2 min saved time required for separation of seeds from fruits (80% excluding treatment time and 74% including treatment time). Due to the high temperature during sand roasting, quality of seeds and Anardana was inferior when compared to other treat…

Abstract: Tank-raised Clarias gariepinus (mean total length, 30.05 ± 4.05cm,SD; mean weights, 250.04 ± 50.22 gSD) were injected intra-muscularly with two millilitres per kilogram of each of five concentrations (2.00, 2.00, 6.00, 8.00 and 10.00 ppm) of aqueous extracts of leaves of Lepidagathis alopecuroides above the lateral line. The fish in the control group were injected with same dose of distilled water. There were four fish per treatment level. On the 14th day the fish was assessed for organ indices (hepatosomatic index…