Sourcing Starter Cultures for Parkia biglobosa Fermentation Part II: Potential of Bacillus subtilis Strains.

Aim: To select good strains of Bacillus subtilis for use as starter culture in the fermentation of Parkia biglobosa. Study Design: Fifteen (15) strains of Bacillus subtilis group obtained from commercial samples were used in starter-culture fermentation of Parkia biglobosa seeds to produce ‘iru’. Place and Duration of Study: Food Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pahumthani, Thailand, between March to May 2010. Methodology: The quality of the starter culture-fermented products were compared on the bases of sensory evaluation, degree of hydrolysis (DH), level of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), pH and enzymatic activities. The 15 strains were also screened for haemolytic activity. Results: On the basis of the sensory scores of 5 parameters (color, odor, consistency, texture and over-all liking), particularly the over-all liking, 5 strains were rated the best (in descending order): BC4333 > 8B > 2B > 7A > 5A, amongst the 15 tested. There were good correlations between pH and DH (r= 0.926), DH and NH3-N (r=0.962) and between pH and NH3-N (r=0.945). The strain BC4333 produced the very soft variant of ‘iru’ (‘iru-pete’), without the addition of ‘kuuru’ (local potash). The quantity of extracellular enzymes (protease, amylase, pectinase, phytase and lipase) produced during fermentation varied significantly. None of the 5 strains was haemolytic on sheep blood agar. Conclusion: The 5 strains of Bacillus subtilis (BC4333, 8B, 2B, 7A, 5A) that showed potentials of being used as starter cultures for industrial production of ‘iru’, were nonhemolytic on blood agar.

In vivo Evaluation of Hypolipidemic Potentials of Bacillus Species Isolated from Fermented Locust Bean (Parkia fillicoides Welw) Seeds (Iru).

Aim: Iru is a popular West Africa fermented soup condiment which is also consumed without cooking as snack. This product is mainly fermented by Bacillus species. The hypolipidemic activities of Bacillus spp. isolated from iru have not been documented hence the aim of this study. Place and Duration of Study: Iru sample was bought in an open market in Iworoko-Ekiti, Nigeria and transferred to the Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Nigeria where other studies were carried out. The study was conducted between January and June, 2012. Methodology: The properties and in vivo hypolipidemic potential of Bacillus species from iru were investigated using standard microbiological and haematological methods. Results: The cell free extracts of the Bacillus spp. did not produce significant inhibition on the selected Gram positive and Gram negative pathogens. Qualitative enzyme screening of the isolates showed all were haemolysin negative. Only B. subtilis was positive to gelatinase while all the isolates produced catalase and lipase. The average weight of the animals after inducement of hyper-cholesterolemia ranged between 60.5g - 95.3g. The amount of serum total cholesterol (TC) in the animals ranged between 124.9 mg/dl – 127.4 mg/dl while that of serum triglycerides (TG), high density protein (HDL) and low density protein (LDL) were 122.5 – 155.3 mg/dl, 10.0 – 15.3 mg/dl and 76.6 – 81.0 mg/dl respectively. The weights of hyper-cholesterolemia induced rats challenged with different species of Bacillus were relatively lower than those in the control group and also differ significantly from the control, at p˂ 0.05. The values of TC, TG, and LDL were highest in the control (saline) group while the values in the treatment group ranged between 121.3 ± 1.5 and 102.3 ± 6.8 mg/dl for TC. The treatment groups recorded lower values of values for TG (104.7 ± 1.6 - 117.4 ± 9.1 mg/dl) and LDL (42.6 ±7.4 - 59.0 ± 10.2 mg/dl) compared to the control. B. subtilis had the highest values of TC but least amount of LDL. TG in all the groups was higher than TC, HDL and LDL. The TC/HDL and the LDL/HDL of the animals in the iru group was higher than the other treatment groups but lower than the control. Conclusion: Compared to the control, hypolipidemic activities of B. lichenliformis was the best followed by B. subtilis. Iru had the least hypo-cholesterolemic effect.

Studies on the phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of four plant species from Egypt

The antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of four medicinal plants [Anastatica hierochuntica, Artemisia monosperma, Juniperus phoenicae and Nigella sativa] were screened. The crude alcoholic plant extracts [80% ethyl alcohol] were tested against two bacteria [Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes], two yeast [Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae] and two moulds [Aspergillus oryzae, Bipolaris hawayensis]. The antimicrobial activity of the alcoholic extracts was tested using two antimicrobial assay methods, i.e. disc-agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]. The Gram-positive bacteria [Listeria monocytogenes] was more sensitive than the Gram-negative [Escherichia coli]. Anastatica hierochuntica showed the highest activity against most test organisms. The phytochemical screening of the crude alcoholic plant extracts detected tannins, sterols, terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, resins, phenols and glycosides in the extracts of the four plants except resins was not found in Nigella sativa. Phenols, flavonoids and saponins were found in significant amount in the extracts of plants. Saponins represented the major components in the extracts of the four plants

Antimicrobial flavonoids from solanum dobium fres

Two flavonoids compounds were isolated from Solanum dobium Fers [Solanaceae]. One major compound was identified as astragalin [kampferol-3-O-glucoside], and a minor compound that was tentatively identified as quercetin-3-glycoside. The antimicrobial activities of the 2 compounds were tested against 12 microorganisms [7 bacteria, 2 fungi and 3 C and ida of different strains]. The major compound was found to possess a pronounced antibacterial activity as presented by the minimum inhibitory concentration showing activity 4 times as that of streptomycin and double that of tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa UM 60690. It displayed double activity of streptomycin against both Salmonella typhi UM 26049 and Flavobacterium meningosepticum UM 260494. In addition, the isolated astragalin showed a significant 2-4 times antic and idal activity as compared with nystatin against C and ida intermedia ATCC 5159, C and ida albicans Um 050494, and C and ida lipolytica ATCC 8661. However, this compound did not show any significant antifungal activity. The isolated minor flavonoid showed significant antic and idal, antifungal as well as moderate antibacterial activity

Antimicrobial evaluation of extracts from some Yemeni plants

Extracts of 23 Yemeni higher plants were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activity by the agar diffusion technique. The extracts that exhibited the highest activities were further evaluated by measuring their minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs]. Three organisms; namely, Staphylococcus aureus [ATTC 29523], Escherichia coli [HP 101] and C and ida albicans [NCTC 2708], were used

antimicrobial effect of garlic [Allium sativum] extract on mouth microflora

Five strains of mouth normal microflora containing staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococcus mutant, lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomyces viscosos and candida albicans, were isolated and identified then cultured and purified on different media by using routine methods in microbiology. Extract of 3 garlic samples south [Khuzestan], north [Mazanderan] and Hamedan garlics, were affected on these microbial cultures using Bauer and Kirby method. The effects were compared with antimicrobial effects of erythromycin. The results show all three used extracts have antimicrobial effects. The extract had a bactericidal effect on bacteria but a fungi static on candida albicans

Extraction, indentification and biological activities marjoram essential oil

Extraction of essential oil Marjoram plant [Origanum majorana] was carried out on seasonal basis. Three cuts of the herb viz: November, February and April were obtained, steam distilled and identified by gas liquid chromatography. The highest content of phenolics mainly carvacrol and thymol were recorded in April cut. The most effective fraction showed remarkable inhibitory effect towards various Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The mode of action on selected bacteria viz: Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium was then investigated in terms of inhibition of enzyme synthesis, nucleic acids, total cellular nitrogen, nuclease activity and dry weight