Insecticidal and biochemical activity of essential oil from Citrus sinensis peel and constituents on Callosobrunchus maculatus and Sitophilus zeamais.

Essential oils are promising substitute for chemical pesticides with the inherent resistance by pests, environmental and health effects on humans. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oil extracted from Citrus sinensis peel was characterized, the insecticidal activities of the oil and its constituents against Callosobrunchus maculatus (Cowpea weevil) and Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil) were investigated and the underlying insecticidal mechanism were elucidated. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Insecticidal activity was determined by contact and fumigant toxicity assay. The inhibitory effect of the oil and its constituents on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na+/K+-ATPase and glutathione-S- transferase (GST) activity were assayed using standard protocols. The total number of volatile compounds detected in C. sinensis essential oil was eighteen (18). d-limonene (59.3%), terpineol (8.31%) and linalool (6.88%) were the major compounds present in the essential oil. Among the tested essential oil compounds, terpineol showed highest contact toxicity against C. maculatus (LD50 =17.05 µg/adult) while 3-carene showed highest contact toxicity against S. zeamais (LD50 =26.01 µg/adult) at 24 h exposure time. Citral exhibited the highest fumigant toxicity against C. maculatus and S. zeamais with LC50 value 0.19 and 2.02 µL/L air at 24 h respectively. Acetylcholinesterase and Na+/K+-ATPase activities were significantly inhibited by C. sinensis oil and its constituents in both C. maculatus and S. zeamais as compared to control. This study indicates that C. sinensis essential oil and its constituents have potential to be developed into botanical pesticides.

Decolorization and biodegradation of Reactive Blue 13 by Proteus mirabilis LAG.

The decolorization and biodegradation of Reactive Blue 13 (RB13), a sulphonated reactive azo dye, was achieved under static anoxic condition with a bacterial strain identified as Proteus mirabilis LAG, which was isolated from a municipal dump site soil near Lagos, Nigeria. This strain decolorized RB13 (100mg/l) within 5h. The formation of aromatic amine prior to mineralization was supported by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), which revealed the disappearance of certain peaks, particularly those of the aromatic C-H bending at 600-800 cm(-1). Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GCMS) analysis of the dye metabolite showed the presence of sodium-2(2-formyl-2-hydroxyvinyl) benzoate, with a tropylium cation as its base peak, this suggested the breakage of naphthalene rings in RB13. The detection of azoreductase and laccase activities suggested the enzymatic reduction of azo bonds prior to mineralization. In addition, phytotoxicity studies indicated the detoxification of RB13 to non-toxic degradation products by this strain of P. mirabilis LAG.

Telfairia occidentalis extract stabilizes human erythrocyte membranes.

In addition to being a widely consumed vegetable in West Africa, the leaves extract of Telfairia occidentalis is believed to have beneficial health effects and is used in tradomedical preparations. The effect of saline extract of T. occidentalis leaves on sickle and normal erythrocytes membrane stability was investigated. Human erythrocytes exposed to hypotonic and heat stress, by incubation in a buffered hypotonic medium at 56 degrees C, were stabilized by the extract in a doze dependent manner. The maximum stability was 72.3 +/- 3.1% and 55.0 +/- 4.1% for the sickle and normal erythrocytes membrane respectively (p < 0.0001). This study indicates that T. occidentalis has human erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity. In addition the marked difference in the observed effect between the normal and sickle erythrocytes membranes suggests that pharmacogenetic factors may be involved in the response to herbal preparations.

Evidence for chromosomal determination of fungicidal activity in strains of Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus fermentum isolated from fermented foods.

The genetic basis of the fungicidal activity of strains of Lactobacillus brevis and L. fermentum isolated from indigenous fermented foods was determined. A 5.5-kb plasmid was isolated from L. brevis while L. Fermentum was found to harbor no plasmid. Plasmid curing indicated no correlation between the plasmid and the fungicidal activity of the Lactobacillus species. The fungicidal activity of the isolated organisms can be supposed to be mediated by the chromosome. No antibiotic resistance genetic markers were detected on the plasmid and hence it was classified as cryptic.