Food pathogens represent an important health threat, and it is relevant to study the effect of foodstuffs such as spices which can inhibit bacterial growth. This study reports the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and enzyme (Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, urease, tyrosinase) inhibitory activities of two medicinal food spices belonging to the Annonaceae family, Monodora myristica and Xylopia aethiopica. GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry) analysis of silylated samples of Methanol-Dicloromethane (50:50) extracts of both plants led to the identification of nine compounds in M. myristica and seven compounds in X. aethiopica. M. myristica and X. aethiopica had the same minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.625 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL on C. albicans and E. coli, respectively. However, M. myristica had better activity than X. aethiopica on Staphylococcus aureus, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more susceptible to X. aethiopica than M. myristica. The lowest MIC value was 0.1325 mg/mL, exhibited by M. myristica on S. aureus. Both extracts showed good antibiofilm activity. On S. aureus, at the same concentration, M. myristica had better antibiofilm activity than X. aethiopica. On E. coli and Candida albicans, X. aethiopica had better antibiofilm activity than M. myristica at the same concentration. X. aethiopica showed better violacein inhibition in Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472, as its percentage inhibition of violacein varied from 80.5% ± 3.0% at MIC to 5.6 ± 0.2 at MIC/8, as compared to M. myristica with 75.1% ± 2.5% at MIC and 15.5% ± 1.1% at MIC/8. The anti-motility activity by swimming and swarming inhibition on P. aeruginosa PA01 was low at test concentrations and in both models, M. myristica showed higher motility inhibition than X. aethiopica. Although in enzyme inhibitory assays all extracts had low inhibitions compared to standards tested at the same concentrations, the results show that these plants can be used to manage food-borne infections.

https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/12/1768/pdf

Antibiofilm and Enzyme Inhibitory Potentials of Two Annonaceous Food Spices, African Pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) and African Nutmeg (Monodora myristica).

Background As a marine organism, soft corals can be utilized to be various bioactive substances, especially terpenoids and steroids. The soft corals family which produces bioactive generally come from clavulariidae, alcyoniidae, nephtheidae and xeniidae family. Objective To investigate the bioactivity of Nitric Oxide (NO) inhibitor release from soft coral crude extracts of Sinularia sp. (SCA), Nephthea sp. (SCB), Sarcophyton sp. (SCC), Sarcophyton sp. (SCD), Sinularia sp. (SCE) and Sinularia sp. (SCF). Materials and methods Soft coral is collected from Palu Bay (Central Sulawesi). NO inhibitory release activity measured according to the Griess reaction. Soft corals sample macerated with 1:2 (w/v). Then, Soft coral extracts with the best NO Inhibitor activity partitioned with Dichloromethane, Ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The bioactive of all crude extracts were identified by GC-MS to find compounds with anti-inflammatory potential. Results Sarcophyton sp. (SCC) and Sinularia sp. (SCF) are able to inhibit NO concentrations of 0.22 ± 0.04 and 0.20 ± 0.04 µM at 20 mg/mL, respectively. The chemical constituents determined and showed the potential as anti-inflammatory in the crude of Sinularia sp. (SCA) were Octacosane (3.25%). In Nephthea sp., (SCB) were Cyclohexene, 6-ethenyl-6- methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-3-(1-methylethylidene)-,(S)- (0.55%); Azulene, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8- octahydro-1,4-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethylidene)-, (1S-cis)- (0.53%); and 1,7,7-Trimethyl- 2-vinylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (4.72%). In Sarcophyton sp, (SCC) were Eicosane (0.12%); Nonacosane (10.7%); 14(β)-Pregnane (0.87%); Octacosane 6.39%); and Tricosane (1.53%). In Sarcophyton sp. (SCD) were 14(β)-Pregnane (2.69%); and Octadecane (27.43%). In crude of Sinularia sp. (SCE) were Oleic Acid (0.63%); 7,10-Hexadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (0.54%); 14(β)-Pregnane (1.07%); 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoic acid, ethyl ester, (all-Z)- (4.60%); Octacosane (7.75%); and 1,2-Benzisothiazole, 3-(hexahydro-1Hazepin- 1-yl)-, 1,1-dioxide (1.23%). In the crude of Sinularia sp., (SCF) were Oxirane, decyl- (1.38%); Nonacosane (0.57%); Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)- (0.61%); 14B-Pregnane (0.76%); and Tetratriacontane (1.02%). Conclusion The extract of Sarcophyton sp. (SCC) and Sinularia sp. (SCF) showed the best NO inhibitory release activity. This study is making soft corals from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia can become a potential organism in the discovery and development of bioactive substances anti-inflammatory.

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Screening of NO Inhibitor Release Activity from Soft Coral Extracts Origin Palu Bay, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Mineral contents and amino acid and fatty acid profiles of Xylopia aethiopica fruits from Enugu State, Nigeria were evaluated in this study. The amino acid and fatty acid profiles, phytochemical, proximate, mineral, anti-nutrient and vitamin contents of X. aethiopica fruits were determined using standard methods. The proximate, vitamins, phytochemical, anti-nutrient of both the crude and methanol extract were determined while the mineral and amino acid profile were determined in the crude fruit powder while fatty acid profile was determined in the oil extract of the fruits. Results show that the predominant amino acids present include proline, alanine, norleucine, isoleucine, glycine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, and tryptophan. Also, the most abundant fatty acids include arachidonic acid, dihomoϒ-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, caproic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid and myristic acid. The mineral contents of X. aethiopica fruits detected in high amount were calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. Sodium, zinc and manganese were detected in lower amounts. However, lead, silicon, nickel and chromium were not detected. The result of the proximate analysis shows moisture, total protein, crude ash, total fat, crude fibre, and carbohydrate contents. Anthraquinone was not detected in both crude and methanol extract of the fruit. The concentration of flavonoids, steroids, anthocyanin and terpenoids were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in crude sample when compared with methanol extract. The levels of carotenoid and glycosides were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the methanol extract when compared with crude sample. Vitamins B1, B3, B6, B9, B12, C and E levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in crude extract when compared with methanol extract. However, vitamin A content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in methanol extract when compared with crude extract. Results obtained showed that X. aethiopica fruits are rich in nutrients and that methanol extraction decreased the anti-nutrient contents of the fruits thereby increasing the bioavailability of the nutritive factors. However, the quantities of some of the nutritive factors were reduced after extraction

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Effects of Methanol Extraction on Some Nutritional and Antinutrient Contents of Xylopia aethiopica Fruits from Enugu State, Nigeria

Chemical compositions and cytotoxic activity of fruits essential oil from Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich

Aims: This study evaluated the antioxidant potentials of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica on Alcohol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino rats. Study Design: The study is an experimental case-controlled study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Methodology: Fifty-five (55) healthy adult male albino rats with an average weight of about 150200 g were used for the study. They were divided into 11 groups of 5 Rats each and subjected to different treatments of the aforementioned herbs. All the animals received humane treatments according to the criteria outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the National Institute of Health. Fresh leaves of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica were bought from the Mile 3 market in Port-Harcourt. The herbs were separately extracted using maceration method. Absolute ethanol at a volume of 1 ml/kg (0.79 g/kg) was used to induce Original Research Article Chuks-Oguine et al.; JOCAMR, 10(2): 8-16, 2020; Article no.JOCAMR.60337 9 hepatotoxicity in rats. At the end of the treatment period, rats in all the groups were anaesthetized with chloroform and blood samples collected by jugular puncture. Total antioxidant capacity was analyzed using colorimetric method, whilst, malondialdehyde levels were determined using ELISA method. SPSS version 22.0 was used to analyse data generated and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Results show that intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg ethanol significantly raised plasma MDA levels and significantly decreased TAOC in induced rats. Treatment with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.wt. of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica however effectively reduced ethanol induced raised activity of the MDA levels and increased the activity of TAOC in the rats, but the effects were not dose dependent and a combination of both herbs did not produce better therapeutic effect. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we conclude that Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica used separately could reduce oxidative stress in alcohol induced hepatotoxic rats.

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Evaluation of Antioxidant Potentials of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica in Alcohol- Induced Hepatotoxic Albino Rats

The bioactive compounds in methanol extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruits were determined using a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compound identification was based on the molecular structure, molecular mass and calculated fragments. Interpretation on mass spectrum of GC-MS analyzer (Hewlett Packard GC-MS system) was done using the database of National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST). The results showed different peaks representing the presence of about 58 bioactive compounds which are mainly carboxylic acids, esters, phenolic compounds and fatty acids. The most abundant bioactive compounds detected were 2,4,6-octatriene (2.74%), cyclohexanemethanol (2.57%), kaurene (3.59%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (5.63%), 1,6-cyclodecadiene (10.81%), terpineol (3.22%), cyclohexene (3.32%), copaene (3.04%), 1,6-cyclodecadiene (5.53%), 1-hexadecyne (5.63%) and silane (4.63%). The presence of these bioactive components suggests that the extract is of great pharmaceutical value.

Bioactive Constituents of Methanol Extract of Xylopia aethiopica (UDA) Fruits from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

The study makes a case for adoption of an industry-wide application of solar disinfection (SODIS) in the disinfection of packaged water at the production stage. To do this, 60 samples, comprising 12 brands of bottled water and 18 brands of sachet-packaged water were randomly purchased from street vendors in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria and investigated. One sample was hidden from sunlight while the other sample was exposed to a day of sunlight before the two samples were subjected to microbial analysis for the determination of total coliform (TC) using the method of multiple-tube fermentation technique (MPN). Results show that 63% of packaged water vended in Nsukka is not fit for consumption. The risk of contamination is about 44% higher in sachet water when compared with bottled water (relative risk = 1.44). Exposing packaged water to a day of sunlight reduces the risk of consuming contaminated water by about 97% (relative risk reduction value = 0.97). Advocacy of industry-wide application of SODIS may hold the key to ending widespread contamination of packaged water and the resulting life-threatening illnesses that have decimated the population of developing countries.

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Chinyere Jane Odenigbo

Papers

Bioactive Constituents of Methanol Extract of Xylopia aethiopica (UDA) Fruits from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Effects of Methanol Extraction on Some Nutritional and Antinutrient Contents of Xylopia aethiopica Fruits from Enugu State, Nigeria

A Case for Adoption of Industry-Wide Application of Solar Disinfection of Packaged Drinking Water Before Distribution in Nigeria