Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) on some selected bacterial isolates

Plants with medicinal value produce certain chemical elements known as phytochemicals that have antibacterial activity. The study was aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Vernonia amygdalina against bacterial isolates using agar well diffusion method. In addition, the phytochemicals analysis of the extracts was also determined. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The result of Vernonia amygdalina showed that the average zones of inhibitions observed against these bacterial ranges from 6-22mm. The highest zone is also exhibited against E. coli with average diameter of zone of inhibition of 22mm. At 100mg/ml concentration for Samonella, the zone of inhibition was recorded to be 21mm while at 12.5mg/ml there was no inhibition. At 25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml, against Pseudomonas there was no inhibition. In other to further confirm the activity of these plant extracts, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration was determined and the result showed that the extract exerted good antibacterial activity on all the test organisms at different concentration. The result of minimum inhibitory concentration ranges from 10 to 12.5mg/ml and that of MBC ranges from 5 to 20mg/ml. It is worthy to note that MBC values is greater than that of minimum inhibitory concentration. The study provides insight into the antibacterial activities of the plant extracts and its use in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils and Plant (Vernonia amygdalina Delile) in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

This study assessed the concentration of heavy metal, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), and Silver (Ag), in Vernonia amygdalina Delile and agricultural soils of three university farms located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The soils and plants were taken randomly to form composite samples and analyzed for heavy metals by the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The study stations were agricultural soils and Vernonia amygdalina Delile from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (I), River State University (R) and University of Port Harcourt (U). The soil samples recorded mean concentration ranges for Fe as 19.71 ± 1.77 (I)–27.24 ± 3.56 mg/kg (R) in soils and 12.95 ± 1.68 (R)–18.18 ± 2.02 mg/kg (U) for the bitter leaf samples. The mean range for Pb concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 4.35 ± 0.87–6.80 ± 0.86 mg/kg and 0.24 ± 0.64–2.19 ± 0.74 mg/kg, while Cd concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 0.46 ± 0.28–1.42 ± 0.40 mg/kg and 0.17 ± 0.22–0.42 ± 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. The respective mean ranges for Cr concentration in the soil and bitter leaf were 5.91 ± 1.14–8.77 ± 0.88 mg/kg and 4.04 ± 0.64–5.92 ± 0.69 mg/kg, while Ni in soil and bitter leaf were 0.54 ± 3.38–10.26 ± 3.50 mg/kg and 0.042 ± 1.42–3.30 ± 0.88 mg/kg, while Ag was negligible. Heavy metal levels in soils and Vernonia amygdalina followed the order Fe > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd and Fe > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd, respectively, and were lower than WHO/FAO and EPA, except Cd, which was higher in soil and in Vernonia amygdalina. The ecological risk factor (ErF) was comparatively lower in soils than in the plant, while pollution load index (PLI) showed high heavy metal retention capacities in Vernonia amygdalina due to more anthropogenic influences. The metal transfer factor (TF) was highest in Fe, followed by Cr > Cd > Ni > Pb, while Pb had the highest chances of cancer risks from the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), especially in both soil and plant (mean ILCR, 2.07 × 10−2 and 2.45 × 10−3), while Cd had the least (mean ILCR, 9.64 × 10−5 and 3.36 × 10−5). Anthropogenic activities must be regulated and monitored by government relevant agencies to reduce heavy metal inputs into soils and avoid excessive accruals in food chain.

Hydrocarbon Degrading Potentials and Antibiotic Susceptibility Test of Bacteria Isolated from Amended Soil in Ilorin

This study used bacteria from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil that had been treated. Organic amendments included cassava peels, plantain peels, eggshells, and poultry droppings, while inorganic amendments included NPK and Urea. In this study, three (3) bacteria were characterized and dealt with: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus proteolyticus, and Providencia rettgeri. To determine their biodegradative capabilities, these isolates were tested on a variety of hydrocarbons. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the bacteria was tested in vitro against extracts of Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf), Ocimum gratissimum (Scent lLeaf), and Telifairia occidentalis (Ugwu) at different concentrations (20%, 13%, 10%, 7%, and 3%). Using the maceration procedure, the plant materials were extracted with ethanol and methanol. The bacteria were resistant to the various concentrations of plant extracts, according to the results. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) had the maximum inhibition zone, measuring 6.00 ± 0.00 mm. Furthermore, all isolates were resistant to crude oil, engine oil, heptane, and benzene in antimicrobial tests on hydrocarbons, with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens having the highest level of susceptibility (18 mm) to pyridine. However, the bacteria all demonstrated broad spectrum susceptibility to the commercial antibiotics used as a control, with the exception of Providencia rettgeri, which proved resistant (5 mm) to Ampiclox (APX), Zinnacef (Z) and Amoxacillin (AM).

In-vitro Antimicrobial Activity of the Combined Effect of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella Species

Introduction: The breakthrough in the treatment of pathogenic diseases was the unearthing of naturally occurring antipathogenic agents or antibiotics. There have been upsurges in antibiotic-resistant strains of clinically important pathogens, which made way to the emergence of new-fangled bacterial strains that are multi-resistant. The major aim of scientists is to develop new antibiotics or other therapeutic strategies at a pace greater than that at which bacteria are developing resistance. The development of resistance to first-line antimicrobial therapies made way to recommendations for combination therapies for the treatment of some infections and some of this form of chemotherapy seems to be very successful. Objectives: This research was carried out to determine the effect of Kalanchoe crenata extracts on Salmonella typhi load. Also, to assess the potency of the extract of Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella typhi and finally to ascertain the effect of the combined extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina on Salmonella typhi. Methods: In this research, Salmonella typhi was exposed to a crude extract of Kalanchoe crenata and Vernonia amygdalina and also the combination of the two extracts. Agar wells diffusion method was employed. Results: The combined effect was not sensitive to the Salmonella strain. The Salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. K. cranata had the strongest activity against S. typhi with its highest zone of growth inhibition of 20 mm and lowest zone of inhibition of 7 mm while V. amygdalina produced a consistent zone of growth inhibition of 5-6 mm; The combined effect produced a zone inhibition diameter only at the 100 mg/ml with a zone of inhibition value of 14 mm. The subsequent lower concentrations did not show any activity against the microbes. At P-value = 0.05 two-way ANOVA statistics exhibited significant differences amongst the effects produced by the different extracts, though there were no substantial differences in the effects produced by the various concentrations. Conclusion: The Salmonella strain was resistant to V. amygdalina than to K. crenata. At P-value = 0.05 there was a substantial difference in the sensitivity of the bacteria to the different extracts.

Investigation of the bioactivities of extracts from Vernonia Amygdalina Del

The antibacterial, antioxidant activity, and anticancer of the extract from Vernonia Amygdalina Del leaves, was assessed towards 6 selected bacteria, in the DPPH test, as well as on hepatic (HepG2), blood (K562) cancer cell lines. The DPPH assay revealed that the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with the warm ethanol extract (IC50 = 259,03 ± 5,42 μg/mL). And the ethyl acetate extract showed a high antibacterial effect expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC = 100 mg/mL) against Gram-positive bacteria. At the concentration of 250 mg/mL, this extract also demonstrated its ability to resist blood cancer cells K562 (with a survival rate of 25%) and liver cancer cells HepG2 (with a survival rate of 0%).

Comparative studies on the hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of Vernonia amygdalina delile and Baccharoides tenoreana olive in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

Background Vernonia amygdalina is a bitter culinary vegetable known to possess anti-diabetic principle. Baccharoides tenoreana belonging to the same species as V. amygdalina, is also used in cooking soup and it is comparatively non-bitter. However, its glycemic properties have not been studied. This study becomes imperative to find out if B. tenoreana possesses hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties and how it compares with V. amygdalina. Should B. tenoreana be better than V. amygdalina, it should be preferable since it is non-bitter and can comfortably be taken compared to V. amygdalina. This study investigated the comparative hypoglycemic and antioxidant potentials of V. amygdalina (VA) and B. tenoreana (BT). Methods Thirty male Albino wistar rats assigned into six groups of five rats per group were used for the study. Diabetes was induced in groups B-F rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate at 160 mg/kg. Groups C-E rats were treated with VA (200 mg/kg), BT (200 mg/kg) and combination of VA & BT (100 mg/kg each) respectively. Group F rats were administered glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) whereas groups A and B rats were given distilled water. All treatments were through the oral administration, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined after 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days while lipid profile, in vivo antioxidant and pancreatic histomorphology were assessed on day 21 post-treatment. Results The VA-treated rats recorded marginally reduced FBG, malondialdehyde and low-density lipoprotein levels when compared to the counterpart treated with BT. The high-density lipoprotein values were significantly higher in VA-treated rats than in BT-treated rats. The histomorphology of the pancreas of VA-treated rats expressed more islet cells compared to the counterpart treated with VT. Conclusion Both VA and BT exhibited hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities with varying potencies.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Vernonia amygdalina (Astereaceae) Extract on CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract (VALE) on the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity (CCl4) in broiler chickens. A total of 360-day-old broilers were divided into 4 treatments of 90 birds each consisting of 6 replicates of 15 birds each. The treatments were birds offered 1 mL/kg BW saline (control group), 100 mg/kg BW VALE, 1 mL/kg BW CCl4 (CCl4-treated group), and 100 mg/kg BW VALE + 1 mL/kg BW CCl4 (VALE + CCl4 group). Blood samples were collected at 42 days of age and analyzed for the liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and selected biochemical parameters. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. The results obtained showed that VALE had the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of CCl4 on protein and lipid metabolism as reflected in the low serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which is a marker of lipid peroxidation. The aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight showed a moderate hepatoprotective effect by reducing serum AST levels (p < 0.05). The levels of serum AST, ALP, ALT, and GGT were significantly increased in CCl4-treated birds compared to the control group, reflecting carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. The VALE + CCl4 group showed a significantly higher amount of ALP compared to birds treated with carbon tetrachloride, suggesting a hepatoprotective effect. To conclude, Vernonia amygdalina aqueous extract can be used to confer protection against hepatotoxicity, which can induce severe hepatocellular damage in birds.

Heavy Metals, Proximate Analysis and Brine Shrimp Lethality of Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum Growing in Crude Oil-Rich Delta State, Nigeria

Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Ocimum gratissimum (OG) are among the most frequently consumed vegetables in Kokori and Abraka communities of Delta State, Nigeria. However, the continuous crude oil exploration and spillages in Kokori may threaten their safety for use as food and medicine. Twelve samples of VA and OG obtained from crude oil-rich and crude oil-free communities were comparatively analysed for proximate composition, heavy metals, and cytotoxicity. Data obtained were subjected to various multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), biplot, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), to investigate the correlations between the vegetables from the different communities and the effect of crude oil exploration and spill on plant biomass. Results obtained indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the proximate composition of VA and OG and higher heavy metal content for VA from the crude oil-spill Kokori. Two VA collections from Kokori were exceptionally toxic to cellular crustaceans.