African locust bean () is a multipurpose leguminous tree species of nutritional and pharmacological value. The plant is widely distributed in Africa and across Nigeria's major agroecological areas (AEAs). Amidst declining cultivation and production, is genetically threatened in its natural habitats due to overexploitation, deforestation, wildfires and lack of improved tree management practices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlobally, legumes are vital constituents of diet and perform critical roles in maintaining well-being owing to the dense nutritional contents and functional properties of their seeds. While much emphasis has been placed on the major grain legumes over the years, the neglected and underutilized legumes (NULs) are gaining significant recognition as probable crops to alleviate malnutrition and give a boost to food security in Africa. Consumption of these underutilized legumes has been associated with several health-promoting benefits and can be utilized as functional foods due to their rich dietary fibers, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), proteins/essential amino acids, micro-nutrients, and bioactive compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgrounds: Observable emergence of Vancomycin-Non susceptible Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (VNS-CoNS) associated with skin and soft tissue infections spreading among the urban and rural populace is gradually intensifying severe complications. The isolated VNS-CoNS were evaluated with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI ToF MS) for species characterization and pan-antimicrobial resistance pattern.
Methods: Out of 256 clinical samples collected including pus, abscess, ear swabs, eye swabs, and aspirates, 91 CoNS isolates were biotyped and further characterized with MALDI-TOF MS.
Traditional fermented foods are of major importance with respect to the socio-economic growth, food security, nutrition, and health of African consumers. In several African countries, traditional fermentation processes provide a means of food preservation, improving the shelf life and adding to the nutrients in the food products. As with any fermented foods, the associated food microbiota is of great importance and interest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiarrhoea is the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day or more frequent passage than is normal for an individual. Diarrhoea alters the microbiome, thus the immune system, and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in young children. This study evaluated the association between the risk factors and diarrhoea prevalence among children under five years in Lagos and Ogun States, located in Southwest Nigeria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to study the stability of nanoformulations used for the decontamination of mycotoxins. The TGA patterns of the nanoformulations from montmorillonite clay and (lemongrass) extracts were assessed with temperature ranging from ambient (20°C) to 1000°C. The various nanoformulations studied included unmodified montmorillonite clay (Mont), montmorillonite washed with sodium chloride (Mont-Na), montmorillonite mixed with lemongrass essential oil (Mont-LGEO), and montmorillonite mixed with an equal quantity of lemongrass powder (Mont-LGP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was introduced into Africa on 14th February 2020 and has rapidly spread across the continent causing a severe public health crisis and mortality. We investigated the genetic diversity and evolution of this virus during the early outbreak months, between 14th February to 24th April 2020, using whole genome sequences.
Methods: We performed recombination analysis against closely related CoV strains, Bayesian time scaled phylogeny, and investigation of spike protein amino acid mutations.
Despite the success of antibiotic discovery, infectious diseases remain the second leading source of death worldwide, while the resistance to antibiotics is among the significant problems in the twenty-first century. Medicinal plants are very rich in phytochemicals which can be structurally optimized and processed into new drugs. Nigeria enjoys a diverse collection of medicinal plants, and joint research has ascertained the efficacy of these plants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiarrhoeal diseases collectively constitute a serious public health challenge globally, especially as the leading cause of death in children (after respiratory diseases). Childhood diarrhoea affecting children under the age of five accounts for approximately 63% of the global burden. Accurate and timely detection of the aetiology of these diseases is very crucial; but conventional methods, apart from being laborious and time-consuming, often fail to identify difficult-to-culture pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiarrhoeal disease kills about 1.5 million human beings per year across the continents. The enterotoxigenic (ETEC) pathotype has been noted as a major cause of diarrheal disease in human and livestock.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMontmorillonite clay has a wide range of applications, one of which includes the binding of mycotoxins in foods and feeds through adsorption. T-2 toxin, produced by some and species, causes dystrophy in the brain, heart, and kidney. Various formulations that include lemongrass essential oil-modified montmorillonite clay (LGEO-MMT), lemongrass powder (LGP), montmorillonite clay washed with 1 mM NaCl (Na-MMT), montmorillonite clay (MMT), and lemongrass powder mixed with montmorillonite clay (LGP-MMT) were applied to maize at concentrations of 8% and 12% and stored for a period of one month at 30 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe data described in this article were obtained in a study to assess the bacteriological and physicochemical properties of packaged sachet water sold for public consumption. Sixty sachet water samples from 3 different brands (A, B and C) produced and consumed in Ota, Ogun State was collected. Stratified sampling method was used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe data described in this article was obtained in an experiment designed for the production of mixed fruit wine using physically damaged fruits in the process of fermentation. Three fruits (watermelon, pineapple and orange) were used in the wine production process. The fermentation process involved two stages; aerobic and anaerobic fermentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF