Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry

Influence of the Microbes Mediated Organic Production Module on the Yield and Quality of the Khasi Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone

Buddhisatya Dowarah — 2025-11-01

Aims: To find out the effect of microbes mediated organic production modules on the yield and quality of khasi mandarin.

Study Design: Randomised Complete Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: The present field experiment was carried out at Pangna Gaon, Margherita, Tinsukia district of Assam during 2022 to 2024 and the laboratory work was performed at the Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema.

Methodology: It was carried out on 30 years plus old fruit trees with a planting distance of 5m x 5m. During the course of the experiment different doses of organic manures along with microbial consortium were applied in the month of January and September.The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications and each replication consisted of two plants.

Results: The pooled data of two years indicated that application of vermicompost (2kg per plant) along with microbial consortium (100 ml) resulted improvement in yield in comparison to other organic manure soil treatment. Even though the trees were beyond its productive age application of organic manure resulted maximum fruit yield (5.112 t/ha), TSS (9.03⁰ Brix), ascorbic acid (34.76 mg/ 100 ml) and total sugar (6.67 %) and it can also be recommended as the best combination in terms of total cost involvement for the production of khasi mandarin in the upper Brahmaputra valley zone.

Conclusion: It can be stated that vermicompost along with microbial consortium resulted in higher fruit quality attributes and overall yield. It should also be noted that vermicompost along with microbial consortium enhanced or activitated the microbial communities activity present in the rhizospheric region. The benefit: cost ratio was found to be higher also in the soil treatment with vermicompost along with microbial consortium thus making it sustainable for the farmers and also improving the soil health conditions.

Antimicrobial Activity of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Mentha arvensis and Syzygium aromaticum and Their Combinations with Levofloxacin and Cefotaxime

Okey-Orji V. N — 2025-11-03

Aims: This study is aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of biosynthesized silver-nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Mentha arvensis and Syzygium aromaticum and its combinations with cefotaxime and levofloxacin.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Biological Science Department of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Idu Abuja, between January 2025 and August 2025.

Methodology: The AgNPs were biosynthesized from Mentha arvensis (M. arvensis) and Syzygium aromaticum (S. aromaticum) extracts and characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs, cefotaxime and levofloxacin against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolates (B1, B2 and B3) from surgical wound were evaluated using the microbroth dilution method. The effect of combination of the AgNPs and cefotaxime or levofloxacin was evaluated using the checkerboard method.

Results: The size of S. aromaticum and M. arvensis were 50-179nm with an average of 114.5nm and 80-268nm with an average of 174nm respectively. The AgNPs biosynthesized from S. aromaticum and M. arvensis had activity against the isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranges from 6.25-0.0078 mg/mL while for cefotaxime and levofloxacin, the MICs ranges from 64.0-2.0 µg/mL. The combination of S. aromaticum/cefotaxime, S. aromaticum/levofloxacin and M. arvensis/levofloxacin had synergistic effect against only B1 with FICs ranges from 0.125-0.5 but had indifference effect on isolate B2 and B3 with FICs of 2.0. Finally, the combination of M. arvensis/cefotaxime had additive effect on B1 and B2 with FICs of 1.0.

Conclusion: The biosynthesized AgNPs from S. aromaticum and M. arvensis had antipseudomonal activity with inconsistent effect in its combination with cefotaxime and levofloxacin against the P. aeruginosa isolates.

Evaluation of Combined Effect of Ocimum gratissimum and Ageratum conyzoides Leaf Powder as a Sustainable Bioinsecticide against Cowpea Weevil

Victor C. Ihebom — 2025-10-20

This study was conceived to improve the preservation of cowpea grains by eliminating the destruction of cowpea grains by cowpea weevils (Callosohruchus maculates) and to eliminate the detrimental effect of synthetic pesticide on the environment. This study evaluated the proximate and phytochemical composition of Ocimum gratissimum and Ageratum conyzoides leaves and the bioinsecticidal potential of dried leaf powder of each plant leaf and their combinations on cowpea weevils. Graded (0.25, 0.5, 1.00, 2.00 and 3.00 mg) of single and combined leaf powders of O. gratissimum and A. conyzoides were applied to uninfested cowpea grains, followed by the introduction of healthy adult cowpea weevils in the test chamber. Untreated grains served as the control. Behavioural responses and mortality rates were monitored for over 72 h. Mortality increased proportionally with dosage (0.25 < 0.50 < 1.00< 2.00 < 3.00 mg). Across all concentrations, the combined leaf powder induced the highest mortality, followed by A. conyzoides and O. gratissimum, indicating synergistic efficacy of the combined leaf powder treatment. The application of the two leaf powders, both individually and in combination significantly (P< 0.05) increased the mortality of C. maculatus approaching 100% after 72 h of exposure. These findings demonstrated that the leaf powder of A. conyzoides and O. gratissimum, particularly when used in combination, hold strong potential as effective bio-control agent for the sustainable management and control of cowpea weevil.

Phytochemical Profiling and Combinatorial-Optimization of Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Curcuma longa Extracts for In-vitro \(Fe^{2+}\)-Chelation as Potential Heavy-Metal Detoxifiers

Joshua C. Ezema — 2025-10-21

This research investigated the bioactive compounds of Zingiber officinale (ginger), Allium sativum (garlic) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) and the combinatorial capacity of the extracts to chelate ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions. Phytochemicals were determined using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and metal chelating capacity was evaluated by the in-vitro ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions Chelating power. This involved preparation of standardized ginger-garlic-turmeric extract combinations in predetermined ratios to evaluate the in vitro synergistic effects. The phytochemical profile of ginger presented appreciable values for catechin (192.06 μg/mL), kaempferol (61.97 μg/mL) and genistein (39.85 μg/mL) among other. Garlic recorded catechin (145.05 μg/mL), quercetin (101.60 μg/mL) and isorhamnetin (24.52 μg/mL) and genistein (19.25 μg/mL). Turmeric showed kaempferol (29.60 μg/mL), myricetin (18.28 μg/mL), catechin (18.19 μg/mL) and resveratrol (5.25 μg/mL). The chelating power of the different extracts and their combinations on ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions presented increasing inhibition capacity with rising concentrations across all the groups. The best combinatorial extract for chelating ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions was the 60% Tumeric, 30% Garlic, 10% Ginger, which achieved a maximum inhibition of 84.75% at 80 mg/mL. This combination showed a steady rise in activity across concentrations, starting from 45.39% at 10 mg/mL and progressively peaked at 80 mg/mL. The results showed distinct but overlapping phytochemical profiles of the extracts and their remarkable potential in ameliorating oxidative stress and heavy metal-mediated toxicity in exposed animals.

Phytochemical Composition and in vitro Antioxidant Potential of the Ethanolic Extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) Seeds

Amarachi, Chidinma Chikezie — 2025-10-31

Medicinal plant serves as a natural source of antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress and related pathologies. Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) is a medicinal plant that is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to their rich phytochemical compounds. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds. The seeds were authenticated, dried, ground, and extracted with 70% ethanol. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted using standard methods, while antioxidant activities were evaluated through nitric oxide (NO), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, and cardiac glycosides, with flavonoids (5.51 ± 0.07 mg/g), phenols (4.61 ± 0.05 mg/g), and saponins (3.26 ± 0.04 mg/g) being abundant. These phytochemicals are known to contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The extract demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in all assays. Nitric oxide scavenging ranged from 10.31 ± 0.07% to 61.58 ± 0.11% (IC₅₀ = 361.21 µg/mL), DPPH inhibition from 18.56 ± 0.12% to 70.39 ± 0.25% (IC₅₀ = 242.4 µg/mL) and FRAP activity from 3.32 ± 0.04% to 41.20 ± 0.14% (IC₅₀ = 505.8 µg/mL), compared with vitamin C standards that showed higher activity in each case. The extract showed concentration-dependent radical scavenging effects, with NO inhibition ranging from 10.31 ± 0.07% to 61.58 ± 0.11% and an IC₅₀ value of 361.21 µg/mL compared to 156.75 µg/mL for vitamin C. The strong antioxidant activities observed in fenugreek seed extract are attributed to its high content of flavonoids, phenolics,and saponins. These findings support the potential application of fenugreek seeds as a natural antioxidant source and provide a scientific insight for its use in nutraceutical and therapeutic formulations targeting oxidative stress–related disorders such as hypothyroidism.

Comparative Sub-acute Toxicity Study of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-induced Wistar Rats Treated with Ethanol Extracts of Artocarpus heterophyllus Stembark, Leaf, And Pulp

Nwako, C.A. — 2025-11-03

Aims: This study investigated the comparative in vivo sub-acute toxicity and biochemical effects of ethanol extracts of A. heterophyllus (stembark, leaf, and pulp) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-induced Wistar albino rats.

Methodology: A total of fifty-five male rats were randomly assigned to eleven groups (n = 5), comprising normal control, negative control (BPH-induced with 5.0 mg/kg testosterone propionate), standard control (finasteride 0.5 mg/kg), and eight treatment groups administered 250 or 500 mg/kg of the plant extracts orally for 21 days. Biochemical assessments were conducted to evaluate hepatic and renal function indices.

Results: The BPH-induced rats exhibited significant increases (p < 0.05) in serum ALT (22.67 ± 0.62 U/L), AST (23.97 ± 2.28 U/L), ALP (179.50 ± 6.96 U/L), total bilirubin (24.40 ± 0.93 µmol/L), urea (30.43 ± 1.98 mg/dL), and creatinine (7.27 ± 1.01 mg/dL) compared with the normal control group, indicating hepatic and renal dysfunction. Treatment with A. heterophyllus extracts, particularly the stembark at 500 mg/kg, significantly reversed these biochemical alterations, restoring ALT (15.16 ± 0.22 U/L), AST (12.88 ± 0.15 U/L), ALP (129.30 ± 0.94 U/L), bilirubin (15.31 ± 9.32 µmol/L), and urea (23.77 ± 0.26 mg/dL) values toward normal levels. Electrolyte concentrations (Na⁺: 171.90 ± 2.85 mmol/L; K⁺: 5.60 ± 0.35 mmol/L; Cl⁻: 59.25 ± 2.95 mmol/L) remained within physiological ranges across all treatment groups.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that A. heterophyllus extracts exhibit notable hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, thereby highlighting the therapeutic promise and safety of A. heterophyllus, particularly its stembark extract, as a natural agent for mitigating BPH-associated hepatic and renal dysfunctions.