Abstract/Overview Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a major source of carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins (B and C), and essential minerals and isthe third most important source of calories in the tropics. However, it is not clear if the traditional processing methods expose the products to microbial contamination. )is study assessed the levels of fungi and aflatoxin contamination in traditionally processed cassava products (Akuoga and Abeta). A total of 38 samples were collected from th...
Abstract/Overview Cassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) is a major source of carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins (B and C), and essential minerals and is the third most important source of calories in the tropics. However, it is not clear if the traditional processing methods expose the products to microbial contamination.) is study assessed the levels of fungi and aflatoxin contamination in traditionally processed cassava products (Akuoga and Abeta). A total of 38 samples were collected from th...
Abstract/Overview This study was carried out to analyze mycotoxins of entomopathogenic fungi of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) and poultry feed safety. An experiment was set up to assess the types of mycotoxins produced by entomopathogenic fungal parasite of fall armyworm larvae and their subsequent efect on the safety of the larvae as a feed ingredient. Molecular characterization was done to estimate the diversity of entomopathogenic fungi on fall armyworm larvae specim...
Abstract Utilization of herbal products is a major concern due to the possibility of contamination by toxigenic fungi that are mycotoxin producers such as Aspergillus species during processing and packaging. Research was carried out to determine the presence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in herbal medicinal products sold in Eldoret and Mombasa towns in Kenya. The study employed both exploratory and laboratory experimental design. The herbal products were purchased from the market and transpor...
Abstract Lake Magadi and Little Magadi are saline, alkaline lakes lying in the southern part of Kenyan Rift Valley. Their solutes are supplied by a series of alkaline hot springs with temperatures as high as 86°C. Previous culture-dependent and independent studies have revealed diverse prokaryotic groups adapted to these conditions. However, very few studies have examined the diversity of fungi in these soda lakes. In this study, amplicons of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region on Tota...
Abstract Application of Fungi for effective removal of hydrocarbon contamination from soil is being considered as the better option when it comes to biodegradation. Other method like physical and chemical bioremediation leads to production of toxic compounds and these methods are not cost effective. In the present study, soil samples from four different oil contaminated soils were assessed for any recovery of fungi present. Cultural characterization was used as preliminary identification usi...
Abstract Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms that have simple multicellular or unicellular cell structures. They are distributed in terrestrial soils, forests, aquatic habitats and in extreme environments with high ambient salts, temperature, pH and pressure. Fungi from extreme environments are potential sources of novel biocatalysts for example antimicrobial agents that can help solve the rising cases of drug resistance. However, the diversity of fungi recovered and described from less stud...
Abstract: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous soil organisms. They form symbioses with majority of terrestrial plants and contributor to mineral and water uptake, plant biodiversity, productivity, ecosystem stability and function. However, AMF community structure and function are affected by land use and land cover changes. This necessitates the exploration of the AMF land- use change association within selected agro-ecosystems in the country. To this end, a site was selected a...
Abstract: Pectinases are the group of enzymes that degrade pectin. This study was conducted with the aim of isolation of efficient pectinase producing pectinoloytic fungi from the decaying vegetable and fruit soil containing decomposing mango peels using extracted mango peels pectin as a growth substrate under submerged fermentation, determining optimum pectinase production conditions and characterizing of ammonium sulphate precipitated pectinase activity with regards to some physicochemical...
Abstract: The pineapple fruit is a component of the traditional medicine, it is also known with excellent quality, special flavor, and nutritional richness, is favored by consumers worldwide. The pineapple fruit juice contributes to healthy living, because it is good source of vitamins, phenols, organic acids and carbohydrate. The aim of this research was to conduct study on antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of endophytic fungi from pineapple fruit using isolation method. The experime...
Abstract: Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are the biological activity of natural compoundsisolated from medicinal plants that are rich source of novel drugs. Endophytic fungi are a potential source of novel bioactive compounds. The present study investigates antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of endophytic fungi from fennel (Insilali) seeds and leaves. The antioxidant activity was conducted based on determination of phenolic content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydrogen...
Abstract: The present study was intended to investigate phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activities of endophytic fungi isolates from red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L. )Leaf and Root peels . The red beet leaf and root samples were as potential source of endophytic fungi. The surface of samples were disinfectant. Fungal culturing and identifications of genera were made according to fungal identification manual. The phytochemical screening of methanolic extracts of Endophytic fungal isolate...
Abstract: Banana is an edible fruit and herbaceous flowering plant belonging to genus musa and family musaceae.Banana is a source of natural antioxidants and has good antimicrobial potential. Banana Peel is nutritional and rich in phytochemical compounds than its pulp. Characterization of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi extracted from banana peel and pulp is the main purpose of this study.The banana fruit sample was collected from dingete locality Gemechis di...
Abstract: Endophytes demonstrate great potential sources for new bio active compounds. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess biological activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of endophytic fungal extracts from coriander leaves and seeds. The samples were surface sterilized before used as endophytic fungal culture. The result of macroscopic and microscopic characterization of the fungal isolates demonstrated the presence of three genera of endophytic fun...
Abstract: Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) belongs to the family Musaceae, and is one of the oldest cultivated herbaceous and monocarpic banana-like food security crops in Ethiopia. Microbes which colonize living internal tissues of plants without causing any harm to their host can be used for testing their antioxidant potential under controlled conditions. These microbes protect their hosts from adverse conditions by secreting bioactive secondary metabolites. Therefor, the presen...