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Toxicological Evaluation of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Phyllanthus niruri in Wistar Rats Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Ijimari, Thomas Martin; Anthony, William; Etuk, Idongesit; Abdulfatai, Ayinla Abayomi
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 2 No 2 (2025): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v2i2.6145

Abstract

Natural products have long been used as therapeutic agents; however, many lack comprehensive scientific evaluation of their toxicity. This study investigates the potential toxicity of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) aqueous leaf extract in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of five animals each. Groups 2 through 5 received daily oral doses of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, while Group 1 served as the control and received only grower mash and distilled water for 28 days. Toxicological assessment was conducted through hematological profiling and evaluation of liver and kidney function using standard biochemical methods. The results indicated a significant, dose-dependent increase (p<0.05) in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), suggesting hepatic stress. In contrast, albumin, creatinine, and urea levels did not differ significantly (p<0.05) from the control group, indicating no observable impairment in renal function. Hematological analysis revealed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count, while white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased with higher extract doses. These findings suggest that while P. niruri is traditionally regarded as a natural remedy, its aqueous leaf extract may induce hematological and hepatic alterations at elevated doses. Caution is therefore advised in its use, particularly in unregulated or prolonged applications.
Impact of Distinct Carbon Substrates on the Proliferation of Antimicrobial-Producing Microbes Umaru, Isaac John; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Umaru, Hauwa A.
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 2 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i2.9474

Abstract

Microbial production of antimicrobial compounds remains a fundamental area of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, and its efficiency is strongly influenced by the carbon source available in the growth medium, which functions not only as an energy substrate but also as a regulator of microbial metabolism and secondary metabolite synthesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of five carbon sources—glucose, lactose, sucrose, starch, and glycerol—on microbial biomass yield, strain-specific growth preferences, metabolic compatibility, antimicrobial potency, inhibition zones, and bioactive metabolite production. Seven microbial strains, including Streptomyces, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, and Clostridium, were cultured in media supplemented with each carbon source. Biomass yield was measured gravimetrically, growth rate indices were calculated on a scale of 0–10, antimicrobial potency was assessed using zone of inhibition assays against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, and metabolite yield was quantified in mg/L using spectrophotometric analysis. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. The findings showed that glucose produced the highest biomass yield and growth rates across all strains, with Bacillus and Pseudomonas each scoring 10. Lactose demonstrated selective effectiveness, particularly for Streptomyces, whereas sucrose supported moderate growth and selective antimicrobial activity. In contrast, starch and glycerol consistently resulted in low biomass production and minimal antimicrobial potency. The zone of inhibition results further confirmed that glucose and lactose were the most effective substrates, with inhibition zones exceeding 20 mm. Similarly, metabolite yield was highest with glucose (120 ± 5.4 mg/L) and lactose (115 ± 4.9 mg/L), while glycerol produced the lowest yield (30 ± 1.5 mg/L). The study concludes that carbon source selection plays a critical role in microbial proliferation and antimicrobial compound production, with glucose and lactose emerging as the most suitable substrates for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and high metabolite yield. These findings contribute practical evidence for optimizing fermentation strategies according to microbial metabolic profiles to enhance antimicrobial synthesis.