LIFE SCIENCES

Watermelon fruit is a suitable medium for the production of probiotic juice due to its nutritional content, high amounts of sugar and the lack of competing starter. However, its utilisation as a probiotic drink is under-utilized. This research was carried out to evaluate the viability of three Lactobacillus species in watermelon juice. Watermelon juice was freshly prepared, sterilized and inoculated under aseptic condition. Incubation was carried out at 4 oC and 28±2 oC and uninoculated juiceserved as controls at both temperatures. Samples of juice were obtained every 24 hr for 7 days and tested for parameters which include pH, titratable acidity (%), average titre value (cm3) and viable cell counts (cfu/ml). Sensory analysis of the probioticated juice was also carried out using the hedonic scale. The pH of the probioticated
juice was measured using a pH meter, titration methods were used to determine titratable acidity and average titre value while the pour plate method was used to determine viable cell count. A significant reduction in pH was observed in samples stored at 28±2 oC with LB1 having the highest reduction in pH (5.20±0.06 – 3.60±0.06) and LB3 having a slight reduction (5.20±0.12 – 3.70±0.12). There was rapid increase in average titre value at 28±2 oC with LB1 having the highest increase (5.00 - 15.16) and LB3 having the lowest average titre value (5.00 – 14.72 cm3). There was only a slight increase of titre values in samples stored at 4
oC. This led to a corresponding increase in titratable acidity for both Lactobacillus species; LB1 (0.32 – 0.99%) and LB3 (0.32 – 0.94%) at 28±2
oC. However, at 4 oC , a slight increase was observed for the three Lactobacillus species. At 28±2 oC, there was an observable increase in viable cell counts with LB1 having the highest mean count (0.03 x 10 8 – 168 x 108) and LB2 having the lowest mean count (0.03 x 108 – 123 x 10 8 cfu/ml). Samples stored at 4 oC had little or insignificant increase during production. Samples stored at 4 oC had a better acceptability in terms of taste, colour and appearance compared to those stored at 28±2
oC with LB1 having the poorest acceptability. There are several challenges to overcome in the probiotication of watermelon juice which include the survival of probiotics, storage temperature, and their effects on sensory attributes. Longer shelf-life study should be investigated in the future to evaluate the acceptability of this juice.

In tropical Africa, Detarium microcarpium serves as both vital industrial source and medicinal herb. An overview of D. microcarpium verified pharmacological qualities, including its effect on certain organ enzyme activity, acute and subacute toxicity, was the goal of this research. The leave of Detarium microcarpium are fit for several commercial and industrial uses, as was
discovered after a comprehensive literature review. Traditionally, D. microcarpium has been used to cure or alleviate the symptoms different illnesses and conditions in humans. In herbal therapy, this species is used to treat a wide range of conditions, from chest discomfort to cough to infertility to liver issues to menstrual pain to STDs. Antibacterial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic, antimalarial, antioxidant, and iron absorption are only some of the many pharmacological actions associated with D. microcarpium, as shown by pharmacological research. The fact that plants are natural does not guarantee their health benefit and safety. Some of these natural plants have been reported to cause renal and hepatic toxicity by deactivating and reducing the activity of both hepatic and renal enzymes. It is therefore expedient that these popularly known herbal medicines are widely studied with regards to their pharmacological and toxicological aspects in order to understand their safe doses and adverse effects. The chemical, nutritional, and toxicological qualities of Detarium microcarpium are interesting enough to warrant in-depth scientific examination. Animal experiments, randomized clinical trials, and subacute toxicity tests on specific organs are all necessary parts of a detailed research of Detarium microcarpium and its derivatives.

Nanotechnology offers a promising solution to soil degradation and environmental pollution caused by traditional agrochemical practices, enhancing crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency at lower doses. The present study investigated the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth enhancement potential of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Bacteria from tomato
rhizospheric soil were isolated and characterized for growth promotion. Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were synthesized using Azadirachta indica and Moringa oleifera leaves, respectively. The nanoparticles' effect on PGPB growth was evaluated by culturing them on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with different concentrations of NPs (100, 75, 50, and 25, and 0%). The number of colonies forming units were counted after 2 days of incubation