GODFREY EDOKPIA UMHENIN

The increasing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscores the urgent need for novel bioactive agents from natural sources. This study evaluated the antimicrobial potential and chemical composition of volatile oils obtained from Citrus sinensis and Eupatorium capillifolium, two plants widely used in traditional medicine.
Fresh leaves of both species were subjected to hydro-distillation using clevenger apparatus, and the percentage yield was determined to be 0.3% for Citrus sinensis and 0.6% for Eupatorium capillifolium. Gas Chromatography (GC-MS) analysis revealed that Citrus sinenesis oil contain major components such as D-limonene (11%), linalool (7.94%), gamma-terpene (9.93), 2, 6-octadienal (7.03), while Eupatorium capilifolium revealed
alpha-phellandrene (8.84%), 3-carene (8.67%), alpha-pinene (2.95%).
Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the cup-plate diffusion method against selected bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aerogenes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The volatile oil of C. sinensis demonstrated a high level of activity
against the fungal species at all concentration (5 to 25%w/v), the zone of inhibition range from 12mm to 30mm for Candida albicans and 8mm to 20mm for Aspergillus aerogenes, and showed weak inhibitory activities against bacteria species with activities shown at the highest concentration of (25%w/v), with a zone of inhibition of 10mm for P.aeruginosa,14mm for K.aerogenes, and 15mm for B.subtilis, with no inhibition against S.aureus and E.coli E. capillifolium oil showed high level of inhibitory activity at all concentration (5 to 25%w/v) with range of 10mm to 20mm for E. coli and 11mm to 19mm for P.aeruginosa,
with no activity seen against K.aeregenes, S.aureus, B.subtilis, C.albicans and A.niger. The result obtained indicate that the volatile oil of each plants has pharmaceutical importance and can be utilize d in the treatment of some ailments.

This investigation was done to evaluate the microbial and physicochemical qualities of 10samples of different brands of multivitamin syrups sold within university of Beninugbowoenvironment . These brands were investigated according to the in-vitro compendialrequirements, which include physicochemical properties such as color and taste, pH, total viableaerobic count and type of isolated microorganisms. These tests were performed bystandardmethods and techniques. Drop plate method was used . The physiochemical qualities suchasorganoleptic test results had brown and yellow clear and viscous liquid with sweet tasteinsome multivitamin syrups but one sample have a bitter taste that not suitable for pediatricpatients. The pH values were ranged from 2.9-6.8. These findings explained that the eight outof ten different brands of multivitamin syrups sold within the university of Benin ugbowoarecomply with Pharmacopeia specifications regarding microbial and physicochemicalcharacteristics. The prevalence of these microorganisms in pharmaceutical products such as syrups samplesmay indicate the unhygienic condition, defect in production, poor adoptionof GoodManufacturing practice, ineffective preservatives and inadequate quality control. Thoughtheseproducts fall under non-sterile pharmaceutical products, so they need not require sterilitybutthese drugs must conform to the microbiological purity criteria set in the appropriatepharmacopeial standard.