Advances in Food Science and Technology

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of essential capacities required for the performance of farming small, micro and medium enterprise (SMMEs) in South Africa

V. M. Mmbengwa^1,2*, T. Ramukumba, J. A. Groenewald³, H. D. van Schalkwyk³, M. B. Gundidza⁴ and A. N. Maiwashe⁵

¹School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), George Campus, Republic of South Africa.

²University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.

⁴School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 1710, Republic of South Africa.

⁵Livestock Business Division, Agricultural Research Council, P/Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa.

Accepted 21 October, 2021

Abstract

The capacity of small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the viability and sustainability of the enterprise. Various types of capacities need to be identified and used to guide farming SMMEs’ planning, implementation and support in the after-care phase. The main objective of the study was to identify and evaluate essential capacities that are instrumental in ensuring the financial success of farming SMMEs in South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to determine the performance of farming SMMEs under consideration. The results revealed that market capacity is essential for financial returns of farming SMMEs in South Africa. Farming SMMEs should be linked to sustainable markets and they must actively participate in both supply and value chains in order to be profitable. Thus, farming SMMEs and their support service stakeholders should consider market access as crucial during pre-and post settlement support. It is essential therefore, that both public and private sectors prioritise market access in their supportive programmes.

Key words: Profitability, capacities, planning, sustainable, performance.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN 6732-4215 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Acute toxicity and antioxydant property of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth (Scrophulariaceae)

Martin KIENDREBEOGO ¹*, Marie-Geneviève DIJOUX-FRANCA², Charles Euloge LAMIEN¹, Aline MEDA¹, Denis WOUESSIDJEWE³, Odile Germaine NACOULMA¹

¹Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Chimie Appliquées, UFR Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre, Université de Ouagadougou, OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso.

²Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire (DPM), UMR 5063 CNRS-UJF, Equipe de Pharmacognosie, UFR de Pharmacie, Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, LA TRONCHE, France.

³Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire (DPM), UMR 5063 CNRS-UJF, Equipe de Pharmacotechnie, UFR de Pharmacie, Université Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, MEYLAN, France.

Accepted 10 October, 2020

Abstract

Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties. The aqueous acetone extract of Striga hermonthica was further separated into aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions and assayed for their in vitro antioxidant properties using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The crude extract exhibits a weak antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ of 95.27±2.30 µg/ml) and an insignificant acute toxicity on mice (LD₅₀: 1753±44 mg/kg). Luteolin was isolated and identified by mean of its spectral data as the main DPPH radical scavenger of the ethyl acetate fraction, exhibiting an IC₅₀ value of 6.80±1.46 µg/ml. These results suggest an antioxidant potential for S. hermonthica.

Key words: Striga hermonthica, luteolin, antioxidant, acute toxicity.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN 6732-4215 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-003, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN 6732-4215 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Synclisa scabrida for the treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis and other diseases

S. Okoli and C. U. Iroegbu*

Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 September, 2020

Abstract

Ethanolic, cold water and hot water extracts of the root of Synclisia scabrida were tested, by the agar-well diffusion and macro-broth methods, for activity against clinical and typed strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp. and Bacillus subtilis. The ethanolic extract was bactericidal at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against 8 of the 10 test organisms (MIC, 3.125 to 12.50 mg/ml and MBC, 3.125 to 25.00 mg/ml). The cold water extract was bactericidal against E. coli (clin) and B. subtilis ATCC 6051 strains and bacteriostatic against 5 others while the hot water extract was bacteriostatic against 2 of the organisms at MIC. Three column chromatographic fractions of the crude ethanolic extract, F_ss-1, F_ss-2, and F_ss-3, were active against 5 to 8 of the 10 test bacterial strains. F _ss-3 was bacteriostatic against the Proteus sp. (clin), which was not susceptible to the crude ethanolic extract. Conversely, the crude ethanolic extract was bactericidal against P. aeruginosa ATCC 10145 to which none of the fractions showed activity. Thus, the results justify the folklore application of extracts of S. scabrida in treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis among other diseases.

Key words: Synclisia scabrida, root extracts, antibacterial activity, Nigeria.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN 6732-4215 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and xylopia aethiopica and their antimicrobial activities

Ijeh I.I.^1*, Omodamiro, O.D.² and Nwanna, I.J.¹

¹Department of Chemical Science and ²Department of Biological Sciences, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 October, 2020

Abstract

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and xylopia aethiopica were analyzed for their antimicrobial activities against five pathogenic organisms; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus fecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Lactobacilli. Ethanolic extracts of O. gratissimum had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 30 mg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and lactobacilli while for S. fecalis the MIC was 15 mg/ml. Aqueous extracts of O. gratissimum had an MIC of 12.5 mg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli and S. fecalis, while for P. aeruginosa and lactobacilli the MIC was 6.25 and 25 mg/ml, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica showed an MIC of 10 mg/ml in the five organisms tested. While its aqueous extract gave an MIC of 30 mg/ml for S. aureus and Lactobacilli, and 15 mg/ml for E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. fecalis. Our findings suggest that the anti-microbial activity of these spices reside in their aqueous fractions and also indicate that very low concentrations are required to achieve antimicrobial effects.

Key words: Antimicrobial effect, Xylopia aethiopica, Ocimum gratissimum, spice.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among school age children in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Egwunyenga, O. Andy¹ and Ataikiru, D. Palmer²

¹Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

²Parasitology Laboratory, Baptist Medical Centre, Eku, Delta State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 September, 2020

Abstract

The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections and their relationship to anthropometric indices of 1,351 school children from Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria were evaluated. 739 (54.70%) of the subjects were infected by soil- transmitted helminths (STH). The overall prevalences by species were Ascaris lumbricoides (48.41%), hookworms (29.76%), and Trichuris trichiura (17.39%). 174 (12.88%) were infected with two or more STHs. Males (60.81%) were generally more infected than females (43.30%), but this was only statistically significant among children aged 5 – 7 years. The mean number of eggs per gram of faeces (epg) was generally low. Analysis of epg for each species indicated that 7.8, 7.60 and 1.70% of the subjects had high intensity of infections for Ascaris, hookworms and Trichuris, respectively. There was no relationship between intensity of infections and wasting, while children with high intensity of infections were more stunted than others.

Key words: Soil-transmitted helminths ,school-age, children, nigeria,prevalence.