African Journal of Virology Research

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Valorization of Marula Fruit Waste as a Sustainable Biosorbent for Cationic Dye Wastewater Treatment

Mupa Mathew¹*, Mautsi Musharu Phineas2 and Gwizangwe Isaac¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
²Department of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Science Education, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.

Accepted 21 September, 2025

Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution using a low cost Sclerocarya birrea fruit shell powder based biosorbent was investigated in a batch system. Results showed that optimum adsorption capacity was achieved at pH 8 and biosorbent dosage of 0.6 g, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 27.690 mg g-1. Equilibrium studies showed that experimental data fitted well on the Temkin isotherm (R2 = 0.9641), as well as the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9626). The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order rate kinetics with R2 values greater than 0.999. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum showed the presence of absorption bands typical of a plant based biomaterial. Given the abundant availability of the S. birrea trees in Southern Africa, the seed fruit shell can be used as a source of low cost biosorbent.

Key words: Biosorption, Langmuir, methylene blue, Sclerocarya birrea fruit, Temkin.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Maximizing Amylase Yield from Yam Peels via Solid State Fermentation and Response Surface Modeling

Samuel Kwatia¹* Victoria Pearl Dzogbefia¹ and Isaac William Ofosu²

¹Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
²Department of Food Science and Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 12 November, 2025

The study involved the production of amylase from Aspergillus niger grown on yam peels in solid state fermentation. The process parameters: temperature, pH (initial) and incubation time were optimized for maximum amylase production using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Temperature was the most significant (p<0.05) parameter and the maximum interaction occurred between temperature and incubation time. The results of the study indicated that amylase is maximized (30.95 U/ml-min) at optimized levels of 49.53°C, 5.95 and 104 h for temperature, pH (initial) and incubation periods, respectively.

Keywords: Response surface methodology (RSM), Aspergillus niger, central composite design, solid state fermentation (ssf), amylase, production, optimization.
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Jamaican Pimenta Species: Leaf and Bark Extract Analysis 

Henry I. C. Lowe^1,2*, Denise K. Daley1,3, John Lindo4, Chenee Davis1, Lois Rainford1, Shelly- Ann Hartley1, Charah Watson¹, Cheryl Chambers4, Glendee Reynolds-Campbell4, Shadae R. Foster1, Percival Bahadoosingh1 and Camille Thoms-Rodriguez4

1Biotech R&D Institute, Kingston, Jamaica.
2The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.
3The University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica.
4The University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

Accepted 27 September, 2025

Due to the rapid increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, medicinal plants are being studied as new and promising alternatives to conventional antibiotic treatment. The crude hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from Pimenta dioica, Pimenta jamaicensis and Pimenta racemosa were quantitatively assessed to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility and potency using zones of inhibition methods, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations minimum (MBC) or fungicidal concentrations concentration (MFC) against Streptococcus A, Streptococcus B, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella species, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans. The crude ethyl acetate extract of the P. dioica was most active against Candida albicans (MFC of 1.3 mg/mL and MIC of 0.63 mg/mL) while the crude hexane extract of P. jamaicensis was most active against Streptococcus A (MBC of 0.63 and MIC of 1.3 mg/mL). The crude ethyl acetate extract of P. racemosa was most active against Streptococcus A and Salmonella (MBC of 2.5 mg/mL and MIC of 1.3 mg/mL; MBC of 0.63 and MIC of 0.63 mg/mL, respectively). Extracts from selected species of Pimenta may potentially provide a source of new antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Key words: Pimenta dioica, Pimenta jamaicensis, Pimenta racemosa, antimicrobial.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical screening and toxicity profiles of crude extracts of Cissus quadrangularis L. and Solunum incanum L. in mice

Teka Feyera1, Solomon Assefa2*, Endalkachew Mekonnen3 and Abi Legesse4

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jigjiga University, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
²Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
³Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jigjiga University, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
⁴Departments of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.

Accepted 9 November, 2025

Plant derived bioactive molecules are always in demand and are the main focus of research. Despite the growing market demand for herbal medicines, safety of medicinal plants is still a concern. The present work aimed at generating preliminary phytochemical and biosafety information of crude methanolic and chloroform extracts of Cissus quadrangularis L. (aerial parts) and Solunumincanum L. (fruit). Both plants are extensively used by traditional healers among the agro-pastoralist communities of Fafan Zone in Eastern Ethiopia. The investigation employed standard phytochemical screening procedures and acute (2000mg/kg single dose) and sub-acute (200 and 400mg/kg repeated doses) oral toxicity studies in Swiss albino mice. Changes in body weight, packed cell volume (PCV), Hb level and mortality were recorded to evaluate the toxicity profile of the crude extracts. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of several secondary metabolites in both plants. The acute toxicity study did not show extracts related mortality and body weight reduction at 2000 mg/kg of methanol and chloroform extracts of both plants. However, the sub-acute toxicity study exhibited that crude extract of fruit of S. incanum(400 mg/kg) showed relatively higher toxic effects of causing a more pronounced (p<0.05) mortality, body weight loss, and reduction in PCV and Hb levels, compared to negative control. Extracts of C. quadrangularis revealed low mortality and a marginal increase of the hematological parameters. A detailed experimental analysis of these herbs extensively used by the agro-pastoralists of the area is essential to establish their therapeutic value and safety in use.

Key words: Cissus quadrangularis, Solunum incanum, phytochemical, toxicity.
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (2), pp. 001-010, February, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Macronutrient Deficiencies on Growth and Biometric Parameters of Cedar Seedlings (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius)

João Faustino Munguambe¹, Nelson Venturin¹*, Maria Ligia de Souza Silva¹, Leandro Carlos², Diana Suzete Nunes da silva¹, Elias de Sá Farias¹, Lucas Amaral de Melo¹, Renato Luiz Grisi Macedo¹ and Mateus José Comé3

1Department of Forest Science, Federal University of Lavras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
2Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, State of Goias, Brazil.
3Cashew Promotion Institute (INCAJU), Mozambique.

Accepted 6 October, 202025

The purpose of this work was to assess biometric parameters of cedar seedlings (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius) associated with visual symptomatology of macronutrients deficiency, growth rate, and content and accumulation of nutrients in aerial parts of seedlings grown in nutritive solution. The trial was established in completely randomized design with seven treatments, four replications, and one plant per pot. Treatments consisted of complete nutrient solution, Hoagland and Arnon, and deprivation of the following selected single nutrients: N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. Micronutrients were provided to all treatments. The following biometric parameters were assessed 90 days after the transplant: shoot height, root collar diameter, root and shoot dry weight. The Dickson index and the ratio given by roots dry weight and shoot dry weight were obtained, as well as the content and accumulation of nutrients in aerial parts of seedlings. The Sisvar statistical analysis system was run for analysis of variance, and averages were compared by means of Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. Treatments consisting of omissions of macronutrients were found to be limiting factors of plants growth and obtaining of seedlings shoot dry weight in the following order: N > P > K > Ca > Mg > S. Deficiencies of these macronutrients caused visible morphological abnormalities, where common symptoms of deficiency of N, P, K and Ca appeared before symptoms of deficiency of Mg and S. The content of nutrients found in aerial parts of seedlings of A. fraxinifolius grown in nutritive solution was greater for treatments consisting of deprivation of N, P and K. The content of nutrients found for treatments consisting of deprivation of Mg and S was not significantly different from that found for the complete nutrients solution.

Key words: Nutritional requirements, forest nutrition, Indian cedar.
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 20 (2), pp. 001-012, February, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phosphorus Fertilizer Levels and AMF Diversity in the Bambara Groundnut Rhizosphere

Temegne Nono Carine^1,2, Wakem Germaine-Alice1, Taffouo Victor Desiré3, Mbogne Taboula Judith1, Onguene Awana Nérée4, Youmbi Emmanuel^1,5* and Ntsomboh-Ntsefong Godswill^1,6

¹Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, P. O. Box 812. Cameroon.

²Department of Civil Engineering, Forestry Techniques-Agricultural Education, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39 Bambili, Cameroon.

³Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P. O. Box 24157 Douala, Cameroon.

⁴Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), P. O. Box 2123 Yaounde, Cameroon.

⁵Tissue Culture Laboratory, African Centre for Research on Banana and Plantain (CARBAP), Njombe, P. O. Box 832 Douala, Cameroon.

⁶Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), CEREPAH Dibamba, P. O. Box 243 Douala, Cameroon.

Accepted 20 September, 2025

Tropical soils are highly leached, abundantly clayey and strongly acid, resulting in low mineral availability and especially phosphorus (P). The plants of this region must establish symbiotic relationships enabling them to strengthen their hydromineral nutrition. The aim of this work was to study the effect of P fertilizer application on the diversity of arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF) under the rhizosphere of three Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) landraces. To attain it, plants were grown in farm under different simple superphosphate (SSP) levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg.ha-1 P2O5) in 2015 at Mendong and Soa districts. Experimental units were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil and root samples were taken from the rhizosphere of three randomly selected seeds holes per experimental unit at flowering (31 days after sowing) and fruition stages. At harvest, the roots were stored in 50% ethyl alcohol. They were stained with methyl blue and observed under an optical microscope. The soil samples allowed the trapping to be carried out in a greenhouse with sorghum as test plants. Results show that Bambara groundnut landraces were the host of several AMF species and were highly colonized with all showing hyphae, vesicles and even spores. High level of SSP (200 kg.ha-1 P2O5) significantly (p<0.001) reduced the intensity of mycorrhization as well as the diversity indices compared to the control. A density of AMF spores reaching 1930 was obtained in 100 g of trapping substrate. On the basis of morphological characteristics, 16 AMF species belonging to nine genera (Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Racocetra, Rhizophagus, Funneliformis, Septoglomus, Diversispora and Claroideoglomous) were isolated and identified. Rhizophagus intraradices and Septoglomus constrictum were the most abundant. AMF species identified in this groundnut rhizosphere can be multiplied and used as biological fertilizer to increase its yield.

Keywords: Arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF) diversity, Cameroon, morphological characteristics, rhizosphere, root colonization, spore density, symbiosis, phosphate fertilization, Voandzou.