Babuskin Srinivasan

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a notorious nosocomial pathogen known for its ability to form biofilms, which contribute to its high resistance to conventional antibiotics and immune clearance. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of ethanolic extracts of Sargassum wightii against multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and to identify potential bioactive compounds using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and molecular docking. The ethanolic extract exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 70 to 100 µg/mL against A. baumannii. Moreover, the extract inhibited biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner, which was further confirmed by epifluorescence microscopy, revealing a marked reduction in biofilm biomass compared with the untreated control. GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic extract of S. wightii identified 10 major compounds. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the interaction of the identified bioactive compounds with the biofilm response regulator protein BfmR of A. baumannii. Among the identified compounds, three molecules (CAS No. 002302-12-7, 015120-94-2, and 146397-91-3) exhibited the highest binding affinity toward BfmR. Ligands CAS No. 002302-12-7 and CAS No. 146397-91-3 showed binding energies (∆Gbind) of −42.26 and −50.49 kcal/mol, respectively, while CAS No. 015120-94-2 achieved the lowest Glide score (−4.067 kcal/mol). These compounds demonstrated promising interactions with BfmR and may serve as a putative molecular target potentially associated with the observed antibiofilm activity in A. baumannii. Overall, the findings indicate that S. wightii possesses significant antibiofilm activity against A. baumannii, with its bioactive constituents exhibiting promising drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties, demanding further experimental validation.

The bract, a byproduct of banana cultivation, is rich in anthocyanin content and it can be used as an antioxidant. In the current study, anthocyanin-rich extract prepared from banana bracts (Musa cavendish) was incorporated in Birz (local Ethiopian beverage). The total anthocyanin content in the extracts was determined by spectrophotometry and the antioxidant activity was measured by the DPPH assay method. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize key operational parameters like temperature, pH, and liquid-solid ratio on the anthocyanin extraction from banana bracts. An empirical regression quadratic model was established to relate the anthocyanin extraction with the above three parameters and analysis of variance showed the significance of the model with R² > 0.95. The extraction was found to be optimum at the temperature of 50 °C, pH at 4.0, and solid/solvent ratio of 1:10 (W/V) using Box-Behnken design. The crude anthocyanin extract at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25% was incorporated into Birz and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. Results showed that 15% anthocyanin crude extract was well accepted by sensory panelists and the juice can be stored for up to 7 days under refrigeration without much loss of anthocyanin.

Injera is one of the common foods which are highly consumed daily in all parts of Ethiopia. Cissus quadrangularis has been documented in Ayurveda for its medicinal uses in gout, syphilis, venereal disease, piles, osteoporosis, anorexia, diarrhoea, scurvy, menstrual disorders, otorrhoea and epistaxis. Despite the health benefit it offers, it is not used in East African cuisine. Considering its good nutritive properties, efforts have been made in this study to determine the effect of Cissus quadrangularis stem powder on the nutritional properties of injera. Blends of different ratios of teff flour and Cissus stem powder (98:2, 96:4 and 94:6) were used to prepare injera and 100% teff flour injera was used as control. When compared with control injera, percentages of ash, crude fibre, crude fat and crude protein of the Cissus quadrangularis stem powder incorporated injera increased from 3.12 ± 0.06% to 4.79 ± 0.82%, 2.55 ± 0.71% to 3.94 ± 1.52%, 2.43 ± 0.38% to 3.68 ± 0.63% and 10.01 ± 0.17% to 12.58 ± 0.42% respectively; while carbohydrate content decreased with increased level of incorporation from 81.89 ± 0.41% to 76.01 ± 0.63%. The mineral and phytochemical content of injera significantly increased with the incorporation of Cissus quadrangularis stem powder, except for minerals potassium and phosphorus. The control sample and 2% Cissus stem powder incorporated injera were rated high by the panelists. However, up to an incorporation level of 4% Cissus quadrangularis stem powder, the injera was found to be sensorily acceptable and it also decreased the microbial load of injera during storage.

Heavy metal contamination in foodstuffs is one of the most common problems worldwide. In this regard, this study has evaluated the amount of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mn) in fruits grown in different farmlands (Selle, Kulfo, Lante) of Arba Minch, SNNPR Ethiopia. Not only fruits, the soil and water samples used for cultivation were also analysed using Flame Absorption Atomic Spectrophotometer. The overall concentration of heavy metals in fruits (Avocado, Papaya, Mango, Banana) ranged from (1.3–6.3) (ND-0.001), (0.44–6.2), (0.02–0.31), (ND-0.008), (ND-0.09), (0.12–8.8), (1.3–31) mg/kg for Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, respectively. The major parameters such as Daily Heavy Metal Intake (DIM) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) were analysed to estimate the health risk associated with fruit consumption. The value of hazard index of all the heavy metals in fruits was less than unity; thus, the consumption of these fruits is unlikely to pose health risks to the target population. However, periodical monitoring of heavy metal contents in foodstuffs are needed to ensure safe food for all.

The present study evaluates the oxidative stability in chikkis enriched with omega 3 fatty acids using natural antioxidant from Rosmarinus officinalis. The best condition for the extraction of phenolic compounds from Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) was established, and the antioxidant activity was demonstrated based on inhibition of DPPH free radical formation. Nannochloropsis oculata and Isochrysis galbana are rich sources of Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Biomass of these microalgae were incorporated in chikkis as omega 3 fatty acid source. Effects of addition of natural and synthetic antioxidants (BHA) on oxidative stability of chikkis were analyzed for storage period of 2 months. Evaluation of peroxide value (PV) and fatty acid profile showed that the process of oxidation slowed down. Natural antioxidant was found to be more effective when compared to synthetic antioxidant (BHA). Omega-3 PUFA levels (EPA+DHA) of 75 and 240 mg/100 g chikkis were observed if enriched with 1 and 3 % Nannochloropsis oculata biomass respectively. Similarly, Omega-3 PUFA levels (EPA+DHA) of 102 and 320 mg/100 g chikkis were observed if enriched with 1 and 3 % Isochrysis galbana biomass respectively. The effects of microalgae and antioxidant incorporation on the chikkis showed that color values remained stable during storage period of 2 months with no significant change (P

Biomass and lipid productivities of Isochrysis galbana were optimized using nutrients of molasses (4, 8, 12 g l⁻¹), glucose (4, 8, 12 g l⁻¹), glycerol (4, 8, 12 g l⁻¹) and yeast extract (2 g l⁻¹). Combinations of carbon sources at different ratios were evaluated in which the alga was grown at three different light intensities (50, 100 and 150 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) under the influence of three different photoperiod cycles (12/12, 18/6 and 24/0 h light/dark). A maximum cell density of 8.35 g l⁻¹ with 32 % (w/w) lipid was achieved for mixotrophic growth at 100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 18/6 h light/dark with molasses/glucose (20:80 w/w). Mixotrophic cultivation using molasses, glucose and glycerol was thus effective for the cultivation of I. galbana.