Musa Isah

Rice fields are complex agroecosystems in which soil bacterial communities play essential roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, soil fertility, and plant health. Herbicides are widely used in rice production to control weeds and enhance crop productivity; however, their effects extend beyond target plants and influence non-target soil microorganisms. This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on how herbicides influence bacterial populations in rice ecosystems. Evidence indicates that herbicide application often causes short-term reductions in bacterial abundance, microbial biomass, and soil enzymatic activities, particularly during the first few weeks after application. Nevertheless, many bacterial communities exhibit partial or complete recovery as herbicide residues degrade over time. Herbicides can alter bacterial community composition by suppressing sensitive functional groups, including nitrifying and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, while promoting herbicide-degrading taxa such as certain Bacillus and Actinobacteria species. These shifts may affect critical ecosystem processes, especially nitrogen cycling, nutrient availability, and soil multifunctionality. Long-term or excessive herbicide exposure can reduce microbial diversity, simplify ecological networks, and weaken soil resilience, potentially compromising sustainable rice production. The review also highlights how rice establishment systems, herbicide dosage, and environmental conditions influence bacterial responses. Emerging alternatives, including bioorganic fertilizers, microbial inoculants, integrated weed management, and microbiome-based remediation approaches, show promise for minimizing adverse effects on soil bacteria while maintaining effective weed control.

The future of phytomedicine in Southeast Asia (SEA) appears promising due to the region’s diverse tropical flora, which includes nearly 50,000 known medicinal plants. This review examines current trends in medicinal plant research, the incorporation of phytomedicine into modern healthcare systems, existing challenges, and potential solutions. Recent research has highlighted the therapeutic potential of several notable SEA medicinal plants. Moreover, some countries in the SEA, such as Thailand and Vietnam, have effectively integrated traditional medicine into their modern healthcare systems. By 2026, the herbal medicine market is expected to reach USD 104.78 billion, with Southeast Asia (SEA) playing a significant role in this global economic expansion. However, conservation challenges, methodological complexities, and strict regulatory requirements hinder the practices of phytomedicine. This review emphasizes the importance of international collaboration, technological innovation, and the implementation of sustainable policies in overcoming these challenges. Therefore, phytomedicine has the potential to enhance the global economy, drive healthcare innovation, and promote sustainability by addressing key challenges and harnessing the region’s abundant biodiversity

Objective: This study aimed to assess Aerodramus fuciphagus (Thunberg, 1812) nest’s mineral content, cytotoxicity effects, and antioxidant activity. The Edible birds’ nests (EBNs) were obtained from Tanah Merah (TM), Tumpat (TU), and Jeli (JE) districts in Kelantan, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: The mineral content was assessed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and brine shrimp lethality assays. The antioxidant activity was investigated by 2,2´-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results: Valuable macro- and microelements, including sodium, potassium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and selenium, were detected in the EBN samples. The cytotoxicity test revealed that JE hydrochloric acid (HCl) extract had promising efficacy against HeLa cell lines, with IC50 values of 20.00 ± 0.57 μg/ml. Similarly, TU sodium hydroxide (NaOH) extract inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cell lines (IC50 0.03 ± 0.01 μg/ml). Based on the BSL assay, the EBNs were considered safe for consumption as the LC50 values of all the samples were below the toxic level (>1,000 μg/ml). TM EBNs aqueous, TU aqueous, and HCl extracts showed promising antioxidant activity at IC50 values (10 μg/ml) in the DPPH assay. However, the NaOH extract from TU exhib¬ited the highest FRAP value (1.38 ± 0.00 mM gallic acid equivalents gm⁻¹) compared to all other extracts. Conclusion: This study’s findings demonstrated the potential of EBN as an alternative anticancer agent and natural antioxidant.

Environmental pollution from spent engine oil (SEO) is a growing concern due to its persistence and toxicity risks to soil health and ecosystems, necessitating the continuous search for sustainable and cost-effective bioremediation approaches. This study investigated the potential of phyllosphere bacteria for bioremediation of SEO-contaminated soils. Leaves were purposively sampled from ten mechanic workshops in Katsina, Nigeria, to isolate and identify native bacteria using morphological characteristics and analysis with the VITEK 2 Compact kit. For hydrocarbon degradation studies, isolates were cultured on mineral salts medium (MSM) containing SEO as the sole carbon source. To validate the SEO remediation potential, a 60-day simulated soil microcosm experiment was conducted by mixing SEO-contaminated soil with bacterial inoculums (10 mL of broth culture containing 1010CFU/mL cells) in six planting bags (four with individual bacterial isolates, one with bacterial consortium, and one as a control), and the soil recovery was monitored by measuring the physicochemical parameters, including pH, organic carbon, nitrogen content, and electrical conductivity. The main SEO degraders identified were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Kocuria kristinae, and Pseudomonas oleovorans, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Kocuria kristinae having the highest growth rates (>22.4×107 CFU/mL) in SEO. Post-treatment analysis revealed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in soil quality/fertility, with the soil treated with bacterial consortia having the highest fertility level, showing an 11% increase in organic carbon, a 20% rise in nitrogen content, and stabilization of pH levels and improved electrical conductivity (an indicator of soil salinity), confirming reduction in pollutant levels. These findings showcase the promising role of phyllosphere bacteria in restoring SEO-polluted soils using a sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution. Hence, this study provides a foundation for further research into mountable SEO bioremediation strategies, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced remediation technologies.

Ocimum species have a great interest in different traditional medicinal systems. This study examined the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, enzyme inhibitory effects, and antibacterial and antifungal activities of the aerial parts of Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum americanum, and Ocimum basilicum from the Comoros Islands. The extracts were analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) to determine their chemical composition. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), chelating ability, and phosphomolybdenum radical scavenging assays. Enzyme inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested using the broth microdilution method against selected pathogenic microorganisms. The selected enzymes and proteins were evaluated using in silico methods with biomolecules from these plants. In addition, 111 different metabolites were identified in the tested extracts using advanced HPLC/MS techniques. The most significant number of detected compounds were derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids, followed by flavonoid glycosides and aglycones and derivatives of hydroxybenzoic acids. All three Ocimum species exhibited significant antioxidant activities, O. gratissimum exhibited the best‐reducing abilities in CUPRAC and FRAP assays. In addition, enzyme inhibitory assays revealed that O. americanum had the most potent inhibitory effect on tyrosinase (48.01 ± 3.89 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g), and amylase (1.08 ± 0.02 mmol acarbose equivalent [ACAE]/g). Antibacterial and antifungal tests demonstrated that the extracts possess broad‐spectrum activity. Molecular docking results showed that compounds exhibited remarkable binding energies with target enzymes and proteins. The molecular dynamics simulations identified chicoric acid with MurE of Staphylococcus aureus complex as the most promising drug candidate. These findings support their traditional medical and nutraceutical uses and suggest possibilities for natural functional applications.

Melaleuca cajuputi plant has piqued the interest of researchers due to its pharmacological properties. However, there is scarce information regarding its enzyme inhibitory effects and possible mechanism of action. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and potential binding interactions of bioactive components in M. cajuputi extract and fractions with the target enzymes. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH) assay was used for the antioxidant activity. The enzyme inhibition potential was assessed using tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes. M. cajuputi methanolic extract (MCME) demonstrated the most potent scavenging activity in comparison to Melaleuca fraction (MF1) and (MF2), as evidenced by IC50 values of 28.14 ± 0.96, 35.26 ± 0.64, and 80.90 ± 0.17 μg/mL, respectively. Similarly, the results of the enzyme inhibition assay showed that the MCME (IC50 65.81± 0.39 μg/mL) had the highest potency on tyrosinase enzyme compared to MF1 (IC50 131.3± 0.43 μg/mL) and MF2 (IC50 215.3 ± 0.48 μg/mL). However, MF2 (IC50 3.35 ± 0.37 μg/mL) showed a remarkable AChE enzyme inhibition than MCME and MF1. On the other hand, MCME possessed a low toxicity effect with an LC50 of 781 ± 0.07 μg/mL, whereas MF1 and MF2 were non-toxic. The 10-methylanthracene-9-carboxaldehyde, 2-isopropyl-10-methylphenanthrene, 2-tert butylanthracene, β-eudesmol, and α-eudesmol showed a strong binding propensity ranging from -5.1 to -6.2 and -6.4 to -7.6 kcal/mol towards tyrosinase and AChE respectively. The leaf extract of M. cajuputi could be considered a novel source of naturally occurring antioxidants and promising enzyme inhibitors.

Background: Antibiotic resistant infections were responsible for the deaths of 1.27 million people, with an overall 4.95 million deaths associated with complications from resistant bacterial infections globally. Aim: This study determined the antibiotics; Azetreonam (ATM), Meropenem (MEM) and Imipenem (IMP) resistant gram negative bacteria from Inpatient Department in FMC, Birnin Kebbi. Methods: Thirty (30) samples from different fomites in the Inpatient department were aseptically collected using swab sticks. Streak plate technique was used to characterize and identify the bacterial isolates, then disc diffusion technique was employed to check the resistance pattern of the isolates to the antibiotics as in EUCAST guidelines version 12.0. Results: The convetiontinal biochemical technique further confirmed the occurrence of; E. coli (35%), P. aeruginosa (30%), K. pneumonia (20%) and A. baumannii (15%). On the antibiotic resistance screening, E. coli and A. baumannii were found multi-drug resistance (MDR) to the antibiotics, the remaining isolates show resistance to the antibiotics except P. aeruginosa and K. pneumonia which were found sensitive to MEM and IPM respectively. Conclusion: Bacteria isolated from the IMP are highly drug resistant to the antibiotics. The need for routine environmental sanitation, proper personal hygiene among the hospital participants drug repositioning and molecular assay for rapid detection of MDR bacteria.