Aims: The specific aim of this study is to investigate the probiotic potentials of mucuna beans flour fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus. Methodology and results: The L. acidophilus used was isolated from neonate faeces using the pour plate technique, thereafter, it was screened for growth and survival in the mucuna beans flour. Liquid fermentation method was adopted for fermentation of mucuna beans flour and at the end of 72 h fermentation at 37 °C, the L. acidophilus showed appreciable growth (90 × 105 CFU/mL). After storage for 14 days at refrigeration (4 ± 2 °C) and room temperature (25 ± 2 °C), there was a considerable increase in the Lactobacillus found in the products stored at room temperature (183.67 ± 3.28 ×105 CFU/mL) compared to the one stored at refrigeration temperature (94 ± 2.33 × 105 CFU/mL). There was a steady increase in the total titratable acidity and temperature with concomitant reduction in the pH of samples during the fermentation period. The proximate analysis showed that there was an increase in the protein and moisture contents with decrease in carbohydrates, fats, fiber and ash contents of the fermented samples compared to the unfermented sample. Under varying pH range, L. acidophilus showed high growth and survival at pH 2 to 3. Supplementing the diet of albino rats infected with E. coli and Shigella with fermented products reduces significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the numbers of these pathogens and other enteric bacteria while the number of the Lactobacilli increased considerably. Furthermore, the body weight of the rats fed the fermented product was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than the control group. Also, the haematological analysis showed that the rats infected with the pathogens and later fed the fermented mucuna beans flour recovered fully since their values are well within the permissible limit and are not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from the control group. In all, the rats fed the product fermented with L. acidophilus showed good recovery compared to the control. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results of this investigation suggest that mucuna beans flour supports the growth and survival of L. acidophilus and exerts considerable probiotic effect on young mammals. Therefore, mucuna may be used as an ideal probiotic food.
Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Fermentation

Aims: The specific aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale) grown in Nigeria. Methodology and results: The cashew apples (red and yellow) were plucked directly from parent tree, sliced and drained in a press. Thereafter, it was dried, grounded and extracted using solvent percolation. The extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method while the minimum inhibitory concentration was done using tube dilution technique. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and anthraquinones were found in the two varieties at varying degree. However, saponin was not detected in either of the variety. The antimicrobial activities of the red and yellow cashew apples were comparable at all the concentrations used. Also, these activities were concentration dependent in all the samples as increased zones of inhibition were observed as the concentrations increased. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) difference between the antimicrobial activities of the different extracts. The largest inhibition zones were recorded against E. coli (22.33±0.15 mm) and K. pneumoniae (24.33±0.01 mm) for red cashew apple ethanol extracts at 30mg/mL while A. fumigatus (5.33±0.00 mm) showed the least zone of inhibition against the same extract. Ethanol extracts recorded the highest inhibitory activities against all the test organisms, followed by aqueous extract while n-hexane extract had the least inhibitory activity on the organisms. The least MIC recorded was 2.5 mg/mL and it was obtained against S. aureus (Red aqueous extract, red and yellow ethanol extracts), E. coli and K. pneumoniae (red and yellow ethanol extracts) while the highest MIC was 30 mg/mL recorded against B. subtilis (yellow n-hexane extract). In all, the ethanol extracts of the cashew apples showed comparable antimicrobial activities with the controls at 30 mg/mL. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The result of this investigation confirms the presence of bioactive substances in cashew apple which may be responsible for its antimicrobial activities against selected microorganisms, consequently, supporting the folkloric use of the apple in the treatment of various diseases.