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The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of the crude starter “kpètè-kpètè” and lactic acid bacteria used during the production of “tchoukoutou.” To achieve this, a total of 11 lactic acid bacteria and 40 starter samples were collected from four communes. The samples were tested on 29 gram + and − strains by disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of starter and lactic acid bacteria were determined by conventional methods. Organic acids, sugar, and volatile compounds were determined using the HPLC method. The “kpètè-kpètè” displays a high antibacterial activity against the tested strains. The most sensitive strain was S. epidermidis (12.5 mm) whereas the resistance strain was Proteus mirabilis (8 mm). All the tested ferment has not any inhibitory effect on Enterococcus faecalis. The lactic acid bacteria isolates of Parakou showed the highest (17.48 mm) antibacterial activity whereas the smallest diameter was obtained with the ferment collected from Boukoumbé (9.80 mm). The starters’ chemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, anthocyanin flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, reducing compounds, and mucilage O-glycosides. These compounds are probably the source of recorded inhibition effect. The lactic acid bacteria of the “kpètè-kpètè” could be used to develop a food ingredient with probiotic property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Plants from West Africa commonly used in both human and veterinary medicine contain various secondary metabolites. However, their potential in mitigating ruminal methane production has not been explored. This study examined the effects of seven essential oils ( EOs) from plants acclimated to Benin at four dosages (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg L−1), on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation and methane production using Andropogon gayanus grass as a substrate. RESULTS Compared to control, Laurus nobilis (300-400 mg L−1), Citrus aurantifolia (300-400 mg L−1) and Ocimum gratissimum (200-400 mg L−1) decreased ( P < 0.05) methane production ( mL g−1 DM) by 8.1-11.8%, 11.9-17.8% and 7.9-30.6%, respectively. Relative to the control, reductions in methane ( mL g−1 DM) of 11.4%, 13.5% and 14.2% were only observed at 400 mg L−1 for Eucalyptus citriodora, Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon citratus, respectively. These EOs lowered methane without reducing concentrations of total volatile fatty acids or causing a shift from acetate to propionate production. All EOs (except M. piperita) reduced ( P < 0.05) apparent dry matter ( DM) disappearance of A. gayanus. CONCLUSIONS The current study demonstrated that EOs from plants grown in Benin inhibited in vitro methane production mainly through a reduction in apparent DM digestibility. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of the root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is constrained by its rapid deterioration after harvesting. Chemical and spectroscopic examination earlier revealed the accumulation of the four hydroxycoumarins esculetin, esculin, scopolin and scopoletin derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway, during the time course of postharvest deterioration. In this investigation the scopoletin level in parenchymal samples of four cassava cultivars used in Benin, i.e. Kpaki kpika, Kpaki soan, Logoguesse kotorou and BEN 86052, was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., Results: Presence was shown in all four varieties with a mean in fresh roots between 4.1 and 11.1 mg kg(-1) dry weight. A strong increase in the content of scopoletin was noticed after a peeling and drying process (6 days) for chip production, the mean content reaching 242.5 mg kg(-1) dry weight in the cultivar BEN 86052. After 3 months of storage this had decreased to 0.7 mg kg(-1) dry weight., Conclusion: Strong accumulation of scopoletin in cassava roots used for chip production in Benin is followed by a decrease in its concentration., (Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.)