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This study was aimed to determine the frequency of fast foods consumption among consumer at Benghazi city, explore their health and nutritional knowledge concerning fast foods consumption and calculate their body mass index (BMI). Thus a study has been conducted amongst 400 participants attending fast foods restaurants, parks, and malls in Benghazi city. The main results indicated that, fast food consumers are mainly young, especially those under forty years of age, men were higher than women, and the predominant categories were students and employees. More than two third study sample consume fast foods on a daily basis. In addition, the most of participants were known or had some knowledge about the biochemical component, nutritive value, and calories in fast foods, also the diseases caused by excessive consumption of fast foods. The majority of participants were overweight and obese; the current study reveals a strong positive association between the frequency of fast foods consumption and increased body mass index.

Antioxidants are added to fresh and processed meat to prevent lipid oxidation, retard development of off-flavors, and improve color stability. Synthetic antioxidants have been confirmed for their toxicological and carcinogenic effects. Thus, the food industry now chooses natural products over synthetic ones. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Rosemary extract (R.E.) and vitamin E on the quality of fried fillets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during chilling and frozen storage. Fillets of Nile tilapia were treated with (R.E.) 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and Vitamin E 0.1% then stored for 5,10 and 15 days at 4±1°C and for three months at -18±2°C. Then chemical tests including Peroxide value (PV), Thio-barbituric acid (TBA), Tri-methylamine-nitrogen (TMA-N) and Total volatile base-nitrogen (TVB-N) were done to evaluate the preservative effect of (R.E.) and vitamin E during storage. The TBA and PV increased in all treatments due to lipid peroxidation. Results showed that TMA-N,TVB-N, value of (R.E.) and vitamin E treated samples were significantly lower than those of the control samples (P

Since photosynthesis is the primary process through which light energy absorbed and converted into organic matter, thus, plant chlorophyll pigment (forms A and B) plays an essential role in the progression absorbed solar energy and synthesis of organic matter in a plant. Therefore, this paper aims at the extent to which the optical activity of chlorophyll molecules monitored and methods (non-destructive and destructive) for quantification of chlorophyll content in plants. These methods using to estimate the effect of different stress factors (abiotic, biotic, and xenobiotic) on the efficiency of photosynthesis and bio-productivity on the yield of different varieties. Besides, these methods used to analyze the visual activity of chlorophyll and/ or as well as to evaluate the interaction of weed species with different agricultural practices (mineral nutrition, herbicide treatment, etc.), in addition to studying various aspects of the environmental physiology of weeds and their effect on crop harvesting. Drought stress is one of the most important factors affecting plant growth. Plant growth under drought stress can promote applying microbial pollination, such as using plant growth-promoting roots bacteria. This research carried as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The first step involved bio-fertilizer (A) and control (without bio-fertilizers). The results indicated that the level of treated bacterial inoculation had the highest effect in increasing photosynthetic pigments (p Key words: Juniperus phoenicea, Green plant, Microbial isolates, Medicinal plants, pigments and Chlorophyll.

Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from “Shermout”, a popular Sudanese fermented beef product intended for long storage. An isolate that demonstrated significant antibacterial activity was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum PM4 based on phenotypic, physiological and biochemical characteristics and carbohydrate utilization patterns. The inhibitory activity of the partially purified bacteriocin was completely arrested by the proteolytic enzymes proteinase-k and pepsin but not by α-amylase, asserting its proteinaceous nature. The activity was not due to H2O2 as similar inhibition was obtained by cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced under anaerobic conditions. The bacteriocin showed a molecular weight in the range of 3 - 5 kDa and had a bactericidal mode of action. No significant reduction in activity was observed on heating to 60℃ for 60 min, but activity was lost on heating to 100℃ or autoclaving. Highest inhibitory activity was at pH 5.5 and there was appreciable reduction in activity at pH 3, 7 or 9. There was no drop in activity at –80℃ or –20℃ up to four weeks of storage. However, at 4℃ and 35℃, a gradual decline in activity was observed. Lb. plantarum PM4 exhibited bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris. Bacteriocin production generally coincided with the phase of maximum growth and the best combination for maximum production of inhibitory activity was at pH 5.5 for 48 h whether incubated at 25℃, 30℃ or 37℃. Lb. plantarum PM4 showed promise as a starter culture in the fermentation of preserved meat products.

Two pathogenic special forms (f. sp.) of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) and f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl) are morphologically indistinguishable. Although they are pathogenic to the same host genus Lycopersicon (tomato), and infect the same tomato cultivar, they form distinct diseases; Fol causes wilt and Forl causes crown rot and root rot. These two special forms apparently exist as genetically isolated populations, based on vegetative compatibility and molecular variation at the DNA level. In seeking efficient diagnostic tools for differentiating Fol and Forl isolates, we examined three techniques: isozyme analysis, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) RFLP by HaeIII-digestion of total genomic DNA, and an osmotic method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect fungal pigments. The isolates were collected from geographically widespread locations. Distinct HPLC-profile differences were found between an endophytic non-pathogenic isolate and the other pathogenic isolates. However, the direct mtDNA RFLP technique proved to be an efficient diagnostic tool for routine differentiation of Fol and Forl isolates.

Medicinal plants have recently received the attention of the antimicrobial activity of plants and their metabolites due to the challenge of growing incidents of drug-resistant pathogens . The aims of this study were to determine the antibacterial activities of the three extract (70% methanol, 70% ethanol and 70% acetone) from leaves of Juniperus phoenicea. Also effect as antioxidant of different extracts. For each solvent, content of total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified. Antioxidant activity of different extracts were screened using the ferric reducing power and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging. The results showed that 70% acetone is the best solvent for the extraction of total phenolics, flavonoids, scavenging activity and have exhibited the higher reducing power. The antibacterial activity of the three extractions from leaves of Juniperus phoenicea was evaluated against five bacterial strains. The results showed that all extracts of Juniperus phoenicea leaves at concentration of 20%, 30% and 40% were effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We suggest the three extraction solvents of Juniperus phoenicea leaves were rich in phenolic constituents. Our investigation allows us to support that Juniperus phoenicea has the antioxidant activity and is effective against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Microorganisms, including two fungi, Phytophthora cryptogea and Fusarium oxysporum strain Fo-(IMI 386351), and one bacterium, Pesudomonas sp. strain MF30, were tested for their abilities to stimulate plant defence responses in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum –L.) and to serve as effective biocontrol agents (Bs). The study included in vivo and in vitro characterization of biological attributes of the microorganisms, pertaining to their abilities to stimulate plant immunity against a fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), the causal agent of tomato wilt disease. Using Lycopersicon esculentum –L. as a model plant for examining some fundamental elements of the plant-microorganism interaction, the study reveals and clarifies some aspects of the close association and the complexity of such systems. For each B, the results revealed a B-distinct plant-microorganism interaction, which included systemic induced resistance (SIR). A phylogenetic analyses of the partial sequences of two Fo-(IMI 386351) genes, a mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA (mtSSU rDNA) and the nuclear translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α), provided phylogenetic trees confirming that Fo-(IMI 386351) might be a member of Fol or of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, which have polyphyletic evolutionary origins. RFLP analysis (mtDNA), suggested that Fo-(IMI 386351) probably belongs to Fol. For routine and accurate differentiation between two morphologically indistinguishable F. oxysporum formae speciales strains, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, a molecular method (mtDNA RFLP analysis) was developed, and its usefulness for such differentiation was compared with that of two other methods: isozyme analysis and an osmotic method, revealed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC-spectra of Fo-(IMI 386351) had an extra peak for the two tested fractions, indicating that activation of the observed plant defence mechanism could have been at least partially the result of one of the products of the eliciting microbe. Preliminary results obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry of those fractions suggest that the extra peak probably represents an oligosaccharide, which may have acted as a mobile signal and triggered the plant defence mechanisms. We concluded that (1) our three tested microorganisms are able to stimulate plant defence mechanisms by triggering SIR (plant immunity), (2) the complexity and elaborateness of evolved plant-microbe interactions involving plant defence can, at least in some cases, be observed and studied in the laboratory, and (3) molecular tools can be a powerful means for identifying fungal strains and for clarifying their taxonomical relationships.

Leprosy is chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and associated with the disability, stigma and discrimination to the affected individuals. Though often considered a disease of antiquity, it is found most commonly today in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Global efforts to eradicate leprosy have been largely successful in controlling its spread. Despite these efforts, the disease remains endemic countries emphasizing the need for greater scrutiny of its epidemiology. Strain typing and strain differentiation by Variable Number Tandem repeats (VNTR) could be useful in tracing origins and routes of infection, general leprosy surveillance and prevalence. Strain typing of Mycobacterium leprae by VNTR has been successfully carried out and predominance of leprosy bacilli in different geographical region also done by VNTR. In the present review, we reported global distribution M. leprae by Variable Number tandem repeats in systematic way to easy understanding of leprosy distribution.

Recently, there has been increasing interest in Ficus deltoidea (Moracea) due to its chemical composition and the potential health benefits. The leaves of the plant have been suggested to have potential antidiabetic effects. Inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes, such as α-glucosidase and α-amylase is one of the therapeutic approaches to control postprandial hyperglycemia. In this study, enzymes inhibitory effect and antioxidant properties of different fractions of methanolic extract obtained from F. deltoidea leaves was evaluated. Further, the possible relationship between pharmacological properties and phytochemical content of fractions was investigated. The n-butanol fraction showed significant α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects (IC 50 values 15.1 and 39.42 μg/ml, respectively) along with the remarkable antioxidant activity when compared to the other fractions. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chemical profiling of the n-butanol fraction revealed that the contents of isovitexin (24.63 mg/g) and vitexin (8.3 mg/g) were found to be significantly higher than the other fractions. These results indicate that F. deltoidea could be the potential source of promising anti-diabetic drug. Key words : Ficus deltoidea, enzymes, phytochemical, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), isovitexin, vitexin.

Bark extracts of Bauhinia purpurea were phytochemically analyzed and evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The phytochemical analysis of the bark extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, triterpenes and carbohydrates. While most of them were present in methanolic and aqueous extracts, one or a few of them were present in other solvent extracts. Among different solvent extracts, aqueous extract exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It showed strong antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacterial strains like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative strains like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia and antifungal activity against Candida albicans . While methanolic extract showed moderate to strong antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, E. coli and K. pneumonia , the extracts of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate did not show any anti bacterial or antifungal activity against the tested fungal and bacterial strains. Antioxidant activity of the bark extracts were evaluated in terms of inhibition of free radicals by 2, 2’-diphenly-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Aqueous extract followed by methanolic extract exhibited strong to moderate antioxidant activity. The antioxidant property and antimicrobial activity of the extracts of B. purpurea against the tested microbial strains therefore, supports that there is scientific basis for their utilization in traditional medicine for wound healing and also in treatment of some infectious diseases. Key words: Bauhinia purpurea, phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant property.