1.1 Introduction
Acacia Albida is a widely used tree well documented for increasing the yields of crops grown under it. An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. Antimicrobials are chemicals added to products with the intention of killing or inhibiting the growth of microbes. Unfortunately, for most uses they provide no benefit to consumers and may cause health harm. They can also be classified according to their function. Agents that kill microbes are microbicides, while those that merely inhibit their growth are called bacteriostatic agents. The use of antimicrobial medicines to treat infection is known as antimicrobial chemotherapy, while the use of antimicrobial medicines to prevent infection is known as antimicrobial prophylaxis.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Acacia Albida is of the family Mimosoideae (Fabaceae). It is native to Southwest Africa, through West, North Africa to Egypt and East Africa. Common names include winter thorn and apple-ring acacia. The Hausa people of northern Nigeria call it ‘Gawo’ while in Fulfuldes it is called ‘Chayski’. Phytochemical studies reveal that plants in this family contain tannins (Barry and McNabb, 1999) which account for their use in the making of dyes. In addition to this, Tijani et al., (2008) reported the presence of alkaloids and saponins in the stem bark extract of Acacia Albida. In folkloric medicine, it is used to treat fevers by the Masai people of Kenya as well as in the treatment of diarrhoea in Tanganyika (Irvine, 1961). These activities have been reported by (Tijani et al., 2009). It is also used in treatment of colds and haemorrhage. A liniment, made by steeping the bark, is used for bathing and massage in pneumonia. The bark infusion is used in cases of difficult delivery, and is used as a febrifuge for cough (Irvine, 1961).
Kubmarawa et al., (2007) reported the antimicrobial activity of Acacia Albida against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi. In northern Nigeria, especially among the cattle rearing nomads, a decoction of the stem bark is taken orally for the management of the sleeping sickness (Tijani et al., 2008).
No previous study was made on the Acacia Albida legumes, this study was made to evaluate the methanolic and aqueous extracts on the growth inhibition of the wheat root and shoot and their antimicrobial effects, besides screening the most important compound classes for further studies.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Acacia Albida.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation by this study reveals the following challenges involved in Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Acacia Albida:
- A lot of people lacks information about the chemistry of Acacia Albida food and nourishment for man and animal.
- Lack of appropriate information of the nutritional value of Acacia Albida.
- Lack of knowledge of the Pathogenic Bacteria in Acacia Albida.
- Lack of information about the Antimicrobial Activity of organic extracts from leaves and roots of F. Acacia.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to determine the Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Acacia Albida. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the chemistry of Acacia Albida food and nourishment for man and animal;
- To identify the Pathogenic Bacteria involved in Acacia Albida; and
- To provide appropriate information of the nutritional value of Acacia Albida.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the Pathogenic Bacteria involved in Acacia Albida?
- What is the nutritional value of Acacia Albida?
- What is the chemistry of Acacia Albida food and nourishment for man and animal?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H01: Closer to an Acacia Albida tree and at high Acacia Albida tree density, barley yield and soil properties (total N, available P, soil organic matter, pH and soil moisture) are affected positively
- H02: Acacia Albida based land use systems are associated with low intensity agricultural land use types.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study when completed, it will help provide adequate information about most the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of acacia albida. This project will be beneficial to individuals such as subsequent researchers, Lab Scientist, and Technologist. By providing accurate and complete information about each activity of acacia albida, it will also serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Acacia Albida.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Antimicrobials: These are chemicals added to products with the intention of killing or inhibiting the growth of microbes. Unfortunately, for most uses they provide no benefit to consumers and may cause health harm.
Antimicrobial Therapy: An antimicrobial therapy kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Therapies that kill microorganisms are called microbiocidal therapies and therapies that only inhibit the growth of microorganisms are called microbiostatic therapies.
Phytochemical: Is any of various biologically active compounds found in plants.
Activity: The condition in which things are happening or being done.
Bacteria: A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.
