https://journalbji.com/index.php/BJI/issue/feed 2026-08-21T11:20:51+00:00 Biotechnology Journal International [email protected] Open Journal Systems <p><strong>Biotechnology Journal International (ISSN: 2456-7051)</strong> publishes original research papers, review articles and short communications on all areas of Biotechnology including cell biology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, immunogenetics, cell and tissue culture, molecular ecology, genetic engineering and biological engineering, bioremediation and biodegradation, bioinformatics, biotechnology regulations, pharmacogenomics, gene therapy, plant, animal, microbial and environmental biotechnology. By not excluding papers based on novelty, this journal facilitates the research and wishes to publish papers as long as they are technically correct and scientifically motivated. The journal also encourages the submission of useful reports of negative results. This is a quality controlled, OPEN peer-reviewed, open-access INTERNATIONAL journal.</p> <p><strong>NAAS Score: 4.81 (2026)</strong></p> https://journalbji.com/index.php/BJI/article/view/898 2026-08-20T13:04:42+00:00 Adewoyin Francis Banjo [email protected] N. O. Omisore S. A. Odediran W. O. Olagunju S. A. Oke O. A. Oyedapo

<p>This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity and selected biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of <em>Cissampelos owariensis</em> in mice infected with <em>Plasmodium berghei</em>. The leaves were collected, authenticated, dried, powdered and extracted with distilled water. Acute oral toxicity was assessed before antiplasmodial testing. The extract was evaluated using three experimental models: the 4-day suppressive test, prophylactic test and curative test. Extract doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were administered orally, while normal saline served as the negative control. Chloroquine at 10 mg/kg was used as the positive control in the suppressive and curative models, and pyrimethamine at 1.2 mg/kg was used in the prophylactic model. Biochemical assays were conducted to assess catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide activities. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of saponins, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. No mortality was observed during acute toxicity testing at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. In the suppressive test, the extract produced dose-related chemosuppression of 43.16%, 56.35% and 61.23% at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. In the prophylactic test, chemosuppression values were 22.59%, 55.48% and 79.23% at the same doses. In the curative model, parasitaemia decreased during treatment, with the 100 mg/kg dose showing marked reduction by day 7. The extract also influenced antioxidant and nitric oxide-related biochemical markers. These findings suggest that aqueous leaf extract of <em>Cissampelos owariensis</em> has antiplasmodial activity in the experimental mouse model and may contain bioactive constituents worthy of further pharmacological investigation.</p>

2026-08-20T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the journal publisher. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. https://journalbji.com/index.php/BJI/article/view/899 2026-08-21T11:20:51+00:00 Adjoua Kan Regina Zouzou Audrey Kouadio [email protected] Aude Christelle Bozon Aliman Diarra Kra Athanase Kouassi

<p><strong>Objective</strong> The study aims to analyse the consumption practices of locally produced cereal flours among infants in the Haut-Sassandra region of Côte d'Ivoire in order to assess their potential nutritional and health risks.</p> <p><strong>Study Design:</strong> A descriptive study combining a questionnaire-based survey with direct observations at flour points of sale.</p> <p><strong>Study Area and Duration:</strong> This study was conducted in the Haut-Sassandra Region, Côte d’Ivoire, specifically in the towns of Daloa, Vavoua, Issia, and Zoukougbeu. Fieldwork was conducted from 15 November to 18 July over the 2023–2024 study period.</p> <p><strong>Methodology:</strong> A survey was conducted among 500 breastfeeding mothers from four cities in the Haut-Sassandra region (Daloa, Vavoua, Issia, and Zoukougbeu) using a smartphone-administered questionnaire. The survey was complemented by direct observations at flour retail outlets.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that the majority of the surveyed infants were between 6 and 12 months of age (50.4%), and that 95.2% of mothers reported having practised exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of the child's life, before the introduction of complementary feeding. Maize flour (49.4%) and millet flour (41.2%) were the most commonly consumed complementary foods. Most mothers (66.4%) reported feeding these flours to their infants twice a day, with local markets being the main source of supply (99.6%). Nearly one in ten infants (8.8%) experienced digestive complications, including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal bloating, following the consumption of these flours. Infants aged 6–12 months were the most affected (9.12%). In addition, field observations revealed poor handling, packaging, and marketing conditions, which are conducive to microbiological contamination.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Locally produced artisanal cereal flours play a crucial role in ensuring food security among low-income households. However, their widespread use raises important public health concerns. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive microbiological and physicochemical characterisation of these products in order to better establish the relationship between consumption practices and the health disorders observed among infants.</p>

2026-08-21T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the journal publisher. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.