Assessment of the Effect of West African Ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis) Seed Extracts on Selected Bacteria of Upper River Benue Surface Water

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of D. mespiliformis; crude seed, mucilage and seed extracts on some surface water quality parameters and total bacteria count. The experiment was design as a factorial experiment in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Sample water was collected from Upper River Benue in Jimeta Bridge. D. mespiliformis purchased at Jimeta Market, Yola Adamawa State. The water sample was collected in Jerry cans (50 litters) transported to wet laboratory, Department of Fisheries, School Agriculture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola where the following physico-chemical parameters were analyzed Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolve Solid, Ionic Concentration, Temperature, Biological Oxygen Demand and Turbidity. However, Total Bacterial Count was analyzed from microbiology laboratory of same University. Data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Result obtained shows the effect of D. mespiliformis treated surface water on the Physicochemical Parameters and effect of D. mespiliformis Crude Seed, Mucilage and Seed Extracts on Total Bacteria Count. The following bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were used during the studies with E. coli has highest total bacteria count of 233 and 22 recorded lowest in seed extract, B. subtilis recorded it highest of 164 and 42 reveal as lowest in the seed mucilage while S. aureus has highest of 100 with it lowest of 32 recorded in mucilage. Further study on the efficacy of D. mespiliformis crude seed, mucilage and seed extracts on contaminant water treatment should be done.