Abdullah Ansari

• PhD Life Science-Zoology
• Professor (Full) at University of Guyana

Bioactive compounds are found throughout the cherry fruit and these compounds give the fruits their antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral profile of M. emarginata for four maturity stages. The mineral potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) content was evaluated by spectrophotometry. The highes...

The interactions among soil, water, and microbes are unique and fundamental in mangrove forests. We examined and compared the physicochemical parameters of soil (pH, Organic Carbon (OC), Electrical Conductivity (EC), N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and water (pH, temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), EC) as well as microbial diversity...

Our poster presentation summarized our work on the study of mangrove trees along the coastline of Guyana in the natural, degraded, and restored ecosystems. This poster was presented at IECPS 2024 hosted by the MDPI open-access journal Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747, Impact Factor 4.5). Section B: Plant Ecology, Biodiversity and Developmental Biology. Pub...

Mangrove leaves have adapted to effectively manage water conservation and regulate toxic saline conditions through the morphological characteristics of stomatal dimensions. The present study examines the stomatal dimensions of 120 Laguncularia racemosa leaves from both a degraded mangrove ecosystem and a restored mangrove ecosystem located along th...

Mangrove trees are subject to several environmental stresses, often associated with the prevailing conditions of their ecosystems. We analysed the density, diversity, distribution, and biophysical measurements of more than 900 trees throughout nine natural, degraded, and restored tropical coastline ecosystems in Guyana. A one-year period of systema...

Coastline ecosystems are resilient, and the mangrove species that inhabit them are well-suited to deal with harsh environmental stresses. Mangrove leaves are specialised plant structures that enable them to preserve their photosynthetic capability and functionality despite frequent changes in their habitats. Along the coastline of Guyana, we studie...

Mangroves represent highly important coastal ecological systems on a global scale. Despite being highly examined ecosystems, the literature reveals several knowledge gaps regarding the impact of soil-water relationships in mangrove forests. This comprehensive literature review integrates extant studies on the impact of soil-water relationships with...

Mangrove leaves have unique features that enable them to cope with shifting environmental conditions while preserving their general functionality and efficiency. We examined the morphological characteristics and chlorophyll content (spectroscopically) of 600 mature Avicennia germinans leaves selected from 30 trees located in one degraded, one resto...

Fruits and vegetables are important to human health because they provide nutritional benefits, they are a good source of vitamins and minerals and help to improve the immune system of individuals. It was advised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of Guyana that individuals should consume more fruits and vegetables to boost their immune system...

This research examined the yield and nutritional content of white oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivated on wood shaving, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and coconut coir as substrates. Rice straw and sugarcane bagasse produced the highest yield in terms of pileus diameter, fresh and dry weight. Sugarcane bagasse produced fruiting bodies w...

This review analyzed literature from online journals and peer-reviewed articles dating back to the year 2020 covering the emergence, transmission, mutation, and strategic responses of coronavirus diseases. Most of the studies related to those areas found that early responses would effectively limit and control the transmission of the novel coronavi...

Agriculture plays a vital role in providing food globally including Guyana, however, the increase in the human population adversely decreases farm size, which results in nutrient depletion on existing farms due to extensive farming activities on the same land season after season. Biochar is commonly used as a non-conventional farming system to enha...

Abiotic stresses adversely affect plant growth and ultimately crop productivity. Of these, water-logging is the most widespread and most commonly experienced stress factor. While water is essential for all plant growth and development processes, waterlogging is an obstacle to sustainable agriculture. Recent FAO reports indicate that universal crop...

The development of a mathematical model describes the photosynthetic electron transport (PET) changes in both juvenile red and mature green mango leaves exposed to sunlight at different photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). This dynamic mathematical model covers the entire photosynthetic apparatus including the photo-systems-I (PSI) and II (PSII),...

This research investigated used coffee grounds, rice straw, and the combination of used coffee grounds and rice straw as substrates to grow Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) and Agaricus bisporus (Button mushroom). The procedure consists of four (4) main phases: preparation of mushroom mother culture with potato dextrose agar, preparation of st...

Mangroves are coastal intertidal wetland forests with halophytic trees and shrubs in the environment. Mangrove forests are of considerable significance in Guyana. Human interactions with this easily available and rather easy access to resources are what allow local communities to develop their knowledge and approaches to benefit from the mangrove e...

The hexane extracts of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) of the Zingiberaceae family and Coconut; Cocos nucifera a member of the Arecaceae family, from two locations in Guyana were used for the investigation of their antibacterial properties. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the plant and plant product, the antimicrobial activities o...

In mangrove forests, one of the most noticeable characteristics is the unique interplay between soil and water, which facilitates the movement of nutrients and sediments throughout their ecosystems. In this study, comparisons were made between the physicochemical characteristics of soil (pH, EA, OC, EC, N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and w...

Mangrove ecosystems are subject to multiple environmental stresses which often challenge their resistance and resilience. In this study, comparisons were made between mangrove trees and seedlings in natural, degraded, and restored mangrove ecosystems found on the coastline of Guyana. Biophysical measurements were made using the point-centred quarte...

Mushroom culture is an important micro-industrial source of protein in developing countries such as Guyana. This study investigated the growth and mineral composition of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) using rice straw, grass clippings [Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)] and sawdust as substrate materials. Growth was only successful in the tr...

A field study was carried out during the dry season of 2020 at the University of Guyana, Guyana, South America, to determine the combined effects of vermicompost and vermiwash produced from lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus Staph (DC.)], moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), madar (Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw on grow...

The purpose of this paper is to review published literature which provides information to support the cultivation of vegetable crops using vermicompost in comparison to chemical fertilizers. With the systematic method, "Google Scholar," a web search engine which provides an easy way to search for published articles, journals or books was used to re...

Vermiculture is a significant part of sustainable agriculture and organic farming techniques that lead to a decrease in organic materials through practicing vermitechnology which includes vermicomposting and vermiwash. Vermicompost and vermiwash can be used as suitable substrates for cultivation of nutritious edible mushrooms. Mushrooms acts as dec...

Food and nutritional security for the growing population in a global climate change scenario is the biggest challenge. Rising temperature adversely affects physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Photosynthetic apparatus, ATP production, water relation, and membrane stability are hampered during elevated temperature. In contrast extensiv...

Composting is a self-heating, aerobic, bio-decomposition process of organic waste that has advantages over other disposal strategies since it reduces waste volume by 40-50% and kills pathogens by the heat generated during the thermophilic phase. This process uses organic waste (food scraps, grass chipping, etc.), water, soil (for added microbes) an...

Chronic diseases (CDs), including hypertension, obesity and diabetes, are responsible for a large number of global deaths annually. This is due to current life style habits, including sedentary life style, smoking, excess alcohol intake, sugar and fast-food consumption, genetic factors, stress and others. This study investigated the effect of daily...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to to produce vermiwash and vermicompost using organic waste material and study its effect on the growth, development and yield of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in field condition. Method The experiment was carried out in two phases: the production of vermicompost followed by vermiwash using Eis...

Foliar endophytic fungi spend a part of their life cycle on the leaves of plants. They may demonstrate no apparent symptoms but may also cause disease at a later time in the plant’s life. Studies investigating foliar fungal endophytes of mangroves are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the foliar fungal endophytes pres...

This study aimed to develop a mathematical model for assessing optimal manganese (Mn) requirement to repair the photosynthetic apparatus of maize (Zea mays L.), damaged during seawater exposure. The developed mathematical model described the changes in physiological responses of maize leaves in response to cellular Mn concentration. The photosynthe...

Purpose Organic waste is a serious concern across the globe contributed by human activity that can be managed by efficient process like vermicomposting which can reduce the waste that is dumped in landfills into useful product vermicompost. This research was conducted to study the bio-conversion of organic waste (fruit and vegetable waste) using Pe...

Traditional medicines, derived from plants, could present alternative treatment strategy for cancer therapy. One such plant is Momordica charantia (MC) which possesses anti-carcinogenic properties. This study investigated the anticancer effect of an ethanol extract of MC fruit, Kuguacin-J (K-J), an isolated compound from the leaves of MC and cispla...

Signals vary in type and function. However, regardless of the signal, effective transmission and receiver detection are needed to exist for communication. This chapter focuses on a review of visual color signals used by plants to attract pollinators. Signal detection work has intensely focused on epigamic signals; therefore, this review adds to the...

Traditional medicines, derived from plants, could present alternative treatment strategy for cancer therapy. One such plant is Momordica charantia (MC) which possesses anti-carcinogenic properties. This study investigated the anticancer effect of an ethanol extract of MC fruit, Kuguacin-J (K-J), an isolated compound from the leaves of MC and cispla...

Awadhpersad VRR, Ori L, Ansari A. 2021. Production and effect of vermiwash singly and in combination with vermicompost on the growth, development, and productivity of tomatoes in the greenhouse in Suriname. Asian J Agric 5: 29-34. In Suriname farmers often largely rely on high inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to achieve high yield. To...

The increase of fossil fuel combustion; application of chemical fertilisers; and advances in metallurgical techniques have prompted the need for sustainable alternatives that remedy heavy metal contamination of soil. Studies show that bio char is an efficient and cost effective material derived from organic biomass; it has the ability to adsorb and...

Globally, 1.3 billion tonnes of food produced for human consumption are wasted each year and are usually discarded in landfills where the greenhouse gas, methane, is produced during decomposition. Vermicomposting is a possible organic waste management strategy, which may reduce the amount of food waste disposed in landfills and produce compost, whi...

Aims: Senna alata (Carrion crow bush), Senna bicapsularis (Money bush) and Pityrogramma calomelanos (Wild maran) are known for their value in traditional medicine. The study was an effort to identify, environment friendly antifungal compounds from these locally available plants against fungal pathogen Curvularia lunata. Study Design: An experiment...

Aims: Medicinal plants have been a fundamental part of the human health since existence. Guyana is surrounded high in the green shoulder of northern South America and shares Amazon River and Amazon Forest. South American population use plant extracts obtained from traditional medicinal plants as treatment for many infectious diseases. The study aim...

Globally the increase in food productivity was the major concern during the last century that started with green revolution with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow the different crops for feeding millions of growing population. Seventy-five percent of agriculture sector is dependent on chemical fertilizers during the last 20 yea...

This study aims to investigate the effect of vermicompost and other fertilizers on the growth of F1 Mongal tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). The treatments used were vermicompost (T1), promix (T2), 189 components (T3) and a combination of 189 and vermicompost (T4). The study showed that in T1 there was maximum increase in Azotobacter count (7.04...

Urban forests associated with green infrastructure for sustainable outcomes are particularly critical in the Global South, where some of the world's fastest-growing cities are located. However, compared to temperate cities, the drivers of urban tree species distribution in tropical cities remain understudied. In this study, we quantify the spatial...

Diabetic foot infection is a global epidemic and a major public health concern. Development of microbial resistance to many antimicrobial agents in foot ulcer leads to serious complications. Therefore, the study aims to identify the microbiological profile and the potential risk factors among diabetic and non-diabetic foot ulcer patients. A prospec...

Sugarcane is a highly beneficial crop grown worldwide and is greatly influenced by numerous insect pests. These insect pests have adapted to the diversity of conditions under which sugarcane is grown thus causing a great degree of damage to the crop. These insect pests feed on different parts of the sugarcane. For instance, the early shoot borer at...

Ansari AA, Raghubeer H, Jaikishun S. 2019. The effect of vermiwash and vermicompost produced from leaves of Azadirachta indica and Citrus aurantifolia on the growth parameters of celery through hydroponic system. Trop Drylands 3: 11-16. This research was designed to determine the physico-chemical composition of vermiwash and vermicompost produced f...

Citation: Kurup R, Ansari AA, Singh J, Raja AV (2019) Wound care knowledge, attitudes and practice among people with and without diabetes presenting with foot ulcers in Guyana. The Diabetic Foot Journal 22(3): 24-31 Article points 1. Knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) impact foot health in people with diabetes. 2. KAP was assessed in people wt...

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of coconut oil (Cocosnucifera) and palm oil (Elaeisguineensis) on blood plasma cholesterol levels in white rats (Ratusratus). The results showed that coconut oil has better LDL lowering properties than palm oil, but both have similar HDL raising properties. However when subjected to statistical anal...

Background: Diabetes mellitus signifies a major public health threat worldwide. Type 2 diabetes has been reported as the fourth leading cause of death and has affected 15.5% of the adult population in Guyana, South America. Diabetes has also led to major lower extremity amputation at the only referral public hospital in Guyana. Diabetic foot and r...

Jaikishun S, Adonis S, Ansari AA. 2018. Quality assessment of the physicochemical properties of vermiwash produced from different sources during successive storage periods. Asian J Agric 2: 52-57. Organic farming is crucial for maintaining our health together with improving quality and quantity of crop production in environmentally friendly farming...

Purpose The present research was conducted with the objective of exploring the vermicomposting process, which involves different stages such as building of a vermicompost station; import of a compost earthworm (Eisenia foetida); and production of vermicompost using dry grass clippings, rice straw and cow manure. The vermicompost produced can be of...

This was the first attempt to identify the phytochemicals, chemical constituents in the crude extracts, as well as to investigate the possible antimicrobial properties of Azadirachta indica and Syzygium cumini seeds against diabetic foot pathogens in Guyana. Chemical composition, phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assay were done on the drie...

This study was conducted in the Silvercity area, Linden, Guyana and endeavored to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic helminths in children aged 5-15 and the level of awareness of these parasitic infections among community members. Questionnaires were distributed to 30 households and 26 children which accounts for 40% of the population...

Jaikishun S, Hoosein A, Ansari AA. 2018. The effects of vermicompost and vermiwash from the medicinal plants, neem (Azadirachta indica) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia), on the growth parameters of lettuce in a hydroponic system. Nusantara Bioscience 10: 91-95. The farming community is confronting critical issues on the usage of chemicals and rapidly...

The present research was carried out during May-July 2015 at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo with the objective of exploring the application of vermicompost on plant growth parameters of white Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) and the soil structure. The experiment was carried out (RBD) in a greenhouse for a total of 7 wee...

Ramnarain YI, Ori L, Ansari AA. 2017. Evaluation of the use of vermicompost on the crop production of two varieties of Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) and on the soil structure in Suriname. Asian J Agric 1: 73-79. The present research was carried out from January to May 2016 at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo. The invest...

Long W, Ansari A, Seecharran D. 2017. The effect of urea on epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida). Cell Biol Dev 1: 46-50. The use of chemical fertilizers in intensive agriculture has no doubt increased crop production but it has resulted in adverse effect on soil properties over a long period of time. The effects are clearly seen in the soil...

Tropical forests account for at least 50% of documented diversity, but anthropogenic activities are converting forests to agriculture and urban areas at an alarming rate, with potentially strong effects on insect abundance and diversity. However, the questions remain whether insect populations are uniformly affected by land conversion and if insect...

Jaikishun S, Ansari AA, DaSilva P, Hosen A. 2017. Carbon storage potential of mangrove forest in Guyana. Bonorowo Wetlands 7: 43-54. This research was carried out with the objective to estimate carbon storage in the three protected species at study sites located in Berbice (Regions 5 and 6), Demerara (Regions 3 and 4) and Essequibo (Regions 1 and 2...

Fareed R, Ansari A, Seecharran D, Munroe L. 2017. Investigating the degrading properties of three different strains of fungi on commonly used pesticides in Guyana. Biofarmasi (Rumphius J Nat Prod Biochem) 15: 5-14. Bioremediation is the use of microbes to remove various contaminants from the environment. The present research work was carried out du...

2017). A comparison of the effects of mangrove ecosystems (disturbed and undisturbed) on the populations of birds and fishes at Hope Beach, East Coast Demerara, region 4, Guyana. International Journal of Agricultural Technology 13(3): 331-342. Mangroves are very productive ecosystems that provide habitats and food to many terrestrial and aquatic or...

This project endeavored to determine the growth and heavy metal content of the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) grown in substrate containing rice straw, vermi-soil, calcium carbonate and soil from a gold mining area or a bauxite mining are in Guyana. The concentrations of Co, Pb, Cu, Fe and Mn in the samples were determined...

Organic farming is an important concept toward sustainable development that involves the use of organic input for the production of crops. Biofertilizers such as vermicompost and vermiwash increase the organic matter content necessary for the maintenance of soil properties, which is beneficial for long-term sustainability and crop productivity. Bio...

Aleiro dam in Aleiro Local Government of Kebbi state (Nigeria) constructed in 2010 is not only used for irrigation purposes but also serves the ecological needs of the local communities. This study was carried out during the year 2010-11, in order to assess the physico-chemical quality of water in the dam reservoir. The water samples were collected...

Earthworms are essential soil organisms in maintaining soil fertility and thus are regarded as biological indicators of soil fertility. Earthworms are ecologically classified into epigeics, anecics and endogeics. However, only some species (epigeic and anecic) of earthworms [1] are used for vermicomposting. The present investigations were carried o...

Present case study was carried out during 2013, to assess the microbiological quality of three freshwater fishes (Hoplosternum littorale, Cichlasoma bimaculatum and Hoplias malabaricus) offered for sale at two local markets in region 6. Fishes were examined for microbial quality and compared to the recommended levels of U.S Food and Drug Associatio...

Every habitation produces a considerable amount of biodegradable waste that is discarded via dumping at various sites, in landfills, being burnt or is dumped in the river systems. Guyana is no exception-the water ways are polluted with plants, grass is constantly mowed from lawns, huge amounts of market refuse on a daily basis – contributes to unsi...

The chief economic activity of Guyana is agriculture. In the agricultural industries, the use of fertilizers for crop cultivation has been in common practice and has affected the crop quality over the years. The use of fertilizers accounts for about 75% of crop cultivation and quantity has basically become the major concern rather than quality. The...

In a healthy individual the internal tissues are usually free of microorganisms; however, the surface tissue in constant contact with the environment is colonized by a number of indigenous microbiota which is composed mainly of bacteria belonging to about 19 phyla. Some of these bacteria are capable of entering the blood through wounds which provid...

Aim: The present study evaluates the antimicrobial activity of different samples of honey produced in Guyana and a comparison of their effectiveness with conventional antibiotics. Method s:A disk diffusionmethod was used to assess the activity of honey against microbial pathogens. The honeys were tested at different concentrations ranging from 100%...