This study was designed to investigate the concentration of heavy metals and their associated human health risk via consumption of root tubers cultivated in three major communities in Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria. The concentration of heavy metals, especially, Cr and Pb in soil, indicates a moderate contamination (˃ 1.00 mg/kg) level. The concentrations of heavy metals in the root tubers Manihot esculenta, Colocasia esculenta, and Dioscorea alata harvested from Choba, Kpean, and Bodo City ranged from 0.20 ± 0.01-0.84 ± 0.04, 0.01 ± 0.001-0.09 ± 0.02, 0.01 ± 0.002-0.63 ± 0.04, 2.11 ± 0.03-11.8 ± 2.12, and 6.30 ± 1.18-118.6 ± 0.19 mg/kg for Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Fe respectively, while Cd had the same value of 0.01 ± 0.001 mg/kg in the three samples across the three sites. The bio-accumulation factor (BAF) for Cd was ˃ 1. The estimated daily intake were below the FAO/WHO permissible limit, while the target hazard quotient (THQ) has a trend of Mn> Fe> Pb> Cd> Ni> Cr, and were ˂ 1 for all the sampling areas. The HI values for M. esculenta for children in Choba, Kpean, and Bodo City were ˃ 1, indicating that children among the local populace were susceptible to heavy metals health risks. The carcinogenic risk (CR) value of Cr indicates that there was appreciable lifetime cancer risk for Cr as the CR value in all the sampling sites were ˃ 10. Furthermore, CR values of Ni and Cd were also within the predicted lifetime risks of carcinogens. Heavy metal contamination of root tubers cultivated in Ogoniland may posed a great health risk to local populace especially for children via consumption of root tubers.
Some data suggested that the seeds of water melon may have therapeutic benefits. We here attempted to determine ameliorative effects of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus (water melon) seeds on alloxan-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity on wistar rats. Rats were divided into 11 groups, with each group consisting of 3 rats. Groups 2-11 received single dose of 120 mg/kg b.wt. of alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally. Groups 4 and 5 orally received a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. of metformin for 7 & 21 days. Groups 6, 8 and 10 orally received 200 mg/kg b.w., 400 mg/kg b.w., and 600 mg/kg b.w. of the extract respectively for 7 days while groups 7, 9 and 11 orally received same doses respectively for 21 days. The most abundant phytochemicals present in the seeds sample were flavonoids mainly catechin (70.88 ± 0.21) and anthocyanin (42.11 ± 0.89). Blood samples were collected 24 hours after 7 and 21 days of treatment. Biochemical analyses were conducted on liver-injury, kidney-injury, and oxidative-stress markers. Liver/kidney histopathology were examined. Result revealed significant (p≤0.05) reduction in liver enzyme activities, creatinine and urea and malondialdehyde levels, while the electrolyte concentrations significantly increased in the extract treated groups on day 7 and 21 when measured against group 1. The histopathological examination revealed regeneration of the liver/kidney tissues in the extract treated groups mostly in 10 and 11. Thus, aqueous extract of water melon seeds ameliorated alloxan induced hepato-/nephron-toxicity in diabetic rats.
Aim: This study was carried out to identify the phytochemical composition of Maesobotrya barteri, and effect on infra-red induced pain in mice. Methodology: Twenty albino mice were selected and randomly placed in 5 groups of 4 animals each. Pain was induced by infra-red heat. Group 1 was treated with distilled water, Group 2 received 100 mg/kg bwt of aspirin. Extract doses of 500 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg bw were given to groups 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The time taken for the animals to flick their tail off the I.R window was noted in seconds and taken as the reaction time. Results: The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, cardenolides and saponins. Flavonoids were the most abundant. The plant extract increased the reaction time of the mice to radiant heat induced pain. All doses of the plant extract except the 800 mg/kg bwt dose showed the highest elevation of pain threshold at the 60 mins interval. The concentration of 1000 mg/kg body weight showed the highest elevation. Percentage inhibition was calculated as 27.5%, 20.6% and 44.4% for the three doses of the extract respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the reaction time for the standard drug treated group and the extract treated Original Research Article
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the antimalarial activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Maesobotrya barteri, and effects on some hematological and biochemical parameters. Methodology: Twenty eight albino mice were selected and twenty four of these were injected intraperitoneally with 1×10 6 Plasmodium berghei (NK65 strain) parasitized red blood cells in 0.5 ml of distilled water on the first day. After 72 hours, the animals were placed in seven groups having four animals each. Group 1 was uninoculated and untreated. Group 2 (inoculated and untreated) served as negative control. Group 3 was treated with 25 mg/kg bwt chloroquine and served as the positive control. Group 4 was treated with 4 mg/kg body weight of artesunate. 500 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract were administered to groups 5, 6 and 7 respectively for four (4) days. On the fifth day post administration, the animals were anesthesized and blood obtained by cardiac puncture for hematological and biochemical investigation. The liver from the mice were harvested after sacrifice on the fifth day and subjected to histological Original Research Article
There are numerous medicinal plants in the Southern and Eastern Nigeria. These plants are widely utilized in Nigerian traditional system of medicine for the treatment of countless of illnesses. This paper focused on the phytochemical and essential composition of the aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca. The phytochemical and essential oil screening and characterization were carried out using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Results obtained from this investigation showed seven different terpenoids and their total concentrations were 26.19 x 10-1 (mg/100 g), nine different phenolic acids (506.33 mg/100 g), twelve different saponin (62.33 mg/100 g), seven different cyanogenic glycosides (118.03 mg/100 g), thirteen different glycosides (16.17 mg/100 g), five (5) different anthocyanins (56.53 mg/100 g), twenty six different alkaloids (1.31 mg/100 g), six different flavonoids (7.31 mg/100 g), seven different sterol (5.91 mg/100 g), tannins (426.49 mg/100 g), and phytate (69.12 mg/100 g). Analysis for essential oils showed fourty one different essential oils (100. 00 %). Our uncovering indicated Leonurus cardiaca is an excellent source of terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, anthocyanins, phenolic acid, sterols, cyanogenic glycoside, phytate, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and essential oils. This present research exemplify the preparatory detection for discretion or selection of Leonurus cardiaca potential source of novel therapies for the treatment of various diseases.
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