Background Cowpea is a leguminous crop commonly grown and eaten in Nigeria. Organophosphate insecticides are frequently used to control insect populations in cowpea crops. Objectives The present study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of organophosphate insecticide residues in cowpea varieties in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, and assess health risks to consumers. Methods Samples of brown and white cowpea varieties were collected from Gwagwalada market, Abuja, Nigeria. Concentrations of organophosphate insecticide residues in the cowpea samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. Risk evaluation was carried out by the determination of estimated daily intake, hazard quotient and chronic hazard index. Results The organophosphates detected in the cowpea varieties were malathion, parathion, ethion and carbophenothion. The concentrations of insecticides in the cowpea types were higher than the maximum residue limits recommended by the European Union (EU) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The hazard quotient values were less than 100% for malathion, parathion and ethion in the cowpea varieties for adults and children. The hazard quotient of carbophenothion for adults was below 100% for the cowpea types, while the hazard quotient surpassed 100% for children. The chronic hazard indexes for children were 364% and 276% for the brown and white cowpea types, respectively. Conclusions The results obtained in the present study indicate that consumers, particularly children, may be exposed to health risks through the consumption of cowpea types. Consequently, monitoring and regulation of organophosphate insecticide usage in Nigeria should be intensified.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine (TA) on serum lipid profiles following chronic coadministration of chlorpyrifos (CP) and lead acetate (Pb) in male Wistar rats. Fifty rats randomly distributed into five groups served as subjects. Distilled water (DW) was given to DW group, while soya oil (SO; 1 mL kg(-1)) was given to SO group. The TA group was treated with TA (50 mg kg(-1)). The CP + Pb group was administered sequentially with CP (4.25 mg kg(-1); 1/20th median lethal dose (LD50)) and Pb at 233.25 mg kg(-1) (1/20th LD50), while the TA + CP + Pb group received TA (50 mg kg(-1)), CP (4.25 mg kg(-1)), and Pb (233.25 mg kg(-1)) sequentially. The treatments were administered once daily by oral gavage for 16 weeks. The rats were euthanised, and the blood samples were collected at the termination of the study. Sera obtained from the blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and malondialdehyde, and also the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were analyzed. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index were calculated. The results showed that CP and Pb induced alterations in the serum lipid profiles and evoked oxidative stress. TA alleviated the disruptions in the serum lipid profiles of the rats partially by mitigating oxidative stress. It was concluded that TA may be used for prophylaxis against serum lipid disorders in animals that were constantly co-exposed to CP and Pb in the environment.

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphate insecticide for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Lead is a toxic heavy metal and it is used for domestic and industrial purposes. Taurine is a semi essential amino acid with bioprotective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine on thyroid function in Wistar rats co-administered with chlorpyrifos and lead. The rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 rats each. The first two groups were administered with distilled water and soya oil (1 ml/kg) respectively. The other groups received taurine (50 mg/kg), chlorpyrifos + lead [chlorpyrifos (4.25 mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose] and lead (233.25 mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose) and taurine + chlorpyrifos + lead respectively. The treatments were administered once daily by oral gavage for 16 weeks. The rats were euthanized after the completion of the study and the thyroid function and thyroid histoarchitecture were evaluated. The results revealed that co-administration of chlorpyrifos and lead to the rats induced perturbations in thyroid function and this was manifested by reductions in the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, increased thyroid stimulating hormone concentration and degeneration of the follicular epithelia of the thyroid gland. Taurine alleviated the perturbations in thyroid function and improved thyroid gland histoarchitecture. The beneficial effects of taurine may be attributed to its ability to protect the body from toxicity and oxidative stress. Taurine may be useful for prophylaxis against disruptions in thyroid function in animals that are exposed to environmental chlorpyrifos and lead.

Background The aqueous methanolic extract of Andira inermis(A. inermis) stem bark was screened for phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity, acute oral toxicity, and preliminary prophylactic normoglycaemic test and effect on Oral Glucose Tolerance in albino rats. Methods Andira inermis was double macerated and extracted with 80% methanol. Phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity were performed using standard methods. The extract was screened for in vitro antioxidant activity using Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging spectrophotometric assays. Prophylactic control of glucose was evaluated in normoglycaemic and glucose-challenged albino rats. Graded test doses (100–400 mg/kg body weight) of the extract were used in the investigation. The effects observed were compared with that of glibenclamide (0.2 mg/kg) and distilled water control groups. Results The stem bark extract of A. inermis was found to contain saponins, terpenes, tannins, steroids, flavanoids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates and alkaloids. The extract was found to have a significant in vitro antioxidant activity in both methods. The oral acute toxicity study showed the extract had LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced blood glucose levels in normoglycaemic animal model (the control group seen to have − 5.6(− 8.7%) poor glucose handling; and the glibenclamide& extract treatment group (100 mg/kg) to positively reduce blood glucose 14.8(26.8%) & 16.4(25.9%) respectively). The glucose challenged test, from the 1st hour, showed − 57.4(− 89.4%),-26.8(− 33.8%),-23.8(− 26.3%),-12.8(− 13.9%) and − 9.8(− 10.4%) for the vehicle control, glibenclamide (positive control), and the 100, 200 & 400 mg/kg extract treatment groups respectively. The extract showed mild hypoglycemic effect in the results recorded, up to the 4th hour. Conclusion The results of this study elucidated that the aqueous methanolic extract of Andira inermis stem bark possessed potent antioxidant phyto-constituents with potential hypoglycaemic effects that could be explored for therapeutic use worldwide following isolation and characterization of the bioactive principles. And the results also authenticate the folklore use of the plant.

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