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ABSTRACT:In this study, selected biochemical parameters including the activities of lipid peroxidation in fish exposed to varied percentages of aqueous extract (AE) of Nigerian Crude Oil (Bonny light) were assessed. The total Hydrocarbon and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon contents of the AE were 124.1mg/l and 16.9mg/l respectively. Results of the levels of glucose, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in fish exposed to 10.0% AE were 46.2 m m, 9.18g/dl, 5.13 g/dl, 62.6 IU/l and 18.3 IU/l, respectively. Also, the average concentrations of malondialdehyde obtained in Clarias gariepinus exposed to 10% AE was 5.84 nmol. In general, the concentrations of the selected biochemical indices studied were higher in test fish exposed to 10.0% AE, followed by those of the lower concentrations. These findings suggest that exposure of Clarias gariepinus to low levels of AE of Nigerian Crude Oil would result in chronic oxidation stress, cellular membrane damage and death of cell. @ JASEM

This work investigated the possible effects of Diazepam on selected metabolic enzymes of adult male wistar rats liver and cardiac biomarkers. A total of sixty adult healthy male wistar rats were used and divided into five groups of twelve rats each. Animals were divided into different groups and different doses were administered to the various groups. Drugs were administered orally by intubation. Results showed that daily administration of diazepam significantly (p ≤ 0.05) elevated the liver biomarkers and cardiac biomarker of all test groups when compared with the control. There was no significant change in the PSA activity of the test groups. Histological analysis of the liver revealed no pathological changes in all test groups at the end of week 1 and 2. Mild reversible pathological changes such as mild sinusoidal dilation, inflammation and degenerative changes were observed in groups 4 and 5 that received higher doses at the end of week 3 and 4, while the other groups that received lower doses of the drug maintained normal histology. The findings from this study suggest that short term administration of diazepam may not compromise PSA levels. Though the levels of liver biomarkers such as ALT, AST, ALP and LDH were significantly affected, liver histopathology showed mild reversible changes.

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The concentrations of accumulated trace metals in selected seeds and vegetables collected in the oil producing Rivers State of Nigeria were investigated. The values were compared with those of seeds and vegetables cultivated in Owerri, a less industrialized area in Nigeria. The lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contents of the seeds obtained from Rivers State ranged between 0.10 and 0.23 microg/g dry weight, while those of the seeds cultivated in Owerri fell below the detection limit of 0.01 microg/g dry weight. The highest manganese (Mn) level (902 microg/g dry weight) was found in Irvingia garbonesis seeds cultivated in Rivers State. Similarly, the highest nickel (Ni) value (199 microg/g dry weight) was also obtained in I. garbonesis, however, in the seeds sampled in Owerri. The highest copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) levels (16.8, 5.27, and 26.2 microg/g dry weight, resp.) were detected in seeds collected in Rivers State. With the exception of Talinum triangulae, Ocinum gratissimum, and Piper guineese, with Pb levels of 0.09, 0.10, and 0.11 microg/g dry weight, respectively, the Pb and Cd levels in the vegetables grown in Owerri fell below the detection limit of 0.01 microg/g dry weight. The trace metal with the highest levels in all the vegetables studied was Mn, followed by Fe. The highest concentrations of Ni and Cu occurred in vegetables collected from Rivers State, while the highest level of Zn was observed in Piper guineese collected in Owerri, with a value of 21.4 microg/g dry weight. Although the trace metal concentrations of the seeds and vegetables collected in Rivers State tended to be higher than those of the seeds and vegetables grown in Owerri, the average levels of trace metals obtained in this study fell far below the WHO specifications for metals in foods.

The in vivo effects of aqueous extract of African mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwesis) on the serum levels of aspartate and alanine amino transferases (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of Wistar albino rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage were investigated. The extract was orally administered at 12.5, 25.0 and 37.5 mg/kg body weight 24 hours and every subsequent 48 hours following carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) administration with vegetable oil carrier (1:1) at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body wt. This study was for three weeks. The results indicated that the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP reduced significantly (p<0.05) at the 14-day period in rats given the varying doses of the extract when compared to the levels obtained for CCl 4treated rats. While the serum levels of these enzyme activities also decreased for CCl 4-control rats during the period of study, the reductions were more with rats given the aqueous extracts after CCl 4 administration, almost approaching the control levels. However, the effects were not dose-dependent. The results of histopathology of the liver samples were consistent to some extent with the enzyme levels obtained. The liver architecture following CCl 4 administration improved at 12.5 mg/kg body weight of extract through the period investigated. Similar patterns were seen at 25.0 and 37.5 mg/kg body weight of the extract. The findings in this study suggest that the aqueous extract of African mistletoe (T. bangwesis) may have beneficial actions to challenged liver by assisting with repair of hepatic damage.

This study investigated serum lipid profile, liver function indices and electrolyte levels in diabetics and hepatitics in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. 210 subjects comprising 70 subjects each for diabetics, hepatitics, and control matched for age and sex were sampled for the purpose of the study based upon specified criteria. 45 each were males while 25 each were females. Mean alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities, respectively, were significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the diabetics (22 U/L, 30 U/L, 91 U/L, and 12 U/L respectively) and hepatitics (86 U/L, 161 U/L, 113 U/L, and 50 U/L respectively); mean triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels respectively, were significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the diabetics (1.8 mmol/L, 4.6 mmol/L, and 2.6 mmol/L respectively) and hepatitics (1.4 mmol/L, 3.6 mmol/L, and 1.8 mmol/L respectively) except the hepatitics mean LDL-C level, whereas mean high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level was significantly reduced (p≥0.05) in the diabetics (1.2 mmol/L) and hepatitics (1.0 mmol/L). Mean sodium and potassium levels were significantly reduced (p≥0.05) in the diabetics (135 mmol/L and 3.5 mmol/L respectively). Mean sodium level was reduced in the hepatitics while mean potassium level was elevated in the hepatitics. Mean bicarbonate level was significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the diabetics (28 mmol/L) but slightly elevated in the hepatitics. Conclusively, differences in lipids, electrolyte levels and liver function indices found in diabetics and hepatitics have a great potential as a diagnostic means in clinical practice.