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The cellulolytic and xylanolytic activity of a pathogenic Myrothecium roridum Tode (IMI 394934) and non-pathogenic Fusarium solani and Curvularia pallescence Boedjin isolates from water hyacinth were investigated. The mycelial plugs of each isolate was grown in submerged cultures of Czapeck Dox broth containing the appropriate carbon source (carboxymethylcellulose, sawdust and homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf) at 25°C for 16 days. The enzyme activity assay was carried out on the culture filtrates obtained. This was measured as micromole sugar released per min. The result obtained showed that the enzyme activity (U/ml) for β β β β-1,4-exoglucanase, β β β β-1,4-endoglucanase and xylanase was maximum 3.70 ± ± ± ± 0.43, 0.95 ± ± ± ± 0.03 and 2.32 ± ± ± ± 0.10, respectively, in C. pallescens Boedjin grown on carboxymethylcellulose and minimum 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.01 respectively, in M. roridum grown on homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf. The β β β β-glucosidase activity (U/ml) was highest, 1.74 ± ± ± ± 0.06 in M. roridum grown on sawdust and least, 0.08 ± 0.00 in C. pallescens Boedjin grown on homogenized water hyacinth leaf broth. The maximum (324.00 ± 19.51 µ µ µ µg/ml) and minimum (130.00 ± 5.83 µ µ µ µg/ml) total extracellular protein was produced in M. roridum grown on homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf and carboxymethylcellulose, respectively. This study showed that the phytopathogenic strain of M. roridum is capable of producing cellulases and xylanase enzyme in submerged cultures but to a lesser degree compared to F. solani and C. pallescence Boedjin.

This study investigated the effects of oral administration of Croton penduliflorus seed oil (CSPO) and Depo provera on liver and kidney function of pregnant rabbits. Graded doses of CSPO were suspended in 5% Tween 20 solution. Twenty-five pregnant Dutch-white rabbits at mid-gestation were allocated into 5 groups. Group 1 animals served as control and received 1ml daily of 5% Tween 20 while groups 2-4 received 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg body weight oral dose of CPSO for 10 consecutive days. Animals in group 5 received one intramuscular injection of 2.73 mg/kg of Depo provera. Withdrawal of treatment was followed by 18 hrs fast, and then sacrificed. Blood samples from fasted animals were collected from all groups and analyzed for liver and kidney function parameters. CSPO caused significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent elevation of serum ALT, AST and ALP; dose independent but significant (P < 0.05) increases in urea, direct bilirubin and creatinine accompanied by a significant (P < 0.01) depression of total bilirubin levels of treated animals. Depo provera resulted in significant (P < 0.01) elevation of serum globulin and creatinine levels with significant (P <0.05) depression of total bilirubin. It had non significant effect on the serum electrolytes and marker enzymes. In conclusion CPSO may result in liver damage, biliary obstruction and impaired kidney function.

Earthworms are the most abundant invertebrates in the soils and are permanently in close contact with soil particles. Therefore, they are significantly affected by the pollutants that reach the soil system. The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of exposure to crude oil contaminated soil on Eisenia fetida using cellular antioxidant enzymes and tissue organization as biomarkers. E. fetida were exposed to different concentrations of crude oil contamination of 1 mL, 2 mL. and 3 mL (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%) for 14 days. The antioxidant/oxidant parameters were analysed in the muscle and liver tissues. The results showed that only the reduced glutathione (GSH) of earthworms exposed to 1 mL were not significant (p>0.05) from the control, while the other concentrations (2 mL – 0.50% and 3 mL – 0.75%) were significantly different (p<0.05) from the control. The activity of catalase (CAT) with respect to the total protein content was highest in the liver of earthworms exposed to 1 mL (0.25% conc.) on day 7 (51.84 μmol/mg pro) while the least CAT activity with respect to the total protein content was reported in the liver of control earthworms after 14 days (19.51 μmol/mL/min). A significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase at all the concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%) after 14 days were also observed. Significant histopathological alterations were observed in E. fetida from the three concentrations. Severe disruptions in the arrangement of their body wall muscle layers, distorted internal viscera, as well as cellular degeneration, pigments, moderate to severe areas of lesion, and distortion of the shape of circular and longitudinal muscles, eroding of internal and external tissues leading to total destruction of body wall were observed. In conclusion, the study revealed that crude oil even at lower concentration induced biomarker responses in E. fetida such as higher levels of Malondialdehyde in E. fetida after exposure crude oil due its toxicity. Histopathological alterations such as cellular degeneration, moderate to severe areas of necrosis, areas of inflammation, inclusion bodies, pigments, and distortion of the shapes of circular and longitudinal muscles also showed the adverse impacts of crude oil pollution in the soils.

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