In view of ensuring healthy agricultural foods for human consumption, this study assessed the human health risk implicated in selected heavy metals in some commonly consumed vegetables, tubers, nuts and fruits grown around the quarry sites at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples from agriculture area of Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, constituted the control. The concentration of Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb, were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The potential non-carcinogenic health risk for consumers which included Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd and Cu while carcinogenic health risk using Cancer Slope Factors (CSF) was established for Cd and Pb. Relative abundance of heavy metals across the locations and all samples was in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. There was statistical significant effect of quarrying activities on the concentration of the heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd) at p < 0.05 level. Based on the observed bioconcentration factors, cassava showed more hyperaccumulation potential compared to other samples. Pumpkin and bitter leaf also could be used in remediation owing to their high bioaccumulation index for Pb and Zn. THQ obtained for Mn and Pb were >1 indicating that the residents at the quarry site may be exposed to potential non-carcinogenic health risk due to Mn and Pb intoxication. With respect to US EPA prescriptions, average carcinogenic risk values obtained for Pb and Cd in this study indicated a lifetime (70 years) probability of contracting cancer suggesting that they be placed for further consideration as chemicals of concern with respect to the assessed locals.Keywords: health risk assessment, bioconcentration factors, daily intake of heavy metals, target hazard quotient, carcinogenic risk, heavy metal.

The essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus (EOCC) has found use in medicine, food and chemical industry. This study attempts to provide evidence of its suitability for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy. Total phenol and total flavonoid of EOCC was 49.83±0.39mg GAE/g of extract and 352.82±3.45 µg QEC/g of extract respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of its essential oil (EOCC) showed 25 peaks with myrcenyl acetate (9.703%), caryophyllene (8.997%), citronella (6.383%) been the most abundant. The in vitro anti-inflammatory assay using human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization shows that at 200µg/mL, the percentage inhibition of EOCC was significantly higher compared to diclofenac both for heat-induced and hypotonic induced haemolysis. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays showed a comparable and dose-dependent increase from 50 to 400 μg/mL in relation to vitamin C. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of EOCC (73.16±12.89 μg/mL and 656.01±0.01 μmol Fe (II)/L) was remarkably higher compared to that of vitamin C (69.09±4.52 μg/mL and 246.79±0.01 μmol Fe (II)/L) both for DPPH and FRAP assays respectively. In conclusion, results from this study establish preliminary evidence on the therapeutic potential of EOCC in managing inflammation and oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

This study investigated the potential health risk due to dietary exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the populace living around selected industrial areas in the south eastern states of Nigeria. The concentrations of PAHs were measured in edible food crops using Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The mean concentration of PAHs in food crops collected ranged from < 0.01 to 2.64 ± 0.02, 5.27 ± 0.04, 0.96 ± 0.02, 8.94 ± 0.01 and 1.95 ± 0.06 in mg/kg for Osisioma, Ishiagu, Irete, Akwuuru, and Ngwo respectively. PAHs distributions in food samples analyzed in this study showed vegetables to be significant higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the order vegetables > fruits > nuts > tubers. Total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentrations in most crop samples had highest values 14.49, 36.29, 4.59, 23.36 and 21.8 mg/kg for Chyrysophyllum albidum, Telferia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare and Elaies guinnensis for Osisioma, Akwuuru, Irete, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. The low molecular weight-PAHS/high molecular weight-PAHS were < 1 with values 0.76, 0.18, 0.28, 0.91 and 0.12 for Osisioma, Irete, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. 58.3% and 71.7% of ΣB(a)P and ΣPAHs in food samples in the study areas exceeded the permissible limits set by DPR and EU. The estimated daily intake of PAHs via the ingestion of food crops were within the tolerable range. The carcinogenic risk values for the food crops were within the predicted permissible lifetime risks of carcinogen (10−6-10−4) for adults and children in Osisioma, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Enugu respectively. Therefore, this study suggests that the populace around industrialized areas in South Eastern Nigeria, may be at risk due to PAHs exposure through food consumption.

Viscum album L. (Mistletoe) is used in ethnomedicine for the management of some ailments ranging from inflammation, pains and oxidative stress. The phytoconstituents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of n-hexane extract of mistletoe leaves (nHEML) were evaluated in this study. nHEML was obtained from fresh leaves of Viscum album L. using a Soxhlet extractor. Total phenol and flavonoid compositions were assayed using standard colourimetric methods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to ascertain the presence of phytochemicals in the extract. The antioxidant property was determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while the anti-inflammatory property was investigated using membrane stabilization (hypotonicity) and heat-induced hemolysis of human red blood cell (HRBC) assays. The results showed a high amount of total phenolic content (37.82 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (128.85 ± 3.85 mgQE/100mg). GC-MS analysis showed the presence of essential phytoconstituents including phytosterols, vitamin C, fatty acids etc., with known potent biological activities. In vitro, the antioxidant assay showed that DPPH scavenging activity of nHEML was only detected at 400μg/ml with 13.46%, while there was a dose-dependent increase in FRAP activity of nHEML from 50 to 400μg/ml compared to the standard. For the in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, there was a dose-dependent increase in HRBC membrane stabilization and anti-hemolytic activities, which were higher than those of the standards at 200 and 400µg/mL. nHEML contains a significant amount of flavonoids which improved the anti-inflammatory activities against hypotonic and heat-induced inflammation, hence justifying its potential as a possible anti-inflammatory agent. Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; antioxidant; DPPH scavenging activity; GC-MS; hemolysis; oxidative stress

The body during normal metabolic function produces free radicals which are highly reactive species. Free radicals could also be introduced into the body from the environment. The oxidation induced by reactive oxygen species can result in DNA mutation, membrane protein damage and cell membrane disintegration. The present study assayed the preliminary phytochemicals, total phenolics and total flavonoids and free radicals scavenging ability of methanol extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf. Standard methods for determining phytochemicals, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation scavenging activity were employed.  The phytochemical screening result revealed the presences of phenols, flavonoids, saponin, alkaloids, tannins, terpernoids and steroids. The total phenolic content of methanol extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf measured by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent in terms of gallic acid equivalent was 11.35±0.82mgGAE/g. The flavonoid content of the plant sample calculated as Quercetin equivalent was 15.91±1.60mgQCE/g. GC-MS results revealed relevant pharmacological bioactive compounds. The antioxidative activity of the plant’s extract correlated with total phenolic content. The radical scavenging activity showed a dose dependent increase in the reducing power. The minimum NO inhibitory activity was 8.88±0.63 at 200µg/ml and the maximum activity was 32.70±2.71 at 800µg/ml. The minimum percentage H2O2 radical inhibitory activity was 8.30±0.88 at 200µg/ml and a maximum activity was 22.80±2.28 at 800µg/ml. There was also an increase scavenging effect of lipid peroxide radical in concentration dependent manner. The results of this study indicate that the leaf of Jatropha tanjorensis possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitor

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Aim: This study investigated the health risk associated with chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and arsenic (As) through consumption of some food crops in selected industrialized areas located in the south eastern states of Nigeria using the estimated daily intake(EDI), bioaccumulation factor(BCF), target hazard quotient(THQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk(ILCR). Study Design: Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to assess the concentrations of Cr, Mn and As in the different food crops and soils at the industrialized areas. Place and Duration: Samples were collected around industrial layouts in south east states of Nigeria. Duration was between February 2018 to September 2018. Methodology: Twelve (12) different food crops which included 3 each of vegetables, tubers fruits and nuts and their rhizophere soils were collected from farmlands close to the industries at Osisioma, Akwuuru, Ishiagu, Ngwo, Irete while Umudike was the control site for this study. Results: Mean concentrations of Cr and Mn ranged from 0.01 ± 0.01c to 26.32 ± 0.02 dmg/kg and 0.01 ± 0.00 to 5.53 ± 0.00 mg/kg while As which was Below Detection Limit (< 0.01) mg/kg. 60 and 11 0ut of 72 samples exceeded the WHO permissible limits of 0.2 and 2 mg/kg for Cr and Mn respectively. The BAF of >1 was recorded in 26 Samples out of 108 with its highest values in Pumpkin and Waterleaf suggesting it could be tried as bioindicators .THQ > 1 was recorded in all samples for different locations except for Star apple and Kolanut. ILCR values for Cr in all the samples ranged 10-2 to 10-5 exceeding the permissible range of 10-4 to 10-6. Conclusion: The exposed population has the probability of contracting cancer and other ailments due to exposure to the heavy metals in this study. Therefore, this study suggests further consideration of the metals as chemicals of concern with respect to industrial locations in South Eastern, Nigeria.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is cardiotoxicity is established while chromium 6+ compound (Cr[VI]) could be cardiotoxic due to its bioaccumulation capacity. This study compared vehicle, dose, and duration-related oxidative, cardiotoxic, inflammatory and histologic responses of Cr[VI] and Dox intoxication in rats’ heart by standard protocols. The rats were respectively intoxicated with Cr [VI] and Dox in 3 different phases. In the first phase, sixty rats were assigned to six groups of ten each. Group 1 served as the Control while groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with oral doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg body weight (b.wt) of K2Cr2O7 (Cr[VI]) solution while groups 5 and 6 received intraperitoneal administration of 15 and 20 mg/kg b.wt Dox for two days, respectively, before the sacrifice. The procedure was repeated in the second and third Phases, but for 60 days. Oxidative, cardiotoxic, inflammatory and histologic indices were determined in the rats’ heart. The results indicated that exposure to either Dox or Cr{VI] caused a significant (P < 0.05) dose, vehicle and duration-dependent decrease in Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT) activities and Nitric Oxide(NO) levels but an increase in Cardiac Troponin (CTnI) levels, Creatinine-kinase (CK-MB), C-reactive protein(CRP), Aspartate-transaminase(AST), Lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the control. Heart histopathology of Dox- and Cr[VI] treated rats showed dose, vehicle and duration-dependent pulmonary oedema, hyaline necrosis and displacement of adjacent myocytes compared to control. Thus, Cr[VI] compared well with Dox in cardiotoxicity induction accompanied with oxidative stress, inflammatory and histo-hepatic responses in the rats’ heart.