No abstract

Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests, such as aquatic weeds, insects, aquatic snails, and plant diseases. They are extensively used in forestry, agriculture, veterinary practices, and of great public health importance. Pesticides can be categorized according to their use into three major types (namely insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides). Water contamination by pesticides is known to induce harmful impacts on the production, reproduction, and survivability of living aquatic organisms, such as algae, aquatic plants, and fish (shellfish and finfish species). The literature and information present in this review article facilitate evaluating the toxic effects from exposure to various fish species to different concentrations of pesticides. Moreover, a brief overview of sources, classification, mechanisms of action, and toxicity signs of pyrethroid insecticides in several fish species will be illustrated with special emphasis on Cypermethrin toxicity.

Consequently, this study demonstrated the potential use of sea cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei not only as appreciated functional food or nutraceuticals but also as the source of functional ingredients for pharmaceutical products with antifungal, antileishmanial and anticancer properties.

The coastline of Yanbu was studied for sediment contamination at nine locations (north and south Yanbu) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The metal ions detected were copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead, with concentrations of 1.35–73.0, 1.73–94.62, 5.88–241.10, 0.05–1.81, 4.81–201.01 and 0.08–23.33µgg–1 respectively. The standard deviation observed ranged from±0.5 to±0.53 for the analysis. The CVs ranged from 0.938 to 1.0, indicating the interdependence of the metal ions. Risk assessment indices (geo-accumulation, potential ecological risk and potential toxicity risk response) revealed that Site 9 was moderately polluted with copper, chromium and zinc and was severally polluted with cadmium. Cadmium was the highest accumulated metal, whereas lead was the least accumulated. The results indicated Site 9 had higher levels of heavy metals than sediments taken from the northern Yanbu sector. The southern site was polluted due to its proximity to the Yanbu industrial complex and sewage discharge point. Comparing the results of the present study with those of other national and international studies revealed comparable results, except at Site 9, where the concentrations of the metal ions were higher. Management strategies are suggested for the study area, which can also be used in other areas to avoid permanent threats to marine ecology.

The antidiabetic effect and mode of action of Socrpio maurus palmatus body extract were evaluated in diabetic mice induced by alloxan. 24 male albino mice were divided into four groups. Group 1 was injected intraperitoneally with physiological saline. Group 2 was injected (i.p., daily for 5 weeks) with 300 mg/kg of the scorpion aqueous extract. Group 3 was received alloxan (150 mg/kg, i.p). Group 4 was diabetic and treated with scorpion extract (300 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 5 weeks). Several relevant biochemical parameters and histological examination of Langerhans islets were evaluated. The administration of scorpion extract significantly elevated the level of plasma insulin which was concomitant with a remarkable decrease in the level of blood glucose in diabetic mice. Furthermore, scorpion extract showed a notable ameliorative effect through enhancing the status of antioxidants and recovering the altered biochemical parameters in diabetic mice. Interestingly, scorpion extract significantly increased the number of β-cells and the size of pancreatic islets in diabetic mice. Accordingly, the obtained results demonstrate the antidiabetic effect of scorpion extract in alloxan-induced diabetic mice through its antioxidant and regeneration capacity.