Arsenic toxicity has been linked to liver cancer and medicinal plants are possible sources of antidote to arsenicosis. Andrographis paniculata (AP), generally known as king of bitters has various pharmacological as well as medicinal properties. In the present study, the protective effect of AP leaves on sodium arsenite (SA) induced hepatotoxicity and clastogenicity in albino wistar rats was evaluated. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Group 1 received distilled water only, group 2 was given 5 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite orally on 7th 14th, 21st and 28th day of the experiment while group 3, group 4 and group 5 were administered daily with 200mg/kg bwt, 500mg/kg bwt and 1000mg/kg bwt of aqueous extract of AP respectively simultaneously with 5 mg/kg bwt of SA once a week. Groups 6, 7 and 8 were treated with only extracts at 200 mg/kg bwt, 500 mg/kg bwt and 1000 mg/kg bwt respectively daily. Finding from the study indicated that SA significantly increased the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte cells (mPCEs) formation by 2.5 folds relative to control. The number of mPCEs scored was significantly reduced by pretreatment with all doses of AP. Also, there was a significant (p <0.05) increase in serum g-GT, ALT, AST and ALP enzymes activities in SA treated group relative to the control group. However, rats treated with AP and SA had significantly decreased values of g-GT, ALT, AST and ALP relative to SA alone treated group. Histological analysis showed that AP at 200 and 500 mg/kg is non- toxic and elicited hepatoprotective effect. Therefore, revealed the aqueous extracts of AP leaves ameliorated SA induced hepatotoxicity and clastogenicity in wistar male rats.

The metabolisms of many efficient chemotherapeutics are usually accompanied with health challenged toxic side effects and hence the need for more anticancer agents with little or no toxic consequences. The screening of medicinal plants with known ethnopharmacology can be an option to discover new anticancer agents with mild side effects. Eulophia gracilis is a medicinal orchid shown to be safe and used traditionally in the treatment of tumors and as an aphrodisiac. This study investigated the antioxidant potential, bioactivity and selective cytotoxicity of successive extracts of Eulophia gracilis on cancer cells. The phenolic content, flavonoid content and in vitro antioxidant assays were carried out on successive extracts of the plant. Brine shrimp lethality biological assay and cytotoxicity using MTT assay with four cancer cell lines of human origin: HEp-2 (laryngeal cancer cells), Rd (rhabdomyosarcoma), MCF-7 (breast cancer cell ), and HeLa (cervical carcinoma) together with normal kidney epithelial cells (vero) from an African green monkey were determined. Dichloromethane (DCM) fraction among successive fractions has the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents of 159.04 ± 1.24 µg GAE/mg and 501.94± 33.39 µgQE/mg, respectively and correspondingly has the highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effects. The study showed that all the fractions have activities on the brine shrimps and selected cancer cell lines under study. DCM fraction (LC50 =13.8545 μg/mL) was most active relative to other fractions of extracts in the Brine shrimp assay. Moreover, DCM fraction elicited more potent cytotoxicity (8. 65μg/mL on Rd, 0.79 μg/mL on Hep-2c) on RD and HEp-2 than other three fractions. Overall, Eulophia gracilis plant possesses antioxidant activity and its DCM fraction is selective to all the cancer cell lines used and has the highest selective index among the fractions for RD, HEp-2, and MCF-7 cell lines.

Exposure to arsenic by man and animals and the resultant toxic effects are of great concern. Consequently, there is a search for medicinal plants with potential anti-toxic effects for remediation. The current study investigated the effect of Tridax procumbens (TP) (whose medicinal uses have been reported traditionally) on sodium arsenite-mediated cellular dysfunctions. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (80–100 g) were equally grouped into four. The first group (control) was administered 1 ml/kg body weight (bwt.) olive oil; the second group, 2.5 mg/kg bwt sodium arsenite (SA); the third group, 100 mg/kg bwt TP; and the fourth group, SA and TP. Oral treatment was done with TP given daily for 14 days and SA on days 7 and 14. Haematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, relative numbers of micronuclei in bone marrow cells, histological examination, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and myelin basic protein (MBP) expression were assessed. TP mitigates the haemotoxic and hepatotoxic effects of SA in the co-exposed group. Similarly, TP ameliorated SA-induced histological lesions in the liver, lungs, and cerebral cortex, and micronuclei formation in bone marrow cells. In the co-treated group, TP downregulated the induced expression of iNOS protein by SA in the lungs, cerebral cortex, and liver. TP upregulated MBP expression in the treated group as compared to the control. These findings suggest that TP has cytoprotective effects on SA-mediated cellular dysfunctions in Wistar rats via the suppression of clastogenicity and inflammation, and enhanced myelination and erythropoiesis.

Background Allium cepa is well-known for its antioxidant capabilities and contains potent antioxidant quercetin (3, 30, 4, 5, 7-pentahydroxyflavone). We investigated the therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of Allium cepa (AEAC) that is quercetin-rich against potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced oxidative damage in the brains of male Wistar rats using biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histological markers. For 90 days, 40 male Wistar rats were administered KBrO3, KBrO3 + AEAC, and/or quercetin on alternate days, or AEAC and quercetin alone. Results KBrO3 significantly (p > 0.05) suppressed and diminished antioxidant enzymes and acetylcholinesterase activities with notable decreased total protein levels. Additionally, oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA and NO), as well as DNA fragmentation, all increased significantly (p > 0.05). The immunohistochemical expression of P53, caspase 3, and COX2 protein also increased significantly in the cerebral cortex of the KBrO3-treated groups, but BCL-2 protein expression decreased significantly. Histological examination of brain tissues revealed patterns that corresponded to the enzyme markers. The effects of KBrO3 were all attenuated by the administration of AEAC and quercetin. Conclusions This research demonstrates the therapeutic effects of Allium cepa on KBrO3-induced oxidative stress, and biochemical perturbation in the brain of Rattus norvegicus . Even though the exact mechanism of action of Allium cepa at the molecular level cannot be completely deduced from the results presented above, it could possibly be due to a combination of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic mechanisms. Further studies are required to examine the molecular pathways responsible for these aforementioned therapeutic effects.

Acrylamide (AA), a common toxicant in processed foods is associated with cancer development via induction of oxidative stress. Therefore, the need for a potent antioxidant substance or compound that could ameliorate this toxic effect. Basella alba has been reported to have medicinal properties, and in this study, the anti-oxidative potentials of ethanol leaf extract of Basella alba (ELEBa) were assessed against oxidative stress induced by acrylamide in male Wistar rats (120-150g). Twenty (20) animals were grouped into four. Group 1: 1 ml/kg body weight (bwt.) distilled water (control), Group 2: 17.5 mg/kg bwt AA, Group 3: 17.5 mg/kg bwt AA+100 mg/kg bwt ELEBa, Group 4: 17.5 mg/kg bwt AA + 250 mg/kg bwt ELEBa. Treatment of animals was done orally and once daily for 14 days before sacrifice. The liver and kidney tissues were processed for the analyses of antioxidant activities. Serum was analyzed for hepatic and renal function bio markers in the treated animals. The plant’s bio active constituents were characterized by GC-MS. Acrylamide caused a significant (p < 0.05) ameliorated these values. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of pentadecanoic acid, n‐hexadecanoic acid, cis‐13-octadecenoic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, oleic acid and octadecanoic acid. Our findings suggest that, ELEBa is a potential chemopreventive agent against acrylamide-induced oxidative stress in wistar rats.

The inadvertent exposure to arsenic has been associated with diverse diseases such as cancers. Vitellaria paradoxa is a medicinal plant with antidiabetic and antiproliferative properties. Here, we assessed the ameliorative role of Ethanol Leaf extract of Vitellaria paradoxa (ELVp) in Sodium Arsenite (SA) - induced toxicity in rats after oral treatment for two weeks as follows: Group 1 (Control, distilled water), Group 2 (Vitamin E, 100 mg/kg), Groups 3 and 4 (ELVp, 100 & 200 mg/kg respectively), Group 5 (SA, 2.5 mg/kg), Group 6 (SA + Vit E) and Group 7 (SA + ELVp (100 mg/kg) and Group 8 (SA + ELVp (200 mg/kg). The results indicated that SA significantly increased liver and kidney function markers and elevated platelet, white blood cell (WBC) count and malondialdehyde levels in rats. Additionally, SA decreased Red Blood Cell (RBC), Hemoglobin (HGB) and Hematocrit (HCT) levels in rats (p 0.05). Sodium arsenite caused mild expression of BCL-2 protein NF-Kb = p53 in the kidney of rats. However, ELVp ameliorated SA-induced toxicity in the liver and kidney of rats with respect to these markers. Overall, ELVp has hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and apoptotic properties against sodium arsenite-induced toxicity.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, has led to waves of global pandemic claiming lives and posing a serious threat to public health and social cum physical interactions. To evaluate the mutational landscape and conserved regions in the genome of the causative pathogen, we analysed 7213 complete SARS-CoV-2 protein sequences mined from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) repository from infected patients across all regions on the EpiCov web interface. Regions of origin and the corresponding number of sequences mined are as follows: Asia - 2487; Oceania - 2027; Europe - 1240; Africa - 717; South America - 391; and North America - 351. High recurrent mutations, namely: T265I in non-structural protein 2 (nsp2), L3606F in nsp6, P4715L in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), D614G in spike glycoprotein, R203K and G204R in nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and Q57H in ORF3a with well-conserved envelope and membrane proteins, 3CLpro and spike S2 domains across regions were observed. Comparative analyses of the viral sequences reveal the prevalence P4715L and D614G mutations as the most recurrent and concurrent in Africa (97.20%), Europe (89.83%) and moderately in Asia (61.60%). Mutation rates are central to viral transmissibility, evolution and virulence, which help them to invade host immunity and develop drug resistance. Based on the foregoing, it is important to understand the mutational spectra of SARS-CoV-2 genome across regions. This will help in identifying specific genomic sites as potential targets for drug design and vaccine development, monitoring the spread of the virus and unraveling its evolution, virulence and transmissibility.

Objective This study examined the levels of selected micronutrients and associated biochemical changes in rats exposed to Baygon (R) insecticide. Arsenic is a toxic metalloid commonly used in insecticides manufacture but unheralded. Methods Fifteen rats, divided into three equal groups: Group I (control); group II (administered 2.5 mg/kg sodium arsenite (SA) on alternate days for four weeks); group III (exposed to 14.0 mL Baygon(R)m(-3)cage volume daily for four weeks). Serum levels of arsenic (As), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). Reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total protein (TP) were determined spectrophotometrically. Results Arsenic and Se levels were significantly raised in groups II and III compared with control (p < 0.05), unlike Zn levels that were significantly decreased in groups II and III (p < 0.05) in both. No significant change in the activity of GPx; though the activity increased in the group treated with SA, but decreased in the group treated with Baygon(R)compared to control (P < 0.05). Histology of the liver and lung was unaltered in control, but in contrast, the SA-treated group demonstrated moderate fibrous hyperplasia with prominent highly infiltrated portal area in the liver; while the lung revealed thickened alveolar walls from proliferated pneumocytes. In the Baygon(R)-treated group, there was mild hyperplasia of the fibrous connective tissue and congested prominent portal areas; while the lung exhibited severe thickened alveolar walls due to proliferated pneumocytes. Conclusion Exposure of rats to Baygon(R)elicited alteration of key trace elements involved in the antioxidant system, culminating in oxidative stress with attendant deleterious effects. One significance of this for humans is that it has great potentials for possible nutritional modulation of insecticide toxicity with micronutrients, especially with zinc, holding great promise in tropical developing countries.

Toxicities due to exposure to arsenic-contaminated water and the occurrence of diabetes mellitus are major health concerns. Treatment of these concerns using therapeutic measures have recorded limited success. Traditionally, Laportea aestuans (LA) has been used in managing various diseases. Hence, we investigated the reno-hepatoprotective/antidiabetic potentials of methanol leaf extract of LA (MeLELA) in male Wistar rats. Thirty rats (100-150 g) were equally distributed into 6 groups: Group I (vehicle-treated); group II received 2.5 mg/kg sodium arsenite (SA) thrice a week for 2 weeks; group III received streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg once); group IV received 200 mg/kg LA daily for 14 days; group V received SA and LA; group VI received STZ and LA. Sodium arsenite and STZ induced reno-hepatotoxicity and diabetes, respectively. Phytochemical screening, biomarkers/enzyme activities, blood glucose levels, micronucleus assay, kidney, liver and pancreas histologies were determined according to standard procedures. Alkaloids, carotenoids and flavonoids were present in abundance. Both SA-and STZ-treated groups recorded significant (p < 0.05) reductions in serum protein concentrations, while co-treatment with LA significantly restored the levels. The SA-induced significant increase in creatinine/urea levels were significantly reduced by LA. Co-treatment of each of SA-and STZ-treated groups, respectively, with LA significantly decreased the elevated serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases’ activities. Increased blood glucose level in diabetic group was remarkably lowered by LA. Also, the SA-induced frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was significantly ameliorated by LA. Conclusively, LA is protective against SA-induced toxicity and STZ-induced diabetes in Wistar rats.

Introduction: Adansonia digitata L (baobab) is a forest tree, primarily in Africa and Asia. Fruit pulp extract of baobab possesses anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticlastogenic and other medicinal properties.This study evaluates the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer potentials of the aqueous extract of the fruit pulp of baobab and its fractions. Methods: Cold extraction was done on the pulp for 72 h. The extract was filtered and concentrated; and then resuspended in water and sonicated. The mixture was sequentially fractionated to obtain n-hexane fraction (NHF), chloroform fraction (CRF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), n-butanol fraction (NBF) and residual aqueous fraction (AQF).The DPPH, ABTS, nitrite scavenging capacity and reducing antioxidant power assays were determined spectrophotometrically. Anticancer activity on A-549, KB, T-24 and A-498 cell lines was evaluated using sulphurhodamin B assay. Results: The DPPH radical scavenging activity indicates that NBF has IC50 (43.44µg/mL) closest to that of the standard (Ascorbic acid) (27.22 µg/mL). For ABTS scavenging activity, NBF with IC50 value of 38.28µg/mL is closest to the standard (7.41µg/mL). For nitrite scavenging capacity, EAF has IC50 value (66.05µg/mL) closest to the standard (35.52µg/mL). Overall antioxidant results showed that NBF fraction has the highest antioxidant capacity of all the fractions. The various fractions were not significantly cytotoxic. However, morphological observation with phase contrast microscope showed that CRF, EAF and NBF induced cytotoxic effects on human oral cancer cells (KB). Conclusion: Aqueous extract of the fruit pulp of baobab and its fractions could be applied as natural sources of antioxidant and the fractions are cytotoxic on KB cells. Keywords: Adansonia digitata, Antioxidant activity, Cytotoxicity, anticancer activity, aqueous extract, sulphurhodamin B assay. ResumeContexte: Adansonia digitata L (baobab) est un arbre forestier, principalement en Afrique et en Asie. L’extrait de pulpe de fruit de baobab possede des proprietes anti-inflammatoires, hepatoprotectrices, anticlastogeniques et autres. Cette etude evalue les potentiels antioxydants et anticancereux in vitro de l’extrait aqueux de pulpe de fruit de baobab et de ses fractions. Methodes: Une extraction a froid a ete effectuee sur la pulpe pendant 72 h. L’extrait a ete filtre et concentre; puis remis en suspension dans l’eau et sonique. Le melange a ete fractionne sequentiellement pour obtenir une fraction de n-hexane (NHF), une fraction de chloroforme (CRF), une fraction d’acetate d’ethyle (EAF), une fraction de n-butanol (NBF) et une fraction aqueuse residuelle (AQF). Le DPPH, l’ABTS, la capacite de piegeage des nitrites et les dosages de pouvoir antioxydant reducteur ont ete determines par spectrophotometrie. L’activite anticancereuse sur la ligne des cellules A-549, KB, T-24 et A-498 a ete evaluee en utilisant un dosage de sulfurhodamine B. Resultats:L’activite de piegeage des radicaux DPPH indique que le NBF a une CI50 (43,44 µg / mL) plus proche de celle du standard (acide ascorbique) (27,22 µg / mL). Pour l’activite de piegeage ABTS, le NBF avec une valeur IC50 de 38,28 µg / mL est le plus proche de la norme (7,41 µg / mL). Pour la capacite de piegeage des nitrites, l’EAF a la valeur IC50 (66,05 µg / mL) la plus proche de la norme (35,52 µg / mL). Les resultats globaux des antioxydants ont montre que la fraction NBF a la capacite antioxydante la plus elevee de toutes les fractions. Les differentes fractions n’etaient pas significativement cytotoxiques. Cependant, l’observation morphologique au microscope a contraste de phase a montre que le CRF, l’EAF et le NBF induisaient des effets cytotoxiques sur les cellules cancereuses orales humaines (KB). Conclusion: L’extrait aqueux de pulpe de fruit de baobab et ses fractions pourrait etre applique comme source naturelle d’antioxydant et les fractions sont cytotoxiques sur les cellules KB. Mots cles: Adansonia digitata, activite antioxydante, cytotoxicite, activite anticancereuse, extrait aqueux, dosage de sulfurhodamineB. Correspondence: Prof. Oyeronke A. Odunola, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria. E-mail: ronodunola@yahoo.com and aygokea@gmail.com

AbstractGas flaring is a key contributor of greenhouse gases that causes global warming and climate change. Adaptation measures for tackling impacts of climate change have gained much research interest. This chapter assessed vegetable farmers’ perception of gas flaring and the effect of biochar remediation on the heavy metal composition of cultivatedTelfairia occidentalis.A gas-flared area, Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A of Imo State, and a non-gas-flared area, Umudike, Ikwuano L.G.A, were selected for this research. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 120 respondents. Soils were collected from the study sites and transported to the greenhouse. Five different rates, 0 t ha−1, 7.1 t ha−1, 13.9 t ha−1, 20.9 t ha−1, and 28.0 t ha−1, of palm bunch biochar were applied to the soils in plastic buckets. After 2 weeks of mineralization, two viable seeds ofTelfairia occidentaliswere planted in each bucket and watered every other day for 8 weeks. The result revealed that 63% of vegetable farmers where female, while 37% were male in the gas-flared area. A total of 97% of the farmers had knowledge of gas flaring. A total decrease of 55% percent income, 90% yield, and 67% market quality of vegetable farmers was attributed to gas-flared activities. The plant height of cultivated vegetables increased every 2 weeks with greater increase in the test plant. Heavy metal concentration (Pb, and Cr) decreased with increasing biochar rate and was significantly lower for 28.0 t ha−1. Biochar can enhance soil fertility and help immobilize heavy metals. The effect of biochar application on the heavy metal composition is dependent on the rate of application. Biochar use could be a cheap adaptation measure in the face of a changing climate.

Background Factors contributing to the pathogenesis and progression of cervical cancer include poor attitude to screening and health intervention, late presentation, among others. Mutations in p53 gene have been attributed to several cancer cases. The present study was designed to find relationships between the mutation patterns in p53 gene and cervical carcinoma staging. Such knowledge could contribute to early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Results From the sequence analysis of p53 gene fragment isolated by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), nineteen (19) polymorphic variants were identified. Missense mutations occurred in 47% of the samples, 32% were silent mutations, 16% were frameshift mutations and 5% nonsense mutations. Socio-biological characteristics of the study participants revealed that 60% have husbands with multiple sexual partners and that only 23.3% of the participants have ever had the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test prior to diagnosis, whilst 20% were unaware of the screening test. Conclusions Increased severity of cervical carcinoma staging as revealed from the histopathological analysis was found to be associated with accumulation of higher levels of mutations in the p53 gene. Molecular analysis of p53 gene mutations may prove useful as a screening biomarker for cervical cancer.

Herbal products have gained important applications in the management and treatment of several diseases. Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (Lemon grass) is an all season plant found throughout the entire world, particularly in the tropics with several bioactive components. Lead is a wide spread environmental pollutant reported to induce pathological conditions in humans. One possible mechanism of lead toxicity is oxidative stress. We evaluated the effects of ethanol leaf extract of C. citratus (EECC) on lead-induced toxicity in rats. Five groups of six rats each (control, EECC, lead acetate (PbAc), EECC+PbAc and PbAc recovery) were used in this study. Lead acetate (60 mg/kg) and EECC (500 mg/kg) were administered by gavage respectively. Lead toxicity reduced the antioxidants biomarkers, significantly increased the frequency of micronuclei formation in rat bone marrow cells and the level of DNA fragmentation in the liver tissue. The serum activities of the renal injury biomarkers were increased, the sperm count and motility were decreased while the percentage sperm abnormality was increased. However, administration of EECC significantly restored the antioxidant defense system, reduced the frequency of micronuclei formation and DNA fragmentation, offered protection against hepatorenal toxicities but did not protect against lead-induced damages on testicular tissues. Findings from this study, point out that the protective activity of EECC may be through its free radical scavenging properties.

This research study explored the mutations in the exon 3 and exon 4 of the P53 gene in cervical cancer. Genomic DNA was isolated and purified from cervical tissue biopsies obtained from patients reporting at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The purified genomic DNA was quantified using NanoDropTM 2000 spectrophotometer. The region of interest was amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), this was quantified on a 1.5% agarose gel, and the ethidium bromide stained gel was viewed on a transilluminator. The PCR products were sequenced at Inqaba Biotec, and chromatogram was analyzed using FinchTv and SnapGene Viewer. Nucleotide BLAST was performed on the DNA sequence for sequence identity and retrieval of reference sequence. Multiple Sequence Alignment using T-COFFEE was performed to reveal the polymorphic variations in the samples. The outcome of this study showed nineteen identified polymorphic variants; Missense mutations occurred in 47% of the samples, 32% were silent mutations, 16% were frameshift mutation and 5% nonsense mutation. Sociodemographic characteristics revealed that 60% of the study participants has husbands with multiple sexual partners and that only 23.3% of the participants have ever done pap smear test prior to diagnosis, while 20% of them are unaware of the screening test. The histopathological result, alongside the Multiple Sequence Alignment revealed that with higher severity of cervical carcinoma, the p53 gene tends to accumulate more mutations. Our study also revealed the poor knowledge of Nigerian women to cancer screening, this may be one of the contributory factors to late diagnosis of cervical cancer among the African population. Hence, awareness for uptake of cancer screening and early detection are encouraged.

Abstract Objectives Exposure to arsenic and hexavalent chromium is a major public health concern especially in the developing part of the world and there is paucity of information on reliable treatment modalilities. It is in this regard that this study evaluates the efficacy of methanol leaf extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria (MRV) when used as pretreatment agent against potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) exposure. Methods Swiss albino mice between 7 and 10 weeks old were divided into eight cohorts of five animals each. Treatment groups consisted of a distilled water control, MRV alone (275 mg/kg po daily), K2Cr2O7 (12.0 mg/kg, single ip injection) +/− MRV pretreatment, NaAsO2 (2.5 mg/kg, single ip injection) +/− MRV pretreatment, Na2AsO2 + K2Cr2O7 +/− MRV pretreatment. MRV was given for seven consecutive days, while K2Cr2O7 and NaAsO2 were injected on day seven of the experiment. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (mPCEs) was determined in bone marrow cells, while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were assessed in the plasma. Hepatic glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels were also determined. Results The NaAsO2 and K2Cr2O7 significantly (p<0.05) increased mPCE formation, AST, ALT, and CAT when compared with the control. Simultaneous exposure to NaAsO2 and K2Cr2O7 further increased the levels of the markers. Furthermore, GSH and GST were significantly reduced by NaAsO2 or K2Cr2O7 or their combination. Pretreatment with MRV reversed the markers towards that of control. Conclusions Methanol extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria may therefore ameliorate NaAsO2 and K2Cr2O7-induced toxicities via reduction of oxidative stress and fortification of anti-oxidant system.

Arsenic exposure is an issue of concern in developing countries, consequently leading to arsenicosis which has been implicated in the development of cancers. The stem bark of Adansonia digitata (SBAD) has many traditional medicinal uses. The aim of the present study was to assess the antigenotoxic and hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract of SBAD (MESBAD) against sodium arsenite - induced toxicities in Wistar rats. These were assessed using the micronucleus induction assay and liver function tests with histology respectively. Thirty (30) rats distributed into six groups of five animals each were used for the experiment. Negative control (distilled water and rat pellets only), positive control [2.5 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite (SA)]. Test animals were challenged with SA and treated with 300 or 400 mg/kg body weight of MESBAD. The phytochemical analysis was also carried out according to standard procedures. The SA significantly (p<0.05) increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferace (AST) and the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (nMPCEs) induced in the bone marrow as compared with the negative control. Treatment with MESBAD significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activities of AST and nMPCEs induced, histopatological examination of the liver showed that MESBAD reduced the severe portal and central venous congestion induced by SA, phytochemical analysis showed that MESBAD possess high concentration of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and total polyphenols. Methanol extract of the stem bark of Adansonia digitata mitigates SA-induced toxicities probably through radical scavenging activities.

The present study examined the influence of co-exposure to cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) on hepatorenal function as well as the protective role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3FA) in rats. The animals were exposed to Cd (5 mg/kg) and Ni (150 μg/L in drinking water) singly or co-exposed to both metals and ω-3FA at 20 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Results showed that hepatorenal injury resulting from individual exposure to Cd or Ni was not aggravated in the co-exposure group. Moreover, ω-3FA markedly abrogated the reduction in the antioxidant enzyme activities, the increase in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and lipid peroxidation induced by Cd and Ni co-exposure. Additionally, ω-3FA administration markedly suppressed the increase in hepatic and renal myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1 β levels in the co-exposure group. Genotoxicity resulting from individual exposure to Cd or Ni was intensified in the co-exposure group. However, ω-3FA administration markedly ameliorated the genotoxicity and histological lesions in the co-exposure group. Taken together, co-exposure to Cd and Ni aggravated genotoxicity and not oxido-inflammatory stress in the liver and kidney of rats. ω-3FA abated hepatorenal injury and genotoxicity induced by Cd and Ni co-exposure in rats.

Arsenical compounds cause significant issues in both humans and animals including an increased risk of developing cancer. In the present study, the role of Tridax procumbens leaf extract (TPLE) on the toxicities caused by sodium arsenite in rats was assessed. Thirty‐two male Wistar rats (80–100 g) were equally assigned into four groups (A–D) and treatment was as follows: Group A (control) were administered 1 ml/kg body weight (bwt.) olive oil; B: 2.5 mg/kg bwt sodium arsenite (SA); C: 100 mg/kg bwt TPLE; D: 100 mg/kg bwt TPLE and 2.5 mg/kg bwt SA. TPLE was administered daily for 14 days while SA was given on day 7 and 14. The route of administration was oral. Histological analysis and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (in liver, lung, cerebrum and cerebellum) and myelin basic protein (MBP) (in cerebellum) was performed. Histological examinations showed that sodium arsenite caused disruptive lesions in the liver, lungs and cerebral cortex of rats in group B. However, Tridax procumbens extract ameliorated these effects when co‐administered with arsenite in group D. There was significant elevation (p<0.05) in the expression of iNOS protein in the tissues of rats in group B when compared to other groups as revealed by immunostaining. In addition, the white mater cells of the cerebellum showed significant elevation (p<0.05) in the expression of myelin basic protein in group C as compared to groups A, B and D when quantified. In conclusion, the ethanol leaf extract of Tridax procumbens shows beneficial effects against sodium arsenite induced toxicities in Wistar rats.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

This study evaluates the effects of remediation of gas flared soil by biochar on the nutritional composition of cultivated Telfairia occidentalis leaves, relative to non-gas flared soil. Gas flared soils are degraded due to the presence of heavy metals, noxious gases, carbon soot and acidic rain. Biochar produced from oil palm fibre was applied at five different amounts: 0 t ha−1, 7.1 t ha−1, 13.9 t ha−1, 20.9 t ha−1 and 28.0 t ha−1 to containerized soils (both gas flared and control soil), inside a greenhouse, which were allowed to mineralize for two weeks. Two viable seeds of T. occidentalis per replicate were sown. After eight weeks of growth, leaves were harvested, dried and chemically analyzed. Application of biochar significantly increased leaf ash and crude fibre content of Telfairia occidentalis. Plants from soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 of biochar had the highest concentrations of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E irrespective of soil type. Maximum increase in leaf vitamin and mineral content was obtained from leaves cultivated on gas flared soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 and 7.1 t ha−1 of biochar respectively. The results show that biochar treatment can increase leaf mineral concentrations and that this effect is dependent on the amount of biochar application.