Sub-acute Effect of Glyphosate on Antioxidant Status and Lipids of Rat Brain

Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide is one of the most commonly used herbicides. Indiscriminate use of this herbicide might have impact on non-target species including humans. The objective of this study was to determine the sub-acute effect of Roundup on malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipids of rat brain. Thirty two adult male rats (Wistar strain) divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each, were used for this study. Group one served as the control and was given distilled water. The test groups T3, T4 and T6 were given graded doses: 300, 400 and 600 mg Roundup Kg-1body wt respectively, orally for 8 days. At the end of the treatment period the brain was excised. Alterations in the integrity of brain cell membrane was determined by the estimation of the MDA level, total cholesterol (CHOL), total phospholipid (TPL), phosphatidylcholine (PC) phosphtidylethanolamine (PE), PC/PE and TPL/CHOL molar ratios. Results showed that there were significant (p<0.05) reductions in MDA and cholesterol levels of all the Roundup-exposed rats relative to the control. However the MDA levels were elevated in the liver and kidney. The TPL/CHOL molar ratios were normal in the T4 and T6-treatment groups while the PC/PE molar ratios were significantly (p<0.05) increased relative to the control. The pattern observed for the T3-treatment group was opposite that observed for the T4 and T6-treatment groups. This study suggests that the rearrangement in the lipid composition of the test groups might be an adaptive mechanism for the maintenance of constant bilayer fluidity and consequently brain cell homeostasis.Key Words: Roundup, membrane fluidity; lipids, brain, ra

Prevention of Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Steatosis and Cellular Damage by Aqueous Extract of Dacryodes edulis Seeds in Wistar Rats

The protective effect of the aqueous extract of Dacryodes edulis seeds on the liver of rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride was investigated. Thirty female albino rats of Wistar strain were randomly allocated to six groups consisting of five rats each. Group A served as control. Groups B-D were given increasing oral doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively) of Dacryodes edulis extract daily for two weeks prior to the administration of a single dose of CCl4 (3 ml/kg body weight) on the fourteenth day. Group E was given only Dacryodes edulis extract (1000 mg/kg body weight) daily for two weeks, while group F received only a single dose of CCl4 on day 14. The extract was found to possess hepatoprotective properties as seen in the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the activities of the enzymes alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in the plasma of the animals treated with the plant extract when compared to the group administered CCl4 only. The extract also inhibited cholesterol and triacylglycerol accumulation in the liver. The hepatoprotective properties of Dacryodes edulis observed in this study may be related to its high content of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and alkaloids previously reported. The study represents a novel attempt at exploring the medicinal potential of the seeds of D. edulis which are typically discarded after eating the fleshy pulp.Key words: Dacryodes edulis, CCl4, Triacylglycerols, Hepatotoxicity, Steatosis

Assessment of Surface Water Quality Using Heavy Metal Pollution Index in Subarnarekha River, India

Surface water samples were collected from 21 sampling sites throughout the Subarnarekha River during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, V and Zn were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for seasonal fluctuation, source apportionment and heavy metal pollution indexing. The results demonstrated that concentrations of the metals showed significant seasonality and most variables exhibited higher levels in the pre-monsoon season. Principal component analysis outcome of four factors together explained 73.13 % of the variance with >>1 initial Eigenvalue indicating both innate and anthropogenic activities as contributing factors of metal profusion in the river. To assess the composite influence of all the considered metals on the overall quality of the water, heavy metal pollution indices were calculated. The HPI for surface water of the river considering all the seasons and locations was 32.27. The HPI of the river calculated for the individual locations showed great variations ranging from 3.55 to 388.9. All the locations fall under low to medium classes of HPI except few locations which are under the influence of industries, mining or near the estuary. The enhanced concentrations of certain metals in the Subarnarekha River near industrial and mining establishments may be attributed to anthropogenic contribution from the industrial and mining activities of the area