Protective role of Telfairia occidentalis in irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rat brain

This study aimed at evaluating the protective role of Telfairia occidentalis extract (TOE) irradiationinduced oxidative stress in rat brain. Aqueous TOE was administered orally to adult rats for 30 days at doses of 400 mg/kg body weight, 800 mg/kg body weight and 1600 mg/kg body weight, and a corresponding group of rats were treated with 50 mg/kg body weight vitamin E (VE), a standard antioxidant before irradiation at a dose of 2 Gy of gamma rays. The control rats received distilled water only. The rats were observed and sacrificed at 24 hours, 15 and 30 days post-irradiation. The results demonstrated a significant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with a concomitant decrease in the activities of  superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),  glutathione-S-transferase (GST), a phase two xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme, and a corresponding decrease in the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) after twenty-four hours, 15 and 30 days post-irradiation compared with the control. Treatments with TOE and VE significantly reversed  oxidative stress of irradiated rats when compared with the control rats. In conclusion, supplementation with TOE could reduce radiationinduced biochemical disorders in brain tissues.Keywords: Gamma radiation, oxidative stress, brain, rats and Telfairia occidentalis

Evaluation of groundwater quality in a rural community in North Central of Nigeria

Evaluation of water quality of nine boreholes and three open hand-dug wells in a rural community in North Central Nigeria revealed relative abundance of cations Na > k > Ca >Mg> Zn > Pb and anions Cl− > PO4 2 − > SO4 2 − > NO3− in the boreholes and cations Ca>Na>K>Mg>Pb and anions NO3− > PO4 2 − > SO4 2 − > Cl− in the wells. The major contaminants exceeding SON and WHO permissible limits were NO3−, Mg, TH, pH and Mg, Pb, TH, pH and DO in the wells and boreholes, respectively. They are attributable to anthropogenic sources such as domestic waste water and poor waste disposal and natural sources such as mineral dissolution from clayey aquifer which made the acidic groundwater unsuitable for consumption unless they are appropriately treated. Correlation studies revealed existence of three major mineral groups in the aquifer Ca-Fe group, Na-Mg group, Zn-K group, as well as a minor group Pb-group, and they determine the chemical composition of the groundwater and the ionic exchange between the groundwater and mineral-bearing clayey aquifer. In order to curb microbial contamination by Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli, it is recommended that proper latrines and drainages be provided while domesticated animals should be restricted from boreholes and well. Further, treatment with water guard and pur purifier is recommended