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

Biochemical estimation of erythrocyte and plasma electrolytes, urea and creatinine as an index of kidney function of sickle cell disease patients in Edo State, Nigeria

Erythrocyte sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) as well as plasma Na+, K+, chloride (C-) bicarbonate (HCO3-), urea and creatinine concentrations were determined in forty patients of age range (15 – 25years) with sickle cell disease (SCD, HbSS), all of whom were asymptomatic and thirteen apparently healthy subjects of same age range, who have no evidence of any haemoglobinopathy. Analysis of the results showed a decreased erythrocyte K+ (78.13±5.31mmol/L) and increased erythrocyte Na+ (14.58± 6.73mmol/L) levels in SCD patients compared to the control (HbAA: 79.35±8.25; 11.59±4.04mmol/L respectively). These differences were however not significant (p≥0.05) but significant when compared to HbAS (p≤0.05). Plasma K+ (4.31±0.27mmol/L) increased, while Na+ (137.40±3.00mmol/L) and HCO3- (16.95±2.57mmol/L) concentrations decreased in SCD patients when compared to control (3.80±0.30; 139.94±2.44; 21.88±1.54mmol/L) respectively. These differences were significant (p≤0.05). However, there was no significant change in the plasma levels of Cl- in all the groups (p≥0.05). Plasma, Urea and Creatinine concentrations were also elevated in SCD patients (20.78±2.90; 1.45±0.47mg/dl respectively) than the control subjects (18.47±2.87; 0.92±0.30mg/dl respectively, p≤0.05). KEY WORDS: SCD, Kidney function, Edo State, Nigeria. Global Jnl of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(4) 2004: 571-57

Evaluation of Metal Contamination in the Groundwater of the Aosta Valley Region, Italy

One hundred and sixty-two groundwater samples were collected from eighteen locations of the Aosta Valley region during the years 2007–2015 to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. A heavy pollution index (HPI) model was used to evaluate the metal contamination status in the groundwater of the study area. Spatial distribution maps of the HPI values were prepared using a geographic information system (GIS) technique so that the groundwater quality status of the area could easily be recognized. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn did not exceed the drinking water permissible limits for years considered. However, the concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Se were above the drinking water permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO 2006). The HPI values were above the critical pollution index of 100 during the years 2011 and 2012. The groundwater in this study area was contaminated with some metals and urgently requires treatment to control current and future contamination problems