Toxicological Impacts of Gas flaring and Other Petroleum Production Activities in Niger-Delta Environment

In this study, the concentrations of inducers of environmental toxicity such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and biomarkers of environmental toxicants such as oxidative stress enzymes/compounds and liver function enzymes were determined. These parameters were used to assess the pollution status of some Niger-Delta areas; Ebocha/Omoku, Abacheke/Egbema, and Okwuzi/Ohaji, with the aid of two indicator species: cat fish (Ictalurus punctatus) and snakehead fish (Channa argus) from three different water sources; Ebocha/Omoku river, Abacheke river and Okwuzi creek all of which are within the area of oil exploration and production activities in Nigeria. The control fish and water samples were collected from Otamiri River within the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, with no known oil exploration and production activity. The results obtained indicated significant (p < 0.05) differences between the exploited and the unexploited environment and the need to incorporate biochemical markers in environmental impact assessment of aquatic environments to complements the classical chemical monitoring.Â

Lead-induced Oxidative Stress and Chemoprotective Role of Dietary Supplements on Wistar Albino Rats

The heavy metal lead (Pb) is a common environmental pollutant with widespread distribution, and oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of its toxicity. The ameliorative effect of nutritional contents of palm oil and cod liver oil (dietary supplements) following exposure to sublethal concentration of Pb on adult Wistar albino rats was studied. Toxicity was induced by administering intraperitoneally, 30 mg/kg body weight of lead acetate at alternate days for 21 days. Groups treated with supplements received daily oral dose of 2.5 ml palm oil or cod liver oil or 1.25 ml palm oil and 1.25 ml cod liver oil (synergy). Increased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and increased concentrations of total bilirubin and lipid peroxidation product were observed in Pb exposed rats without nutritional supplement treatment. However, these negative oxidative states were ameliorated in rats by the concomitant administration of nutritional supplements, singly and in combination. Furthermore, non-significant changes were observed in the haematological parameters determined. These observations indicate potential therapeutic benefits in the use of palm oil and cod liver oil in the management of lead-induced toxicity

Sublethal Effects of Ternary Mixtures of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Selected Liver Biomarkers of Clarias gariepinus

The effect of ternary mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Clarias gariepinus was investigated. Apparently healthy juvenile fish (n = 90) weighing 19.7±1.8 g were exposed to sublethal concentrations of naphthalene, phenathrene and benzo[a]pyrene over a period of 35 days after which liver biomarker analyses were carried out on blood plasma fraction. The observed total plasma protein was 35.1 g/L while the albumin and total bilirubin concentrations were 15.9 g/L and 4.6 μmol/L respectively. The plasma concentrations of the liver enzymes were 25.27 IU/L, 9.37 IU/L, and 28.01 IU/L for alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) respectively. While there were significant declines in plasma total protein and albumin, significant elevation was observed in plasma total bilirubin. Significant increases were also observed in the activities of the liver enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Exposed liver and gill sections showed histopathological alteration. There was steatosis accompanied with moderate dense infiltrates in the liver while the gills showed channel dilatations with hyperplasia. Findings from this study suggest that PAH mixtures cause changes in the activities of liver metabolic enzymes as well as alter the normal architecture of liver and gills in exposed aquatic organisms

Уменьшение нефротоксичности и дисфункции, индуцированных паракватом, у самцов крыс-альбиносов линии Wistar

Проблематика. Паракват (PQ) – це пестицид, який широко застосовується у світовій сільськогосподарській практиці для боротьби з бур’янами. Він має несприятливі біохімічні та фізіологічні наслідки для людини і тварин. Механізм токсичної дії пов’язаний з утворенням активних форм кисню та подальшим перекисним окисненням ліпідів. На сьогодні не встановлено жодного ефективного антидоту проти токсичності параквату. Тому необхідність постійного вивчення різних підходів до лікування набуває першорядного значення. Мета. У цьому дослідженні через визначення деяких біомаркерів функції нирок і параметрів окиснення оцінювалась здатність вибраних біологічно-активних добавок зменшувати індуковані паракватом дисфункцію та ураження нирок. Методика реалізації. Тридцять шість щурів-альбіносів лінії Wistar було випадковим чином розділено на шість груп. Кожну групу (за винятком контрольної) через день піддавали інтоксикації паракватом із розрахунку 1,5 мг PQ/кг маси тіла, а чотирьом групам (крім PQ і контрольної) протягом двох тижнів щодня вводили екстракт часнику, глутатіон і вітамін С у кількості 40 мг/кг маси тіла. Результати. Результати дослідження показали достовірне (р < 0,05) підвищення концентрації малонового діальдегіду в нирках, сечовини, креатиніну та ліпідного профілю крові. Також було відзначено достовірне зниження концентрації холестерину ліпопротеїдів високої щільності, глутатіону нирок і загального антиоксидантного потенціалу в контрольній групі PQ порівняно з іншими PQ-інтоксикованими групами, яким вводили антиоксидантні композиції. Висновки. Зміни, викликані паракватом, вказували на дисфункцію та ураження нирок. Однак застосування антиоксидантних добавок зменшувало індуковану паракватом біохімічну та фізіологічну дисфункцію в щурів.Background. Paraquat (PQ) is a pesticide commonly used in the control of weed in agricultural practices worldwide. Exposure to PQ has adverse biochemical and physiological consequences to humans and animals. The mechanism of toxicity is linked to the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Presently, no single effective antidote to PQ toxicity has been established. Therefore, the need to continually investigate different treatment approaches is of paramount importance. Objective. This study evaluated the capacity of selected dietary supplements to attenuate paraquat-induced kidney dysfunction and damages by determining some kidney function biomarkers and oxidative parameters. Methods. Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into six groups. Each group (except Normal control) was intoxicated every other day with 1.5 mg/kg body weight of PQ and four groups (except PQ and Normal control groups) were treated daily with 40 mg/kg of garlic, glutathione and vitamin C for two weeks. Results. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in concentration of kidney malondialdehyde, urea, creatinine, and blood lipid profiles. Also, significant decrease in concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, kidney glutathione and total antioxidant capacity were presented by PQ control group compared to other PQ exposed groups treated with the antioxidant compounds. Conclusions. PQ-induced changes indicated kidney dysfunction and damage. However, the administration of antioxidant supplements attenuated the PQ-induced biochemical and physiological dysfunction in the rats.Проблематика. Паракват (PQ) – это пестицид, который широко применяется в мировой сельскохозяйственной практике для борьбы с сорняками. Он имеет неблагоприятные биохимические и физиологические последствия для человека и животных. Механизм токсического действия связан с образованием активных форм кислорода и последующим перекисным окислением липидов. На сегодняшний день не установлено ни одного эффективного антидота против токсичности параквата. Поэтому необходимость постоянного изучения различных подходов к лечению приобретает первостепенное значение. Цель. В этом исследовании через определение некоторых биомаркеров функции почек и параметров окисления оценивалась способность выбранных биологически-активных добавок уменьшать индуцированные паракватом дисфункцию и поражение почек. Методика реализации. Тридцать шесть крыс-альбиносов линии Wistar были случайным образом разделены на шесть групп. Каждую группу (за исключением контрольной) через день подвергали интоксикации паракватом из расчета 1,5 мг PQ/кг массы тела, а четырем группам (кроме PQ и контрольной) в течение двух недель ежедневно вводили экстракт чеснока, глутатион и витамин С в количестве 40 мг/кг массы тела. Результаты. Результаты исследования показали достоверное (р < 0,05) повышение концентрации малонового диальдегида в почках, мочевины, креатинина и липидного профиля крови. Также было отмечено достоверное снижение концентрации холестерина липопротеидов высокой плотности, глутатиона почек и общего антиоксидантного потенциала в контрольной группе PQ по сравнению с другими PQ-интоксицированными группами, которым вводили антиоксидантные композиции. Выводы. Изменения, вызванные паракватом, указывали на дисфункцию и поражение почек. Однако применение антиоксидантных добавок уменьшало индуцированную паракватом биохимическую и физиологическую дисфункцию у крыс

Computational studies of potential antiviral compounds from some selected Nigerian medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2 proteins

The challenges posed by COVID-19's emergence have led to a search for its therapies. There is no cure for COVID-19 infection yet, but there is significant progress in vaccine formulation for prophylaxis and drug development (such as Paxlovid) for high-risk patients. As a contribution to the ongoing quest for solutions, this study shows potent phytocompounds identification as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 targets using in silico methods. We used virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the interaction of some phytochemicals with 3CLpro, ACE2, and PLpro proteins crucial to the SARS-CoV-2 viral cycle. The predicted docking scores range from −5.5 to −9.4 kcal/mol, denoting appreciable binding of these compounds to the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and presenting a multitarget inhibition for COVID-19. Some phytocompounds interact favorably at non-active sites of the enzymes. For instance, MD simulation shows that an identified site on PLpro is stable and likely an allosteric region for inhibitor binding and modulation. These phytocompounds could be developed into effective therapy against COVID-19 and probed as potential multitarget-directed ligands and drug candidates against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study unveils drug repurposing, selectivity, allosteric site targeting, and multitarget-directed ligand in one piece. These concepts are three distinct approaches in the drug design and discovery pipeline