Toxic effects of endosulfan on haematological and biochemical indices of Clarias gariepinus

The effects of endosulfan pesticide were investigated on juvenile of Clarias gariepinus. Acute test was carried out using 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07 and 0.08 ppm of endosulfan pesticide with the 96 h LC50 value determined by probit analysis. Chronic bioassays were evaluated on haematological and biochemical indices of the fish for a period of 60 days using four sub lethal concentrations (0.0005, 0.0010, 0.0025 and 0.0050 ppm). Blood sample was collected on days 15, 30, 45 and 60 for haematological and at day 60 only for biochemical analysis. The 96 h LC50 value of endosulfan for C. gareipinus was 0.052 ppm. There was significant reduction (P<0.05) in red blood cell (RBC) at days 15, 30 and 45, haemoglobin (Hb) at days 15 and 45, and packed cell volume (PCV) at all days of the evaluation. White blood cell (WBC) values however showed significant increase (P<0.05) at days 45 and 60. There were variations in mean values of mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) with significant increase observed only at day 15 of MCHC. Significant reduction in values was obtained for total protein and globulin while significant increase was observed in cholesterol. Results obtained in this study suggest that exposure to low concentrations of endosulfan induced stress and altered the haematological and biochemical indices of treated fish.Key words: Chronic, acute, biochemical, haematological, endosulfan, cholesterol and glucose, Clarias

Polluted Alamuyo River: Impacts on surrounding wells, microbial attributes and toxic effects on Allium cepa root cells

The physicochemical analysis and microbial load of polluted Alamuyo River in Ibadan, Nigeria and selected wells along its course were evaluated. Toxic effects of water samples obtained from upstream(A) and down stream (F) of the river were also evaluated using Allium cepa root assay. The result of the analysis revealed that the water sample contained toxic substances. However, almost all parametersevaluated were within the allowable limit of treated wastewater. High microbial load was observed in river water samples compared to the well water samples throughout the sampling periods with overall highest value observed at Late Rainy Season upstream water sample (LRS-A). MPN of faecal coliform showed that LDS-A, ERS-F and LRS from A – F were significantly different. Echerichia coli, Bacillus substillis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fragii were among the microbes observed in the samples. T-test analysis on A. cepa root length showed that only 50% of LDS-A, LDS-F and LRS-A were significantly different from control (P < 0.05) though there were reduction in root length in allconcentrations tested through out the sampling period except 5% ERSA, 10% ERSF and 10% LRSF. Microscopic evaluation of A. cepa cells showed decreasing number of dividing cells and mitotic indiceswere not dose dependent in most cases. Chromosome fragments, bridge, lag and disturbed spindle were the aberrations observed in this study. Our result showed that water samples from the rivercontained toxic substances and high microbial load, which have effects on the surrounding wells due to infiltration

Evaluation Of Cytogenotoxic And Nutrient Composition Of Three Commonly Consumed Vegetables In South- Western Nigeria

Consumption of leafy vegetables provides health benefits but sometimes may turn out to be the cause of certain health problems. Thus, adequate toxicological screening is needed to ensure safety of their consumption. Aqueous extracts of Corchorus olitorius L., Celosia argentea L., and Ocimum gratissimum L. were evaluated for cyto-genotoxic effects on Allium cepa L. root cells using 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 25.0 and 50.0 part per thousand (ppt), each of the vegetable extracts. The levels of macronutrients (moisture, ash, protein, fibre, fat and carbohydrate) in the vegetables and some minerals (cadmium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, nickel and zinc) of their aqueous extracts were determined. The carbohydrate values were in the order O. gratissimum > C. olitorius > C. argentea with 48.17% as the highest. The values obtained for ash, protein, fat, Mg and Zn contents were in the order C. argentea > C. olitorius > O. gratissimum , with the highest values of 19.98%, 30.79%,, 0.22% , 226.4 mg/L and 2.57mg/L, respectively obtained for C. argentea. The concentration of Cu and Pb were in the order of O.gratissium > C. argentea> C. olitorius with 0.67 and 0.21mg/L obtained for O.gratissium (P<0.05). The aqueous extracts of the three vegetables inhibited root growth and cell division in the A. cepa root tips, with the highest inhibitory effects observed in C. argentea at 50.0 ppt. Induced chromosomal aberrations were significant only at 1.0 and 25 ppt of O. gratissimum, whereas there were no significant differences in aberrant cells in C. olitorius and C. argentea compared to the control. Chromosomal aberrations observed in the treated A. cepa roots include c-mitosis, Chromosome bridge and sticky chromosome. The results showed that the three vegetables have nutritive qualities but with root growth and mitotic inhibitory activities, which were severe in C. argentea. Although the result indicates that chromosomal aberrations might be induced at higher concentrations, the antimitotic potential of the extract of C. argentea may favour its uses in the development of drugs to prevent the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells of which investigation is required