Ayobola A Iyanda

Kerosene is used extensively in the developing world as fuel and indiscriminate exposure is common. The aim of this study is to determine how early in the course of exposure to small quantities of kerosene antioxidant micronutrient alterations occur. Thirty female rats were divided into five groups. Rats in groups 1 & 2 were treated with 0.3 ml/kg body weight of kerosene via oral or dermal route respectively; groups 3 and 4 received the same treatment. Group five served as the control. While groups 1 & 2 study was terminated after 1 week, exposure was for 3 weeks for groups 3 and 4. Irrespective of the route of administration, after 1 and 3 weeks kerosene exposure only zinc, copper, selenium and manganese were significantly decreased compared with control.  In addition, of all the vitamins only niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin D were significantly decreased at the end of 1 week; although all vitamins were significantly decreased by the end of the third week. The toxic effects of kerosene were demonstrated through the results of this study, with antioxidant vitamins and minerals being depleted by the first week and the depletion persisting till the third week.    

Micronutrients, known for their important physiologic roles in maintenance of health, have been identified to be significantly affected in rats exposed to phosphide residue contaminated cowpea.  Processing of such cowpea was carried out prior to their exposure to rats, so as to identify if cooking will modify the micronutrient depletion-characteristic property of such residue. Eighteen female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each.  While the first group served as the control, the second and third groups were supplied cooked phosphide-residue contaminated and uncontaminated cowpea respectively. Blood obtained through retro-orbital bleeding was used for the estimation of Mg, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo, and Cr as well as vitamins (folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E, niacin, riboflavin). Results revealed non-significant differences (p>0.05) in the levels of all vitamins and minerals for the uncontaminated and contaminated groups except Zn, Cu and vitamin D that were significantly reduced (p

Hepatic and renal tissues are vital to the survival of a mammalian species. Being organs responsible for the metabolic processing and excretion of xenobiotics, they are mostly affected by the devastating effects of a foreign agent. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible harmful effects of bonadabe paracetamol syrup on the hepatic and renal functions of female Wistar rats. Rats (200 g) used for the study were divided into 3 groups of 7 rats each. Groups 1, 2, 3 were administered with fake bonadabe paracetamol syrup, genuine drug and distilled water respectively.  Serum activities of ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP and levels of total protein, albumin, bilirubin, globulin, urea, creatinine and uric acid; markers of hepatic and renal functions were determined in serum samples. In addition, activities/levels of markers of oxidative stress were determined; namely glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and MDA, as well as reduced and oxidized glutathione. Histologic examinations of hepatic and renal tissues were carried out using hematoxylin-eosin staining technique. Results of the study showed gross hepato-renal damage; biochemistry results were significantly different at p ≤ 0.05, when data were subjected to analysis of variance. Moreover, markers of oxidative stress were significantly different. Histology results also confirmed tissue damage.  The concurrent increase in markers of hepatic and renal damage and decrease in the levels of antioxidant suggest that hepato-renal damage featured by the fake drug administered rats may be oxidative-stress mediated.