ABSTRACT
Aims: To remove hydrocarbons from crude oil polluted agricultural soil using two selected plant species.Study Design:Mature seeds of Schwenkia americanaL. and Spermacoce ocymoidesBurm. f. were propagated onto a sterile unpolluted agricultural soil. Seedlings were transplanted into an 8 kg potted homogenised polluted soil for remediation. Place and Duration of Study:Polluted agricultural soil collected from Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria, Ecological Centre of the University of Port Harcourt Nigeria, between May 2017 and February 2018.Methodology:Standard methods were employed for laboratory analyses. Reagents used were of analytical grades with high purity. Results:Twelves weeks after planting (WAP), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) decreased from 17962.11±1000.00 mg/kg to 117.64±30.27 and 117.45±14.76 mg/kg in S. americanaand for S. ocymoidesremediated groups respectively, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) decreased from 440.97±1.00 mg/kg to 120.99±50.05, and 181.97±158.69 mg/kg for S. americanaand for S. ocymoidesremediated groups respectively. While oil content decreased to 1.02±0.09 and 1.15±0.21 ppm for S. americanaand S. ocymoidesremediated groups respectively from an initial 3.19±0.10 ppm recorded at the onset of remediation, organic carbon decreased from 2.78±0.01% to 2.16±0.06 and 2.07±0.18% for S. americanaand S. ocymoidesremediated groups respectively. With regards to TPH, the percentage recovery moved towards normal values (510.27 and 509.02%), however, with regards PAH, the values nosedived indicating a failure in restoration. By 4, 8 and 12 WAP, the treatment restored the values towards normal values (1.08, 7.30, 10.58,10.81 and 14.05%), however, the treatment using S. ocymoides, by 12 WAP, plunged, indicating failure to restore the polluted soil, especially with regards to the oil content, while by 8 and 12 WAP, the treatments restored the polluted soil towards normal values (3.33, 11.11 and 13.33), with regards to the organic carbon.Conclusion:The quality of the crude oil polluted agricultural soil was enhanced through phytoremediation with these plant species. This contention is supported by the diminution of hydrocarbons, organic carbon and the oil content of the remediated groups after the 12 weeks remediation
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of M. fulvumon streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia in Wistar rats. The oxidative damage in the blood, liver, pancreas and kidney cells, hepatic enzyme activities and lipid profile of the Wistar rats were also ascertained. Rats were exposed to STZ alone at 160 mg/kg body weight for one week to induced hyperglycemia before treatment with M. fulvumat 83 and 113 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days. Results showed significant elevation in the levels of blood glucose level, amylase activity, serum lipid profile and serum renal markers (total protein, urea and creatinine) in the hyperglycemic rats. Moreover, streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats showed significantly (p < 0.05) reduced antioxidant status (reduced levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as well as decreased in reduced glutathione and increased level of malondialdehide). M. fulvumwas able to demonstrate marked hypoglycemic effect and ameliorate the above mentioned biochemical markers. Streptozotocin-induced rats had significant histopathological damages found in the pancreas when compared with the control. The present study shows that M. fulvum possesses significant hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats due to its ability to effectively reduceor ameliorate the increase in blood glucose levels, lipid profile and oxidative damages
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of an aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana (A. wilkesiana) on plasma chemistry and hematological indices of sub-chronic salt-loaded rats.@*METHOD@#The control group received a diet consisting 100% of the commercial feed, while the four test groups were received a diet consisting 8% salt and 92% commercial feed all through, except for the reference treatment group that had its salt-loading discontinued after six weeks. The extract was orally administered daily at 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight; while the test control, reference and control groups received appropriate volumes of water by the same route.@*RESULTS@#The extract had no negative effects on markers of liver and kidney functions, produced hemoconcentration, significantly higher (P<0.05) plasma calcium and potassium levels, and significantly lower (P<0.05) plasma sodium and chloride levels in the test animals compared to test control.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This result supports the traditional use of A. wilkesiana in the management of hypertension and suggests that the extract may be a potassium sparing diuretic whose mechanism of antihypertensive action may be via alteration of plasma sodium and potassium balances or calcium mediated alteration in vascular muscle tone.