Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences

Level of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Water and Sediments of Ikoli Creek Bayelsa State Nigeria Abstract Objective This study investigated the level Petroleum hydrocarbon in Ikoli creek, Bayelsa state Nigeria with focus on water and sediments. Methods Water and sediments were assessed using standard analytical procedures. Water from surface levels and sediment samples were collected from five locations in the creek. Soxhlet extraction method and liquid-liquid techniques were used in extraction of the petroleum hydrocarbons (Total Hydrocarbon Content and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) from the water and sediment samples collected respectively followed by column clean up. Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) was use to analyzed the Target compounds and quantified by integrating the areas of both the resolved and unresolved components. Results Results of analysis of THC and TPH in water ranges between 0.010 to 0.254 mg/L and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) values ranges between 0.001 to 0.437 mg/L in water respectively. While in sediments the Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) values ranges between 0.01 to 1.43 mg/kg and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) ranges between 0.001 to 0.44 mg/kg. The THC and TPH value of sediments increases across each sampling station in the study area and these hydrocarbons are repository in nature. Conclusions The results showed that some sampling station in Ikoli creek were slightly polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons and does not conform to acceptable international guideline, which can cause adverse effects to humans and aquatic life over time.

Ameliorating Effects of Quercetin in a Diabetic Rat Model with Social Anxiety Disorder Abstract Objective The present study aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on diabetes-induced behavioural, metabolic and histopathological alterations in a rat model that mimics the development of social anxiety disorder in diabetic humans. Methods Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg bw). Three weeks later, the initial animal groups (control and diabetic) were assigned to three paralleled experiments during which quercetin was orally administered at a relatively high dose (100 mg/kg bw). The behavioural assessment included the forced swim test, the elevated plus-maze, the open field and the social interaction tests. The plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine levels were evaluated, whereas the histopathology of the prefrontal cerebral cortex, liver and kidneys were checked out. Results Diabetes was associated with anxiety-like, depressive-like and defective social behaviours. The metabolic parameters were significantly elevated along with a histological damage to hepatic, renal and pre-frontal cerebral tissues. Quercetin treatment in diabetic rats alleviated the behavioural disorders while improving the social interactions. A significant decrease in all metabolic parameters was found following quercetin intake, which were accompanied by a better histo-pathological profile of the studied tissues. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the pathophysiology of diabetes is tightly linked to anxiety-like, depression-like, and deteriorated social behaviours, which may originate from a severe damage to the prefrontal cerebral cortex integrity. Interestingly, a high-dose short treatment with quercetin may mitigate the diabetes-related neurobehavioural, metabolic and histological disturbances, and prevent the defective sociability in long-term diabetic subjects.

Increased Blood Lead Level Alters the Heme Biosynthesis and Haematological Parameters of Spray Painters from Western Maharashtra, India Abstract Objective To assess the present status of blood lead levels and their effect on heme biosynthesis and hematological parameters of spray painters. Methods Forty two spray painters having the age range of 25–50 years were recruited for the study from Western Maharashtra, India and compared with age matched 50 healthy male subjects. Blood lead (PbB), erythrocytes d-ALDH, Urinary d-ALA, PBG and hematological parameters were measured. Results PbB levels (p<0.001, 458%) of spray painters were significantly increased and Non-activated δ-ALAD (p<0.001, -20.21%), activated δ-ALAD (p<0.001, -28.25%) were significantly decreased and ratio of activated to non-activated δ-ALAD (p<0.001, 16%) was significantly increased in spray painters as compared to control subjects. Urinary δ-ALA (p<0.001, 160%) and PBG (p<0.001, 62.75%) levels were significantly increased in spray painters as compared to the control group. Hematological parameters of spray painters i.e. Hb (p<0.001, -21.58%) PCV (p<0.05, -4.53%) MCV (p<0.01, -5.09%) MCH (p<0.01, -6.04), MCHC (p<0.01, - 2.31) and RBC (p<0.001, - 8.06 %) were significantly decreased while total WBC count (p<0.001, 34.63%) was significantly increased as compared to the controls. Conclusion Increased PbB level in spray painters may be due to more absorption of lead thereby inhibiting heme biosynthesis enzymes and resulting in more excretion of urinary δ-ALA, PBG and alteration of hematological parameters. Therefore it is essential to monitor these spray painters and also it is necessary to create awareness for using adequate protective measures. Also necessary training and regular screening is required to minimize adverse impact of lead exposure to them.

Effect of Food Colorants and Additives on the Hematological and Histological Characteristics of Albino Rats Abstract Objective Food colorants (synthetic, inorganic and natural) represent one of the major categories of food additives. Synthetic colorants were banned due to their adverse effects on animals and human. However, synthetic dyes are still in use because they are cheap, and stable. Methods In the present in vivo study conducted on female albino rats (Rattus norvegicus), the effect of sunset yellow (SY) and sodium benzoate (NaB) combinations on the hematological and histological profile was assessed. Different combinations of SY plus NaB were dissolved in water and administered daily to experimental rat groups for 12 weeks. Group 1 (control) received only water, group 2 received 5 mg SY plus 10 mg NaB, group 3 received 5 mg SY plus 100 mg NaB, group 4 received 50 mg SY plus 100 mg NaB, group 5 received 50 mg SY plus 10 mg NaB, group 6 received 200 mg SY plus 750 mg NaB, and group 7 received 20 mg SY plus 75 mg NaB. Histopathological examinations were performed on liver and kidney of rats at the end of the experiment. Results The results revealed a decrease in RBCs count, hematocrit, WBCs, MCV and Hb levels upon the administration of SY plus NaB. The results also showed no increase in MCH, MCHC and platelet count. Liver and kidney tissues showed some lesions due to the administration of the tested compounds in comparison to the control animals. Conclusion The chemical stress caused by the SY and NaB combinations caused some degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys of rats. It could be concluded that SY and NaB combinations causes some damage in liver and kidney tissues of experimental animals. Therefore, using SY and NaB combinations should be limited.

Effects of Repeated Pulmonary Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes on Lung function Abstract Objective The development of nanotechnology has increased the risk of exposure to types of particles other than combustion-derived ones in the environment, namely, industrial nanomaterials. However, their health impacts have not been fully elucidated yet. This study examined the effects of pulmonary exposure to two types of carbon nanotube (single-walled carbon nanotubes: SWCNT, and multi-walled carbon nanotube: MWCNT) on lung physiology in mice. Methods ICR mice were divided into three experimental groups to repeatedly administer vehicle, SWCNT (50 μg/animal), or MWCNT through intratracheal route; thereafter lung function was examined. Results The values of total respiratory system resistance (R: P<0.05), elastance (E), Newtonian resistance (Rn), tissue damping (G: P<0.05), and tissue elastance (H) were higher and the value of compliance (C) was lower in the SWCNT group than in the vehicle group. On the other hand, MWCNT tended to augment the values. Conclusions Taken together, CNT themselves inhaled, can impair airway function.

Ameliorative Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Nicotine Induced Testicular Dysfunction; Biochemical and Histological Study Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate potential impact of zinc oxide nanoparticle on the possible testicular toxicity induced by nicotine. Methods 24 adult male albino rats were divided into four groups; negative control group, zinc oxide nanoparticle group: rats were received 5 mg/kg/day zinc oxide nanoparticles orally, nicotine treated group: rats were administered nicotine (1 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally and nicotine with zinc oxide nanoparticles: rats were treated with nicotine and zinc oxide nanoparticles daily for 28 days. Serum testosterone level, testicular malondialdehyde, SOD and catalase activities were measured. Testes were examined by light and electron microscopes as well. Results Significant decreases of serum testosterone level, testicular SOD and catalase activity and significant increase of testicular MDA in nicotine treated group when compared with control group were detected. Zinc oxide nanoparticles administration reversed these changes. Conclusion Zinc oxide nanoparticles ameliorated nicotine induced testicular dysfunction.

Enhancement of Alcohol Metabolism by Ginseng Berry Extract and its Mixed Herbal Beverages: In vitro and in vivo Experiments Abstract Objective To investigate the enhancement of alcohol metabolism by two ginseng berry (GB) extracts and their two types of mixed herbal beverages through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods Two GB extract solutions and their two herbal beverages were evaluated as enhancers of alcohol metabolism in normal human embryonic liver cells (CL-48 cell line) through assays of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Cytotoxicity was also assessed in the same cell line using an MTT assay. Effects on alcohol metabolism were also observed in vivo through measurement of serum alcohol, acetaldehyde, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in alcohol treated rats. Blood samples were serially collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 hrs after a single ethanol (EtOH) treatment. A single treatment with the test samples was administered orally 30 minutes after EtOH treatment. Results GB extract solutions effectively elevated the ADH and ALDH activity observed in vitro, while no treatment- related cytotoxic effects were found with test samples t concentrations up to 100 mg/mL. Significantly lower (p<0.01 or p<0.05) serum alcohol and acetaldehyde content was observed in samples from treated rats than in those from control rats (EtOH only) 1 or 2 hrs after EtOH treatment. In addition, noticeable decreases were observed in serum AST and ALT levels in treated samples 8 hrs after EtOH administration. HM40, an herbal mixture containing GB extract (40 mg/75 mL of ginsenoside Re), showed betters enhancement of alcohol metabolism through ADH/ALDH activation, as well as related hepatoprotective effects. Results GB extracts effectively enhanced alcohol metabolism without cytotoxicity while also providing possible hepatoprotective effects that could serve as a functional ingredient in anti-hangover alternative therapies. These extracts are expected to be more effective when made into herbal mixture beverages.

In vitro Models for Chemical Toxicity: Review of their Applications and Prospects Abstract Since it has been considered acceptable to expose animal to conditions and procedures that would not be considered acceptable for human, animals have long been used as surrogates for human beings for in vivo toxicology. This has focused mainly on gaining a better understanding of how the body's cells, organs, and systems function and are controlled, which failures could lead to pathological conditions. However, attitudes that rely on this approach are changing as the know ledge gained from animal studies is not directly related to humans, and there is a growing perception that it can also have dangerous consequences. In this re view, I collected the references about not only in vitro models for chemical toxicity, but also their applications and prospects focused on chemical hazard evaluations. In this review, I try to gather the issues and considerations that are considered necessary to develop a viable and reliable testing strategy to replace animals in toxicity testing. Most of the authors of the papers cited here share the opinion that animals will no longer be used for safety assessment, but that a more predictable human-derived in vitrosystem and in silico approach will be developed step-by-step. I collected information from peer-reviewed literature on the in vitro models for toxicological investigation of chemicals that may impact environmental or occupational diseases.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Essential Oils of Centella asiatica (L.) Abstract Objective Centella asiatica (L.) is belonging the Apiaciaea family that is very popular for its culinary and medicinal use. In recent years, due to overexploitation, and ineffectual efforts to revitalize this valuable herbal source, the abundance of C. asiatica (L.) in its habitats has suffered significantly, cause to the risk of its extinction. Therefore, its in vitro production interested considerably. Methods In this study, mass production of C. asiatica (L.) was carried out through a cost effective micropropagation protocol and the chemical content of essential oils from micropropagated plants were analyzed by Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and biological properties compared with wild plants. Results In total, 45 compounds were identified and quantified in wild and micropropagated plants, representing 97.5% and 97.7% of the total oil, respectively. Also the oils were dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenes, 70.8% and 42.6%, in the wild and micropropagated plants, respectively. Antibacterial assay showed the oil is effective regarding bacterial growth inhibition. The inhibition zones against some bacterial strains (Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella aerogenes) were even greater than those of chloramphenicol. The MIC of the oils, against the tested organisms, varied between 1 and 4μL mL−1. The lowest MIC (1 μL mL−1) was detected for the oil against Enterobacter aerugenes and Staphylococcous subrogation. Results were also indicated that the oil of micropropagated plants was more effective than the oils of wild ones. Cytotoxicity assay showed that the toxicity of the studied essential oils are not significant at concentrations of 5–15% (v/v). Conclusions It could concluded that the essential oil of C. asiatica, in micropropagated plants, have the good antibacterial activities without significant toxicity, at the applied concentration, and thus have great potentiality to be used as a resource for natural health products.

The Role of Aptamer Loaded Exosome Complexes in the Neurodegenerative Diseases Abstract Extracellular exosomes formed inside the cytoplasm of cells are small membranous vesicles that provide an important mode of cell-to-cell communication by delivering proteins, lipids and RNA to target cells. Exosomes are found associated with neurodegenerative diseases mainly Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's diseases (AD), characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons and often linked with misfolded protein. Aptamers are single stranded DNA- and RNA-based oligonucleotides that bind target protein with high affinity and specificity and block or prevent the process of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of aptamer loaded exosomes in the neurode-generative diseases.

Alexandros Sfakianakis
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alsfakia@gmail.com