Abstract:The organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues were measured in three species of fish Tilapia zilli (Red belly Tilapia), Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bonga Shad) and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Catfish). These fish species are a significant part of the diet of residents of Lagos Nigeria. The organochlorine pesticides analyzed include DDT(pp'1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDD, DDE (pp 1,1-dichloro-2, 2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene, HCH (gamma 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocylohexane, HCB (hexachlorobenzene), Dieldrin (1,2,3,4,10,4,4a,5,6,7,8,4,5,8 dimethanonaphthalene) and transnonachlor. The analysis was done using Gas Chromatograph with Electron Capture Detector. The mean concentration of OCPs ranged from 0.01-8.92 ppm. The concentration of the OCPs (except for HCHs) in fish samples in this study were below the extraneous residue limit of 5 ppm, set by the codex alimentarious commission of FAO-WHO-1997. However, the concentrations were higher than those detected during previous studies of fish samples from Lake Victoria, Uganda in Africa. Also the levels were quite high when compared with the allowable Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), now Federal Ministry of Environment limit and can be harmful if the trend is not checked. The study also showed that concentration of OCPs were higher in adult, than in Juvenile of most of the fish and there was no correlation observed between fat content and total concentration of OCPs.

BackgroundFlavonoid-rich aqueous fraction of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx was evaluated for its anti-hepatotoxic activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.MethodsDiabetes Mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by a single i.p injection of 80 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 6.3).ResultsThe ameliorative effects of the extract on STZ-diabetes induced liver damage was evident from the histopathological analysis and the biochemical parameters evaluated in the serum and liver homogenates. Reduced levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (3.76 ± 0.38 μM, 0.42 ± 0.04 U/L, 41.08 ± 3.04 U/ml, 0.82 ± 0.04 U/L respectively) in the liver of diabetic rats were restored to a near normal level in the Hibiscus sabdariffa -treated rats (6.87 ± 0.51 μM, 0.72 ± 0.06 U/L, 87.92 ± 5.26 U/ml, 1.37 ± 0.06 U/L respectively). Elevated levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of diabetic rats were also restored in Hibiscus sabdariffa -treated rats. Examination of stained liver sections revealed hepatic fibrosis and excessive glycogen deposition in the diabetic rats. These pathological changes were ameliorated in the extract-treated rats.ConclusionThe anti-hepatotoxic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in STZ diabetic rats could be partly related to its antioxidant activity and the presence of flavonnoids.

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BackgroundWhole-grain products such as brown rice have been associated with lower risk of metabolic disorders including diabetes. We examined the acceptability and tolerability of substituting brown rice for white rice and the feasibility of introducing brown rice into the diet through a long-term trial to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.MethodsFifty-one adults residing in Abuja, Nigeria, participated in this study. Using purposeful sampling for focus group discussions (FGDs), participants were enrolled based on their age (19–25 vs. 40–60 years) and body mass index (BMI) (normal weight vs. overweight/obese). Participants tasted four meals with different constitution of brown and white rice (25:75%, 50:50%, 75:25%, and 100% brown rice). Twelve FGDs were conducted, six before and six after the food tasting. Two-hour postprandial blood glucose was measured after consumption of each rice meal.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 39 (±14) years, their mean BMI was 25.6 (±5.2) and about half of them were male. Most of the participants (61%) reported that rice was their main source of carbohydrate and 67% consumed rice at least five times/week. Before the food tasting, participants considered white polished rice superior to brown rice with regard to quality, taste, and nutritional value. After the food tasting, most of the participants (49%) indicated a preference for the 100% brown rice, 19% preferred the 25% brown rice, 18% preferred the 50% brown rice, and 7% preferred the 75% brown rice meals. Factors that may affect the acceptability of brown rice include its appearance, longer cooking time, cost, limited availability, and poor appreciation of its nutritional value. In general, 2-h postprandial glucose levels were lower, after consumption of meals with higher proportion of brown rice.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insight into the acceptability of brown rice as a substitute for white rice in Nigeria. If confirmed in larger studies, these results highlight the importance of increasing awareness on the nutritional value of brown rice and support the rationale for conducting a large-scale intervention trial to examine the effect of brown rice consumption on blood sugar levels among Nigerians.

Electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibers (130-500 nm) incorporating a potassium salt of imidazole-1-carbodithioate were evaluated as potential sorbents for the pre-concentration of a model organochlorine pesticide; 1,1-dichloro-2,2bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE). The efficiencies of DDE (0.25-1.0 lg L -1 ) adsorption by the nanofiber sorbent followed by desorption employing pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) were investigated and monitored using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Parameters such as time, temperature and pressure of extraction, sample volume, DDE concentration and sorbent mass were optimized. The maximum adsorption of DDE (0.50 lg L -1 ) on electrospun PS and carbodithioate incorporated PS nanofibers was at 43.7 and 94.6%, respectively, in 20 min. Incorporation of carbodithiote doubled the adsorption efficiency of PS and achieved LOD of 0.000234 lg L -1 for DDE. The optimal DDE desorption on the PHWE system was 93.8% in 10 min. It would seem that the use of electrospun nanofibers as sorbent material with subsequent desorption by PHWE has great potential and thus warrants further investigations. This approach as it uses water as an extraction solvent for an organochlorine pesticide provides an opportunity to eliminate organic solvents, especially for procedures aimed at monitoring organic pollutants in the environment.