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Heavy metals are elements that contaminate seafood and make them harmful to human health when present in quantities that are higher than the permissible limit. This study was conducted to determine some heavy metals such as lead and mercury contained in dried crayfish gotten from three different locations (Oron, Ataba and Nembe town in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa State respectively) and sold in the Creek Road Market, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The dried crayfish samples were purchased randomly from marketers in the market. 5g of the dried crayfish samples with its different organs (Gills, muscle tissues) were ground into powdered form and digested with HNO3  using standard procedures   and analysed for lead and mercury using the micro plasma atomic emission spectrophotometric analyser. The results showed that Lead content in the dried crayfish from Oron, Ataba and Nembe were 0.140 ± 0.014 mg/kg, 0.040 ± 0.014 mg/kg and 0.016 ± 0.002 mg/kg respectively while for Mercury content, Oron crayfish contained 5.136 ± 0.017 mg/kg, Ataba 3.744 ± 0.017 mg/kg and Nembe 3.948 ± 0.023mg/kg. The mean values in the three different crayfish samples were significantly different (p<0.05). This result shows that the lead content present in the dried crayfish are within the permissible limit of 1 mg/kg as indicated by FAO hence safe for consumption purposes with no expected form of toxicity and health implication to consumers whereas for mercury content, the level was found to be above the permissible limit.

The increased prevalence of diabetes, and the huge disease burden on patients has led to an increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in diabetes treatment and management. Aim: This study evaluates the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the polyherbal capsule glucoblock and glibenclamide in type 2 diabetic rats. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-220 g were used for this study. The rats were placed on high fat diet, and diabetes induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg body Wt). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Fasting plasma insulin (FPI), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were quantitatively determined by a rat-specific sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Insulin resistance (IR) was determined using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was determined by the ratio of TOS to TAS. Phytochemical analysis was also done on the herbal capsule. Results: Mean FPG levels were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in all groups, compared to the diabetic control. Mean FPG level was significantly higher (p˂0.05) in the combination group, but showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the glibenclamide group, and glucoblock group, compared to the negative control. HOMA-IR was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the diabetic control compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The combination group had significantly higher (p˂0.05) HOMA-IR values, whereas the individual treatment groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05) when compared to the negative control. TOS was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the diabetic control compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The treatment groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in TOS, compared to the negative control. There was significantly lower (p˂0.05) TAS levels in the diabetic and treatment groups, compared to the negative control. OSI values were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in all groups when compared to the diabetic control. Also, OSI values were significantly higher (p˂0.05) in the treatment groups compared to the negative control. SOD was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the diabetic control compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The treatment groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in SOD levels, compared to the negative control. Conclusion: Increase in total oxidant status and oxidative stress depleted antioxidant parameters. The polyherbal capsule glucoblock was effective when used alone and produced equipotent effect to the treatment with glibenclamide. However, the combination treatment did not fare better. Antioxidant therapy should be used together with antidiabetics in the management of diabetes, and care should be taken in the use herb-drug combinations.

Hypoestes rosea has been used as a traditional medicine in the Niger delta for dysfunction of the endocrine system. However, there has been no known study on the effects of hypoestes rosea on oxidative stress. In this study we evaluated the effect of aqueous extract of Hypoestes rosea (AEHR) leaf on oxidative stress markers of lead acetate induced male and female albino rats at acute and sub-chronic stages in pre-treatment and post-treatment phases. Animals were divided into 17 groups of five each for both sexes in the treatment groups, while the positive control group had 10 animals in each sex. 8 groups were for the acute phase of the study for 21 days in each sex, while 8 were for 35 days for the sub chronic stage of the study. Negative Control (NC) group received rat feed only, Experimental (EC) group received 100 mg/kg bwt/day for 21 days at acute and 35 days for sub chronic.  Positive Control (PC) group received 60mg/kg b.wt per day of lead acetate for 35 days. The other 3 groups received 100 mgkg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg b. wt respectively for 14 and 28 days either as pre treatment or post treatment, for both sexes of the albino rats. Samples were taken at the end of the study period through the jugular vein under chloroform anaesthesia. Results showed lead acetate induced oxidative stress in the rats, evidenced by the significantly decreased (p < 0.05) Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) between the NC and PC groups. The plant in a dose dependent pattern was able to significantly (p < 0.05), reverse the effect of lead acetate in the Post and pre treatment phases. Our study also shows that dose dependent AEHR extract significantly reduced the impact of lead in oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, consumption of AEHR by albino rats could help protect against lead acetate induced oxidative stress.

Action bitters has been seen not to have nephro-toxic effects on the kidney. However, this study evaluated the effects of sachet packaged action bitters on the kidney of apparently healthy subjects. Blood sample was collected from 20 subjects. Basal blood sample and the blood samples collected after 2 hours of intake of action bitters by subjects were analyzed. The parameters analyzed include sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine using the colorimetric method of analysis and results subjected further to statistical analysis using the GraphPad Prism Version 8.02.Basal results of the renal indices obtained showed the values to be; 144.16 ± 8.89 mmol/L, 3.81 ± 0.57 mmol/L, 25.70 ± 5.66 mg/dL and 1.05 ± 0.38 mg/dL for sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine respectively while the results obtained from the subjects two(2) hours after the intake of action bitters were; 128.18 ± 11.05 mmol/L, 2.93 ± 0.57 mmol/L, 25.34 ± 4.74 mg/dL and 1.51 ± 0.75 mg/dL for sodium. potassium, urea and creatinine values respectively. The comparison of the basal and treated sample showed significant differences in the values of sodium, potassium and creatinine (P=0.05) while the urea value was not significantly different. The mean value for sodium and potassium in the treated subjects were significantly decreased when compared to the value gotten at the basal state where the action bitter has not been consumed by the subject whereas the creatinine value was significantly increased in the sample of the treated subjects compared to the value of the basal sample. This implies that exposure to a higher dose of action bitters might be detrimental to renal function in the body hence, the dose of bitters and its consumption by humans should be monitored in order to protect against any adverse effect, and subsequent malfunctioning of the kidney.