In view of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus, this study evaluated the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Vinca major L. on biochemical parameters and glucose level of alloxan induced diabetic rats as objective. Sixty-four male Wistar albino rats were induced with diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection and were separated into four groups (1-4) of sixteen rats each. Group 1 served as the control while groups 2 to 4 served as the test groups. Apart from the control, the test groups were treated with different concentrations of the leaf extract, and four rats from each group were sacrificed every seven days for assessment. The treatment period lasted for 28 days. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels in groups 3 and 4 rats significantly increased (p<0.05) against the control throughout the number of days of the study. Red blood cell (RBC) levels in groups 2 and 4 increased significantly (p<0.05) against the control on the 14 th day, while all the test group rats had significantly increased (p<0.05) RBC levels on the 21 st and 28 th days of the study. The observed trend followed by electrolyte ions, urea and creatinine in test rats against the control in the present study, may be attributed to V. major leaf extract trying to salvage the excretory organs of alloxan battered diabetic rats. Glucose level, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) liver enzymes reduced significantly (p<0.05) in test rats against the control. Diabetic rats treated with V. major leaf extract in this study, showed significant improvements on those associate problems of diabetes which include anaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hepatic necrosis and inflammation. Rats treated with the leaf extract also showed reduced glucose level (Hypoglycemia). From the observations of this study, extract from leaf of V. major may be effective against diabetes and some of its associate problems.

Objectives: Dareta village in Zamfara state of Nigeria is one of the villages plagued with the lead (Pb) poisoning crisis of 2010. Dareta and neighboring villages were remediated by simple excavation of topsoil rich in Pb, and burying same in landfills. This study was embarked to assess the physicochemical parameters of some sources of water supply and possible health impacts on humans. Material and Methods: The village was imaginarily mapped into three sites; Residential Homes (Site 1), Markets and Village Squares (Site 2), and Farms with Irrigation Facilities (Site 3). From the three sites, a total of 30 water samples (10 shallow wells, 10 boreholes, and 10 stream/surface water) were randomly collected, according to availability. The physical parameters (Temperature, Conductivity, and Total Dissolved Solids [TDS]) were assessed in situ using a conductivity/TDS meter (model 44600.00, HACH, USA), the assessment of pH was also carried out in situ using an electronic pH meter, (pH 210 micro-processor, Hanna Instrument, USA). The evaluation of heavy metals concentration (Pb, cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], and manganese) was done using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (modelAA-6800, Schemadzu, Japan). Results: In groundwater (boreholes and wells), the mean temperature and conductivity were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) safety levels for “drinking water,” while those of TDS and pH were within the limits. In surface water (streams), the assessed physical parameters were not higher than the WHO safety limits, while the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr were above the drinking water guidelines. The risk implication in the human populations consuming the water was determined using the estimated average daily intake (EADI) and the target hazard quotient (THQ). The EADI for Pb, Cd, and Cr for all the water sources in both adult and children consumer populations exceeded the reference dose by US-EPA. The THQ for Pb, Cd, and Cr in both adult and children consumer populations were >1. Conclusion: These findings portend toxicity and increased hazards for the human populations that source their drinking water from the borehole, well, and stream in this village.

Variation in body weight, lipid profile and selected reproduction hormones in rats given Psidium guajava leaf samples from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas was evaluated.  Thirty-six albino rats of Wistar strain weighing between 90-120 g were divided into three major groups of I-III, with each group having two subgroups designated “a” and “b”. Each of the subgroup housed six rats and they were given different concentrations of the compounded feed of the leaf samples. Rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area had significantly (p<0.05) increased weight when compared to rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area. Triglyceride, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased significantly (p<0.05) in rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area against rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. Atherogenic indices of rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area showed increased risk to cardiovascular diseases when compared to rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. The evaluated reproductive hormones increased significantly (p<0.05) in rats placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area against those groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. The constituents of P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area could be behind the observed risk while the increase in hormones could be linked to increased cholesterol in rats groups placed on the leaf sample from crude oil polluted area. There is to sensitise those in the act of herbalism to be aware of where they harvest the plants they use as raw materials. This study has shown the variation in body weight, lipid profile and selected reproduction hormones in rats given P. guajava leaves from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas.

Comparative study on effect of Chrysophyllum albidum medicinal plant from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas on selected biochemical parameters in rats was evaluated.  Leaves of C. albidium were collected from a botanical garden (non-crude oil polluted site) and Okrika (crude oil polluted site), and studied. The leaves passed for heavy metals analyses and heavy metals such as mercury (0.38 ±0.07 mg/100 g), lead (3.06±0.40 mg/100 g), cadmium (0.09±0.00 mg/100 g), copper (1.00±0.18 mg/100 g), chromium (0.23±0.01 mg/100 g), and cobalt (4.90±1.22 mg/100 g) were observed in leaves of C. albidum  from crude oil polluted area. Rats placed on compounded feed of C. albidium leaves from crude oil polluted area revealed marked degeneration in haematological indices, liver enzymes, urea and creatinine of the kidney. These observed degeneration could be linked to toxicity of the heavy metals found in the leaves of C. albidum from crude oil polluted area since leaves of C. albidum are known to have medicinal potency that could protect the integrity of internal organs and tissues. There is need to properly inform those who rely on medicinal plants from crude oil polluted areas of the possible dangers such may pose in the body. This study has evaluated the comparative effect of C. albidum medicinal plant from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas on selected biochemical parameters in rats.

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