Chitosan (CH) is a natural product produced from the shells of crustaceans. Both CH and Chitosan nanoparticles (CH-NPs) have recently been used in various pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The present study aimed to evaluate the potency of chitosan or chitosan nanoparticles in reducing the negative effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)induced haematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in albino rats. Methods: Twenty adult male albino rats were placed in four groups of five rats each: the control group, the TCDD group (10µg/kg intraperitoneally injected), the TCDD + CH group (intraperitoneal injection of TCDD (10µg/ kg) and an oral dose of CH (200 mg/kg), and the TCDD + CH-NPs group: intraperitoneal injection of a dose of TCDD (10µg/ kg) and an oral dose of CH-NPs (200 mg/kg). For all groups, the experimental period lasted for four weeks. Results: The TCDD-treated group showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in RBC count, HB, HCT, WBC count, lymphocyte percentage, and PLT, whereas there was a non-significant decrease in MCV, MCH, MCHC, and monocytes. On the other hand, a significant increase in neutrophils and eosinophils was noticed. In addition, several morphological abnormalities in the erythrocyte membranes were observed in the TCDD-treated group. A significant increase in serum urea and creatinine levels and marked histopathological changes in kidney tissue were observed. Administration of chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles could approximately restore the normal hematological parameters and improve the dioxin-induced renal histopathological changes. Although there is no significant difference between CH and CH-NPs groups, CH have seemed to have a better effect on some parameters and vice versa with CH-NPs in some parameters. The present study concluded that oral administration of CH or CH-NPs to the TCDD-treated animals might play a protective role against dioxin-induced hematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health concern all over the world. The number of affected people is increasing every year. Many factors contribute to the disease including diet, genetics, lifestyle and so forth. The disease is characterized by hyperglycemia because of insuffiency of the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. There is need for alternatives to the conventional antidiabetic drugs to overcome their shortages vitamin D and calcium intake are thought to protect against DM our research aims to evaluate the effect of administration vitamin D, calcium and combination of both on glucose and insulin levels in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced intraperitoneally in male Wister albino rats by injection of alloxan (150 mgkgG 1 bw). Animals were divided into seven groups of eight rats each: group I served as normal control, group II act as diabetic control. The diabetic rats treated groups (III, IV, V, VI and VII) were treated, respectively with metformin at dose of 100 mgkgG 1 , vitamin D 3 at dose of 12.5 μgkgG 1 , calcium gluconate at dose of 100 mgkgG 1 both vitamin D 3 and calcium gluconate and olive oil at dose of 0.3 mLkgG 1 (serve as vehicle group). The treatments were performed by oral administration once a day for 28 consecutive days. The results showed that vitamin D 3 and vitamin D 3-calcium combination lowers blood glucose level and calcium alone was not statistically significant decreased glucose level. Supplementation with vitamin D 3 with or without calcium increases insulin slightly when compared with normal control.