The present investigation on this study was to assess the antioxidant and toxicological potentials of Tapinanthus globiferus leaf extract and its effects on inherent antioxidant enzymes. The leaf extracts of the plant were prepared with both aqueous and ethanolic solvents at 5% concentration levels. Antioxidant indices such as free radical scavenging ability [DPPH], iron chelation ability [Fe 2+ ], hydroxyl radical scavenging ability [OH*], which are indices for radical scavenging potential of Tapinanthus globiferus were assessed. Toxicological effect of the plant extract was equally investigated on defensive antioxidant enzymes in rat liver. The results indicate that the extracts exhibited antioxidant properties at significant (P<0.05) levels where the radical scavenging ability of the extracts were ascertained with percentage inhibition in the range (65-41.1) % DPPH, (60-77.5) % Fe 2+ chelation, (17.5-34.2) % OH*. Hence, highest percentage inhibition was observed against Fe 2+ where the extract demonstrated high level of iron chelating ability at relatively low extract concentration (1.0mg/ml). Also the results from toxicological assay indicate synergistic effect of the extract on defensive antioxidant enzymes with concomitant increase in their activities corresponding to increase in extract concentration. The results suggest that Tapinanthus globiferus could serve as reliable antioxidant dietary supplement and perhaps not toxic at the concentrations investigated.

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Mistotoe (Tapinanthus globiferus) as freshly prepared leaf extract was administered at variable concentration (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) per body weight as dietary supplement to laboratory albino mice via oral gavage for two weeks consecutively. The mice were also simultaneously administered 1.5 mg/kg pesticide precursor (Prontosil). 24 hours after the last day, the mice were sacrificed and chromosome preparations were made from the bone marrow cells. The end-points studied were polychromatic erythrocytes and damage cells. The results indicated that the clastogenicity in the mice fed with Tapinanthus globiferus leaf extract reduced significantly (P<0.05) compared to those fed with prontosil only. The marked reduction of clastogenicity by the extract may be attributed to the interaction with polyphenolic and phytochemical components of the extract.

Indiscriminate bioaccumulation of heavy metals in body have been linked to oxidative stress arising from peroxidation of membrane of biomolecules which consequently manifest as neurologic, hepatic, renal and cardiovascular disorders. Therefore this study is sought to investigate the protective and inhibitory effect of Solanum indicum leaf extract against lead acetate induced lipid peroxidation and hepatomegaly in liver of albino rats. Results showed that incubation of liver homogenate with the pro-oxidant (Pb 2+) caused significant (P<0.05) increase in levels of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), while the extract offered highly significant (P<0.05) dose dependent inhibitory potential against the increase in TBARS induced by the pro-oxidant. Besides, results showed that treatment of rats in vivo with the respective doses of the extract significantly altered and attenuated serum and liver levels of biomarker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) in group C animals compared to rats in group B fed with lead acetate only that demonstrated significant (P<0.05) increase in enzyme activity while control group A received no treatment. Hence, the results suggest that Solanum indicum extract could confer protection on the liver tissues against oxidative stress and hepatomegaly and the extract may not be toxic at the doses investigated.

Magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (MgOHNPs) have gained commercial interest in the areas of waste remediation and recycling of wastewater for portable use. MgOHNPs is among the least investigated nanoparticle and thus its toxicological effects are yet to be unveiled. Clarias gariepinus were exposed to 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/L suspensions of small size (10 nm) MgOHNPs for 21 days under semi-static conditions. Thereafter, they were sacrificed and alterations in the hematological parameters, and some biochemical indices were examined. The nanoparticle was characterized by UV/Vis spectrophotometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The water quality parameters such as chloride ions and dissolved oxygen significantly decreased, while pH, total alkalinity, carbon (IV) oxide, total hardness, and nitrate increased significantly in the exposed media compared to the control medium. The results of this investigation revealed a concentration-dependent increase in the plasma levels of albumin, total protein, magnesium, calcium, chloride, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase. Whereas, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, total bilirubin, potassium, and creatinine decreased significantly ( < 0.05). The hematological parameters remained unaltered in the fish at the tested doses. The results indicated that exposure to MgOHNPs could lead to disturbances in blood biochemistry of C. gariepinus