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Industrial effluents discharged into the environment pose a serious threat to our agricultural products and health. In view of this, levels of some heavy metals, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Ag, Fe and Mn were determined in water samples collected from two pollution prone areas around Kano (Sharada and Bompai industrial estates) and control site (Thomas Dam, Dambatta). The levels of the heavy metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The results obtained show that the mean values of all heavy metals (with the exception of Zn) in water samples from the polluted areas studied were significantly higher than in the control site (P < 0.05). These mean values have also exceeded the acceptable limits.

Hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata was investigated against CCl4 -induced hepatic injury in rats. Significant (P<0.05) increase of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBL), direct bilirubin (DBL), total cholesterol (CHL), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in CCl4 intoxicated rats were restored to normal levels when treated with the extract and CCl4. Significant (P<0.05) decrease of serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in CCl4 intoxicated rats were restored to normal levels when treated with the extract and CCl4. The LD50 of the leaf extract was greater than 3000 mg/kg. The study demonstrated that A. paniculata possesses significant hepatoprotective effects and may be the source of lead compound in the management of liver diseases.

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