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Pleurotus tuber regium, a wild edible mushroom can reduce free radical-mediated injury and oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via improvement of antioxidant capacity. This work evaluates the protective effects of this mushroom against the metabolic and hematological toxicity induced by CCl4. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 10). Group I received olive oil (3 mL/kg) i.p. twice weekly for 13 weeks, while maintaining free access to food and water ad libitum (negative control). Group II received 3 mL/kg (30% CCl4 in olive oil) injected i.p. twice weekly, while Groups III, IV, and V received 100, 200, and 500 mg wild edible P. tuber regium (33.3% in feed) daily in addition to 3 mL/kg CCl4 in olive oil injected twice weekly i.p. Group VI received olive oil (3 mL/kg) i.p. twice weekly for 13 weeks in addition to 500 mg P. tuber regium (33.3% in feed) daily. The body weight (b.w.), feed intake (FI), and water intake (WI) were obtained weekly, while the hematological indices and oxidative stress parameters were carried out shortly after necropsy on days 30, 60, and 90. Treatment with CCl4 significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the b.w., FI and WI, feed efficiency, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, total glutathione, and peroxidase, while increasing the oxidative stress as measured by malondialdehyde in CCl4 only group when compared with control. Supplementation of feed with P. tuber regium reversed the effects of CCl4. Pleurotus tuber regium ameliorated the CCl4-induced metabolic and hematotoxicity by improving the antioxidant capacity.

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BACKGROUND: Toothpastes have multi-functional configurations as oral care products. They can however constitute a pos- sible source, amongst others, of toxic metal exposure in public health. Indeed, the public health impact of personal hygiene and consumer products is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of toxic metals (lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, nickel) in toothpastes available in Nigeria, (home produced and imported), and assess the potential risk to the people. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The samples of toothpastes commonly used in Nigeria were tested. Using a market basket protocol thirty five different brands of toothpaste were used. Samples were digest by addition of 10 mL mixture of conc. nitric and hydrochloric acids (HCl:HNO(3), 3:1), followed by heating to dryness. 20 mL deionized water was added, stirred and filtered. The filtrate was made up in standard volumetric flask and lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and nickel concentrations were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry 205A. The daily intake of metals and target hazard quotient (THQ) were then calculated. RESULTS: Pepsodent and Flodent had the highest levels of lead at respectively 23.575 and 18.092 mg/kg while Colgate Herbal had the highest nickel of 18.535 mg/kg. The daily intake estimates of all imported toothpaste samples were below the stated upper limits (UL). All target hazard quotients were also found to be below one. CONCLUSIONS: Although the UL, THQ and daily intake rates were all normal, the high levels of lead in some of the tooth- pastes an important concern to public health suggesting that pre-marketing safety studies of toothpastes may be worthwhile for the regulatory authorities.

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Recently we investigated the heavy metal hazards of Nigerian smokeless tobacco products 'STP'. Since 'STPs' are advocated as safer alternatives to cigarets, the public health implication should be ascertained. This is a risk assessment of poly aromatic hydrocarbons 'PAHs' in 'STPs' used in Nigeria. Thirty 'STPs' from different parts (South East, South West, Niger Delta and North Central) of Nigeria were studied. The 15 PAHs were assayed using gas chromatographic system (6890 series and 6890 plus) equipped with a quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (Agilent 5975 MSD) after ultrasonic extraction of the 'STPs' and clean up of the extract. Toxicity equivalent of benzo[a]pyrene concentration(µg/kg) in 'STPs'were determined. The daily exposure and the cancer risk associated with exposure to STP were calculated. Sample A1 (south east) had the highest concentration of PAH 225.84 µg/kg, while sampleA3 (North central) had the least PAH concentration of 1.09 µg/kg. 'STPs' from South East showed highest levels of PAHs. The total B[a]P TEQ of the 'STPs' from the South East ranged from 0.24 to 29.23, South West ranged from 0.94 to 14.55, Niger Delta ranged from 2.28 to 22.88, and North Central ranged from 0.11 to 9.47. The calculated risk estimates for 'STPs' from the South East ranged from 5.43 E-05 to 4.50 E-07, South West 2.70 E-05 to 1.74 E-06, Niger Delta 4.30 E-05 to 4.20 E-06, and North Central 1.75 E-05 to 2.08 E0-7. Although the calculated risk estimates seem to be within or below the the U.S. EPA cancer risk range of 1 × 10-4-1 × 10-6, the total B[a]P TEQ of the STPs suggest a more indepth risk assessment in animal model to ascertain the safety of PAHs in Nigerian 'STPs'.

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BACKGROUND: Interest is rising in smokeless tobacco as a safer alternative to smoking. Information on the heavy metal hazards of smokeless tobacco is sparse in Nigeria, as it is in most sub-Saharan Africa countries. This study assesses the heavy metal hazards of the smokeless tobacco types commonly available in Nigeria. METHODS: Using a market basket protocol 30 Nigerian smokeless tobacco types were studied. Digestion was performed by addition of 10 mL of a mix of nitric and hydrochloric acids (HCl:HNO3, 3:1); the mixture was then heated to dryness. Then, 20 mL deionised water was added, and the mixture stirred and filtered. The filtrate was made up in a standard volumetric flask and lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and nickel concentrations were assayed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry at 205 Å. The daily intake and target hazard quotient (THQ) were calculated. RESULTS: Chromium, cobalt and nickel concentrations ranged from 2.77-11.40, 0.01-0.03 and 0.02-0.07 µg/g, respectively, whereas lead and cadmium ranged from 0.00-2.48 and 0.01-0.17 µg/g, respectively. The daily intake of chromium, cobalt and nickel ranged from 277-1140, 1-3 and 2 to 7 µg/day, respectively. Lead and cadmium daily intakes ranged from 0-248 and 1-17 µg/day, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no apparent risk when each metal was analysed and considered individually, the potential risk could be multiplied when considering all heavy metals. The high heavy metal content in Nigerian smokeless tobacco may have public health implications.

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