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Introduction: Car wash premises consume large amounts of water that can later end up in the public irrigation system. This production of wastewater, which contains heavy metals, are both detrimental to the marine environment and unsustainable. Methods: In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SB), coconut pulp (CP) and sawdust (SD) were investigated to determine their potential usage as low-cost, heavy metals adsorbents. The morphology of these adsorbents was characterized using Spectrometry Electron Microscope (SEM), while presence of heavy metals constituents on selected adsorbents was analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Adsorbents Adsorption efficiencies were calculated to determine the best adsorbent. Results: CP with a more porous structure promotes a larger surface area, compared to SB and SD. Adsorption was optimized at pH 4 in room temperature for 4 hours, with adsorbents particle between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm in size. SD was the best adsorbent for Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu) removal with 95.6% and 86.5% removal efficiencies. Meanwhile, CP was the best adsorbent for Zinc (Zn) and Manganese (Mn), with percentage removal of 78.9% and 24.8% respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used by relevant agencies for a better policy regarding on wastewater management and support the concept of turning waste to useful products.

Zingiber zerumbet is widely used as therapeutic agent in traditional medicine and is reported to exert antioxidant activities. This study evaluated in vitro antioxidant potential of Z. zerumbet rhizome ethyl acetate extract on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced red blood cells (RBCs) damage; by measuring percentage of haemolysis, oxidative damage and morphological changes in treated RBCs. On a preliminary dose-response analysis, it was observed that incubation of RBCs with extract at doses of 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 μg/mL all had no significant effect on RBCs similar to NaCl control and BHT (positive control), therefore, these concentrations were used in the subsequent study. The RBCs were pre-incubated with extract in the chosen concentrations, prior to treatment with H2O2. The results showed that only 6.25 μg/mL+H2O2 group showed significantly (p

Palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) is a well known antioxidant that has shown potential in reducing oxidative stress under various pathological conditions. Exposure to organophosphates such as fenitrothion (FNT) has been reported to cause testicular oxidative damage. The present study was conducted to determine whether TRF could prevent this testicular damage. Parameters evaluated included the oxidative stress status, heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) expression, germ cell apoptosis, reproductive biochemical levels, and morphological alteration. Mature male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40) were given FNT (20 mg kg−1), TRF (200 mg kg−1) and TRF + FNT daily via gavage for 28 consecutive days. Co-administration of TRF in FNT-treated rats increased the activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione s-transferase (p < 0.05). TRF also increased the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) as well as the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione, compared with the FNT group alone (p < 0.05). Further, TRF reduced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation by significantly lowering the malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels in FNT-treated rats (p < 0.01). HSP70 expression and apoptotic germ cell count in the testis were significantly reduced in the TRF + FNT group (p < 0.05). TRF also ameliorated the biochemical changes in rat testis by reducing sialic acid, total cholesterol, and total protein at p < 0.05. Histological and ultrastructural observations revealed that supplementation with TRF improved the morphological changes in testis in the TRF + FNT group. In conclusion, TRF was able to partially mitigate testicular damage in FNT-intoxicated rats.

Violacein, violet pigment produced by Chromobacterium violaceum, has attracted much attention recently due to its pharmacological properties including antibacterial activity. The present study investigated possible antibacterial mode of action of violacein from C. violaceum UTM5 against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. Violet fraction was obtained by cultivating C. violaceum UTM5 in liquid pineapple waste medium, extracted, and fractionated using ethyl acetate and vacuum liquid chromatography technique. Violacein was quantified as major compound in violet fraction using HPLC analysis. Violet fraction displayed bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus ATCC 29213 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43300 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 μg/mL. Fluorescence dyes for membrane damage and scanning electron microscopic analysis confirmed the inhibitory effect by disruption on membrane integrity, morphological alternations, and rupture of the cell membranes of both strains. Transmission electron microscopic analysis showed membrane damage, mesosome formation, and leakage of intracellular constituents of both bacterial strains. Mode of action of violet fraction on the cell membrane integrity of both strains was shown by release of protein, K+, and extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) with 110.5 μg/mL, 2.34 μg/mL, and 87.24 ng/μL, respectively, at 48 h of incubation. Violet fraction was toxic to human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and human fetal lung fibroblast (IMR90) cell lines with LC50 value of 0.998 ± 0.058 and 0.387 ± 0.002 μg/mL, respectively. Thus, violet fraction showed a strong antibacterial property by disrupting the membrane integrity of S. aureus and MRSA strains. This is the first report on the possible mode of antibacterial action of violet fraction from C. violaceum UTM5 on S. aureus and MRSA strains.

Litsea elliptica Blume leaves have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs because of its antimutagenicity, chemopreventative and insecticidal properties. In this study, the toxic effects of L. elliptica essential oil against Sprague-Dawley rat’s red blood cells (RBCs) were evaluated. L. elliptica essential oil was given by oral gavage 5 times per week for 3 treated groups in the doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/(kg body weight), respectively, and the control group received distilled water. Full blood count, RBC osmotic fragility, RBC morphological changes, and RBC membrane lipid were analyzed 28 d after the treatment. Although L. elliptica essential oil administration had significantly different effects on hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) in the experimental groups as compared to the control group (P0.05). It is concluded that structural changes in the RBC membrane due to L. elliptica essential oil administration did not cause severe membrane damage.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fractions on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Animals were divided into three groups: (i) normal non-diabetic (NDM), (ii) diabetic treated (tocotrienol-rich fractions - TRF) and (iii) diabetic untreated (non-TRF). The treatment group received oral administration of tocotrienol-rich fractions (200 mg/kg body weight) daily for eight weeks. The normal non-diabetic and the diabetic untreated groups were fed standard rat feed. Blood glucose and lipid profiles, oxidative stress markers and morphological changes of the thoracic aorta were evaluated. RESULTS: Tocotrienol-rich fractions treatment reduced serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin concentrations. The tocotrienol-rich fractions group also showed significantly lower levels of plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride, as compared to the untreated group. The tocotrienol-rich fractions group had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as compared to the untreated group. Superoxide dismutase activity and levels of vitamin C in plasma were increased in tocotrienol-rich fractions-treated rats. The levels of plasma and aorta malondealdehyde + 4-hydroxynonenal (MDA + 4-HNE) and oxidative DNA damage were significant following tocotrienol-rich fractions treatment. Electron microscopic examination showed that the normal morphology of the thoracic aorta was disrupted in STZ-diabetic rats. Tocotrienol-rich fractions supplementation resulted in a protective effect on the vessel wall. CONCLUSION: These results show that tocotrienol-rich fractions lowers the blood glucose level and improves dyslipidemia. Levels of oxidative stress markers were also reduced by administration of tocotrienol-rich fractions. Vessel wall integrity was maintained due to the positive effects mediated by tocotrienol-rich fractions.

Indiscriminate application of organophosphate (OP) pesticides has led to environmental pollution and severe health problems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) on biochemical and morphological changes of the liver in rats treated with fenitrothion (FNT), a type of OP pesticide. A total of 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; control group, TRF-supplemented group, FNT-treated group and TRF+FNT group. TRF (200 mg/kg) was supplemented 30 minutes prior to FNT (20 mg/kg) administration, both orally for 28 consecutive days. Following 28 days of treatment, plasma biochemical changes and liver morphology were evaluated. The body and absolute liver weights were significantly elevated in TRF+FNT group compared to FNT group. TRF administration significantly decreased the total protein level and restored the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in TRF + FNT group. In contrast, total bilirubin level, γ-glutamyltranferase (GGT) and cholinesterase activity in TRF + FNT group did not significantly differ from FNT group. Administration of TRF also prevented FNT-induced morphological changes of liver as observed by electron microscope. In conclusion, TRF supplementation showed potential protective effect towards biochemical and ultrastructural changes in liver induced by FNT.

OBJECTIVE: Fenitrothion residue is found primarily in soil, water and food products and can lead to a variety of toxic effects on the immune, hepatobiliary and hematological systems. However, the effects of fenitrothion on the male reproductive system remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fenitrothion on the sperm and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion was administered orally by gavages for 28 consecutive days. Blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture and dissection of the testes and cauda epididymis was performed to obtain sperm. The effects of fenitrothion on the body and organ weight, biochemical and oxidative stress, sperm characteristics, histology and ultrastructural changes in the testes were evaluated. RESULTS: Fenitrothion significantly decreased the body weight gain and weight of the epididymis compared with the control group. Fenitrothion also decreased plasma cholinesterase activity compared with the control group. Fenitrothion altered the sperm characteristics, such as sperm concentration, sperm viability and normal sperm morphology, compared with the control group. Oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, total glutathione and glutathione S-transferase, were significantly increased and superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased in the fenitrothion-treated group compared with the control group. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination of the testes of the fenitrothion-treated group revealed alterations corresponding with the biochemical changes compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion caused deleterious effects on the sperm and testes of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in diabetic conditions promotes alterations of function and other properties of the erythrocyte membrane. In this study, we examined the effects of palm vitamin E (200 mg/kg) on oxidative stress and the physical and morphological characteristics of erythrocyte membranes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: Group 1, control group; Group 2, normal plus palm vitamin E treatment; Group 3, untreated diabetic group; and Group 4, diabetic plus palm vitamin E treatment. After 4 weeks of treatments, we determined complete blood count, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, erythrocyte morphology, levels of erythrocyte malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl, levels of erythrocyte glutathione and oxidized glutathione, and total plasma antioxidant capacity. The results of osmotic fragility were significantly higher in the diabetic group compared to the control and diabetic with palm vitamin E. There were significant morphological changes in the erythrocytes of the diabetic group compared to the control group. We also found a significant decrease in the hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit percentage, and erythrocyte distribution width in the diabetic group. Erythrocyte malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were significantly higher in the diabetic group compared to the control group. Decreased levels of reduced glutathione and increased level of oxidized glutathione were observed in the diabetic group compared to the control and diabetic with palm vitamin E groups. Plasma total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in the diabetic group than in the control group, whereas plasma total antioxidants in the diabetic with palm vitamin E group were significantly increased compared to the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, 4 weeks of daily supplementation with 200 mg/kg palm vitamin E could reduce the levels of oxidative stress markers by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.