Ajmal Khan

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Different Organs of Wallago attu from River Kabul Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The aim of the study was to quantify the accumulation of heavy metals like Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Cd, Mn, Fe, and Hg in various organs of Wallago attu. Samples were collected from polluted parts of River Kabul and compared with control fish netted from Warsak Dam. The data indicated that the sequence of metal bioaccumulation in the skin, gills, and muscle was Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Fe > Mn > Hg > Cd, in the intestine was Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Fe > Mn > Hg > Cd, and in the liver was Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Fe > Mn > Hg > Cd. The overall metal burden in different tissues of W. attu was in the sequence of skin > gills > intestine > muscle > liver. The skin being the prime target organ showed that the route of metal uptake was the direct result of fish to metal exposure. The liver accumulated the least level of metals than other organs of the same fish.

Evaluation of DNA damage in lymphocytes of radiology personnel by comet assay

Evaluation of DNA damage in lymphocytes of radiology personnel by comet assay: Muhammad Khisroon, et al. Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

Bio-monitoring of Tissue Accumulation and Genotoxic Effect of Heavy Metals in Cyprinus carpio from River Kabul Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

The study explored (I) the concentration of heavy metals in water samples (II) their bioaccumulation in common carp Cyprinus carpio (III) and the subsequent genotoxicity in the selected organs of carp; from river Kabul, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Except for Mercury (Hg) the water samples had all the heavy metals within permissible limits of recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Nonetheless a number of heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb and Hg) showed bioaccumulation at levels higher than permissible. Zinc (Zn) was the most while Cadmium (Cd) was the least accumulated metal in all tissue samples analyzed. The metal burden in different organs of C. carpio was in sequence of intestine > skin > liver > gills > muscle. The Comet assay established DNA damage in selected organs to be in accordance with metal burden; the most to least damage being in sequence of blood > intestine > skin > liver > gills > muscle. In conclusion assessment of DNA damage in the organs of C. carpio appears to be a useful bio-marker to evaluate genotoxic effects of heavy metal pollution.

Antinociceptive, Sedative and Muscle Relaxants Activity of Caralluma tuberculata N E Brown

The current study was designed to assess the preliminary antinociceptive, sedative and muscle relaxants activates of crude extract and various solvent fractions of Caralluma tuberculata using established in-vivo protocols. The results illustrated significant (P<0.05) antinociceptive activity of extract/fractions of the plant in a dose dependent manner (50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.). When studied in open field test, the extracts and fractions of the plant demonstrated significant (P<0.05) sedative effect. Similarly, the extracts and fractions had (P<0.05) muscle relaxant effect on traction test. However, hexane was the only fraction which did not exhibit significant activity in either of the tests. The current investigation, suggest that Caralluma tuberculata contain potential molecules with antinociceptive, seadtive and muscle relaxant activities.

The genotoxic effect of oxcarbazepine on mice blood lymphocytes

Abstract This study was conducted to assess the amount of DNA damage caused by Oxcarbazepine (OXC) through single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) technique/comet assay. OXC derived from dibenzazepine series is an effective second generation antiepileptic drug (AED) for both children and adults. Side effects like genotoxic effects of AEDs are of prime importance resulting from toxic metabolites, free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Forty Eight adult male Bagg’s albino mice (BALB/c) were randomly classified into eight groups, each comprising of six animals. Two of these groups were control and six were tested groups. Control groups were injected with 1% tween 80 while tested groups were injected with 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg-day OXC for seven days (acute therapy) and 28 days (subchronic therapy) in peritoneal cavity. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and subjected to comet assay for the analysis of DNA damage. Per sample 100 cells were scored and classified according to comet tail length. The results showed that OXC in acute and long term therapies had significantly higher (p < 0.05) genotoxicity in treated groups as compared to control groups. Our study suggests that OXC may cause significant DNA damage in both acute as well as in subchronic therapies.

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Water, Sediments, and Tissues and Their Histopathological Effects on Anodonta cygnea (Linea, 1876) in Kabul River, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The present investigation aimed to assess the concentrations of selected heavy metals in water and sediments and their bioaccumulation in tissues of freshwater mussels and their histopathological effects on the digestive gland, gills, and gonads of Anodonta cygnea. Water, sediments, and freshwater mussel samples were collected at four sites, that is, reference and polluted sites, along the Kabul River, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The polluted sites were receiving effluents from the industrial, agricultural, municipal, and domestic sources. The order of metals in the water was Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Mn > Fe > Cr > Cd, in sediments the order was Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd, and in the soft tissues the order was Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd. Histopathological alterations observed in polluted sites of Kabul River were inflammation, hydropic vacuolation, and lipofuscin pigments (in digestive gland), gill lamellar fusion, dilated hemolymphatic sinus, clumping, and generation of cilia and hemocytic infiltration (in gills), and atresia, necrosis, granulocytoma, hemocytic infiltration, and lipofuscin pigments (in gonads). The histopathological alterations in the organs of Anodonta cygnea can be considered as reliable biomarkers in biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Biomonitoring of DNA damage in individuals exposed to brick kiln pollution from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Different kinds of harmful raw materials are used in brick kilns for baking bricks, thus exerting negative effects on the health of brick kiln workers and nearby residents. The comet assay technique monitors DNA damage in lymphocytes of brick kiln workers. Blood samples were collected from 150 participants to conduct comet assay. The results indicated a highly significant increase (p < .0001) in DNA damage in brick kiln workers (171.9 ± 62.1) as compared with the control group (101.9 ± 48.3). Duration of occupational exposure had positive correlation (r = .823, p < .05) with DNA damage. Age and tobacco use had significant effects on total comet score (TCS) of exposed group as compared to control group (p < .05). In summary, these findings indicate greater genotoxicity in brick kiln workers.

Bio-monitoring of DNA damage in matchstick industry workers from Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Background: Safety protocols are usually neglected in most of the matchstick industries rendering the laborer prone to various occupational hazards. Objective: The present study highlights DNA damage among matchstick factory workers (n = 92) against a control group (n = 48) of healthy individuals. Methods: Genotoxicity was measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the test subjects using a Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis assay (SCGE/comet assay). Results: Our results substantiate a high Total Comet Score (TCS) for factory workers (74.5 ± 47.0) when compared to the control group (53.0 ± 25.0) (P ≤ 0.001). Age and duration of occupational exposure had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on TCS value. As for job function, the TCS value was greatest in sweepers (91.0 ± 56.1) and lowest in box-making operators (26.0 ± 25.0) indicating that waste disposal poses the higher risk of DNA damage. Conclusions: Our study corroborates that matchstick chemicals can potentially damage the DNA of exposed subjects.