Evaluation of the effect of different concentrations of Arsenicum album 6cH on intoxicated rats

Aims: Homeopaths diverge on the concept of dose, i.e. the amount of drug that a patient must take to alter his or her state of disease. In order to stimulate reflections on this concept, this study sought to evaluate in vivo the effect of different concentrations of Arsenicum album 6cH prepared according to homeopathic pharmacotechnics. Methods: male Wistar rats were intoxicated with arsenic and then treated with Arsenicum album 6cH and Arsenicum album 6cH diluted at 1%, administered orally. The amount of arsenic retained in the animals’ organism and that eliminated by urine were measured through atomic absorption spectroscopy. Samples of urine were collected before and after intoxication and during treatment. The positive control group (intoxicated animals) and the negative control group (non-intoxicated animals) received only the vehicle used in the preparation of the medicine. Results: Groups treated with Arsenicum album 6cH and Arsenicum album 6cH diluted at 1% eliminated significant amounts of arsenic when compared to the control groups. The group treated with Arsenicum album 6cH eliminated significantly higher amounts of arsenic than the group treated with the diluted medicine at 1%. Conclusion: results suggest that Arsenicum album 6cH should not be diluted as not to compromise its effectiveness in the treatment of rats intoxicated with arsenic.

PENENTUAN DAERAH PROSPEK MINERALISASI MENGGUNAKAN METODE GEOKIMIA TANAH, DAERAH NANGA BANGIK, KECAMATAN BOYAN TANJUNG, KABUPATEN KAPUAS HULU, PROVINSI KALIMANTAN BARAT

Sebagai negara tropis pelapukan tanah di Indonesia berlangsung intensif. Penentuan daerah prospek mineralisasi pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode geokimia tanah, dengan melakukan pengambilan sampel dari tanah lapukan tersebut. Daerah Nanga Bangik, Desa Jemah, Kecamatan Boyan Tanjung, Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu, Provinsi Kalimantan Barat memiliki kondisi geologi yang sangat memungkinkan terbentuk mineralisasi logam. Penyelidikan ini dilakukan untuk menentukan daerah prospek mineralisasi. Sebanyak 135 sampel tanah telah diambil menggunakan sistem ridge and spurs dari horizon B dengan jarak antar titik lokasi sampel 75 – 100 meter. Sampel tanah tersebut dianalisis di Laboratorium Pusat Sumber Daya Mineral Batubara dan Panas Bumi (PSDMBP). Analisis laboratorium menggunakan metode AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy), unsur yang dianalisis meliputi Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ag dan Au. Metode analisis statistik yang dilakukan meliputi analisis distribusi, perhitungan nilai threshold dengan metode perhitungan Mean+2 SDEV dan Median+2 MAD dan korelasi antar unsur dengan Faktor Analisis. Berdasarkan perhitungan nilai threshold menggunakan dua metode statistik yang berbeda, didapatkan beberapa nilai anomali dan tiga faktor kelompok unsur: Faktor 1: Pb-Fe-Zn-Ag Faktor 2: Mn-Cu dan Faktor 3 berupa unsur Au yang diinterpretasikan berhubungan dengan adanya mineralisasi logam. Didapatkan tiga daerah prospek mineralisasi logam di Bukit Empajak, Bukit Pirang dan Bukit Limau.

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Pesticide Residues in Widely Consumed Nigerian Food Crops Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Gas Chromatography (GC)

More still needs to be learned regards the relative contamination of heavy metals and pesticide residues, particularly those found in widely consumed Nigerian food crops like cereals, vegetables, and tubers. In this current study, the heavy metals and pesticide residues detectable in widely consumed Nigerian food crops were respectively quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and gas chromatography (GC). Specifically, the widely consumed Nigerian food crops included cereals (rice, millet, and maize), legume (soybean), tubers (yam and cassava), as well as leaf (fluted pumpkin, Amaranthus leaf, waterleaf, and scent leaf) and fruit vegetables (okro, cucumber, carrot, and watermelon). Results showed that the detected heavy metals included arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni), whereas the pesticide residues included Aldrin, Carbofuran, g-chlordane, Chlorpyrifos, DichloroBiphenyl, Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Dichlorvos, Endosulfan, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Isopropylamine, Lindane, t-nonachlor, and Profenofos. Across the studied food crops, the concentrations of heavy metals and pesticides were varied, with different trends as they largely fell below the established maximum permissible limits, and with some exceptions. Our findings suggest there could be a somewhat gradual decline in the concentration of the heavy metals and pesticide residues of these studied food crops when compared to previously published reports specific to Nigeria. To help substantiate this observation and supplement existing information, further investigations are required into the concentration of these heavy metals and pesticide residues specific to these studied food crops at other parts of the country.

Synthesis and Characterisation of New {Fe2CrO} Heterotrinuclear Iron-chromium Clusters

Two new μ3-oxo trinuclear heterometallic Fe2IIICrIII complexes with furan-2-carboxylic and salicylic acids with the composition: [Fe2CrO(C4H3OCOO)6(CH3OH)3]NO3·0.5CH3OH and [Fe2CrO(C6H4(OH)COO)7(CH3OH)2]·2DMA were synthesized starting from iron(III) and chromium(III) salts mixture. The complexes structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, Mössbauer spectroscopies, and X-ray analysis. The atomic absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the iron: chromium ratio is 2:1. The thermal properties of both heteronuclear complexes have been investigated in oxidizing and inert atmospheres revealing the stability of the trinuclear core up to 170 and 220°C, respectively.

Elemental Analysis Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

The resonance radiation study is a powerful means in obtaining valuable information concerning the behavior of individual atoms and molecules. Various quantitative techniques are available in order to determine the amount of analyte and analysis of trace elements in the sample. Some technique uses the principle, when the number of atoms in the path of light increases, the amount of light absorption increases. While other techniques use dissociation of chemical compound free atoms by supplying enough thermal energy. In this paper, an attempt is made to compare various analytical methods with their merits and demerits and the reasons for popularity of atomic absorption spectroscopy among researchers. Elemental analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy of various elements that are found in nature particularly in foods and environment is also presented.

Evaluation of lead and cadmium levels in lipsticks sold in Kathmandu, Nepal, and their potential health risk assessment

The study aimed to assess the levels of Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) in lipsticks and theirs associated health hazards to consumers. 13 lipsticks and 7 lipglosses were selected randomly from various shopping centers in Kathmandu, Nepal. The lipstick sample was chemically digested and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The concentration range of Pb and Cd in lipsticks was from 0.020.009 to 30.970.014 mg kg-1 and 0.010.014 to 0.920.009 mg kg-1 respectively. The hazard quotient for Pb was found greater than 1 in 15 samples showing detrimental carcinogenic health risk through lipstick consumption. So, these lipstick brands are prone to hamper human health. Accordingly, regular monitoring of the lipsticks before importing them is highly recommended. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 9(3): 213-219.

Effects of age and sex on the content of heavy metals in the hair, liver and the longissimus lumborum muscle of roe deer Capreolus capreolus L.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age and sex on the content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) in the hair, liver and the longissimus lumborum muscle of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.). In addition, correlations between heavy metals in individual tested matrices were studied as well as an attempt was made to explain the reasons for their accumulation in specific research matrices. The levels of Zn and Cu were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (F-AAS). The levels of Pb and Cd were analysed by means of electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ET-AAS). In the own research, sex-related statistically significant differences in concentrations of analysed elements were confirmed. Higher levels of the elements were observed in samples collected from does (except for Cd in the liver samples of 6–7-month-old male fawns) but only in some cases, these values were statistically significantly higher. In some cases, age-related differences in the content of individual metals were also confirmed. Age-dependent increased Pb levels in the muscle and liver were reported in 6–7-month-old, <3–4-year-old, <5–6-year-old males. Similar relationships were confirmed for Zn in the bucks’ muscles. In the group of does, the increase in heavy metal concentrations with aging was observed for Zn in the muscle and for Pb in the liver. In the other cases, the trend of age-related level changes regarding heavy metals was not clearly demonstrated. Significant positive correlations between Cu and Cd were found for all samples, and significant negative correlations of Cu with Pb were found for the hair and liver. There was a negative correlation of Zn with Cu in all matrices. The study also revealed a negative correlation between Zn and Pb in muscle and a strong significant negative correlation between Zn and Cd in hair and in the liver.