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Toxicity of aluminum using lipid peroxidation product – Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum, liver and brain homogenates in male Wistar albino rats was investigated in this study. A total of eighteen (18) rats of six (6) each in a group were administered 0.38 and 38 mg/kg body weight aluminum while the control group received 0.2ml normal saline for seven and fourteen days respectively. The results from this study show that MDA concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05) and non-significantly higher (p>0.05) in 38mg/kg and 0.38mg/kg in serum, liver and brain homogenates after 7 and 14 days of aluminum treatment. However, the MDA concentration was highest in the brain homogenate. The results suggest lipid peroxidation probably due to the generation of free radicals, though need to be investigated further.

This study evaluated the haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying inclusion levels of sun-dried false yam meal (SFYM) as a partial replacement for maize. A total of 150-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% SFYM inclusion) in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replicates of ten birds per treatment. Data on haematological indices showed that increasing SFYM levels led to a significant (P<0.05) decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), MCV, MCH, MCHC, and percentage heterophil, whilst the WBC increases. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) declined with increasing SFYM levels, indicative of a microcytic, hypochromic effect. Percentage eosinophil and lymphocytes were significantly (P<0.05) higher in broiler chickens maintained in T2 and T5 respectively compared to other treatment groups. The serum biochemical indices revealed (P<0.05) reduction in total protein, glucose, ALP, and AST of broiler chickens as the inclusion levels of SFYM increased, while the concentration of albumin, urea and creatinine increased. These findings suggest that SFYM can be used to substitute maize partially up to 16% level without negative impact on broiler chickens health.