Peganum harmala L. is a plant, which grows in semi-arid rangeland. The plant is used traditionally as an emmenagogue and an abortifacient agent in the Middle East and North Africa. All parts of plant are thought to be toxic and sever intoxication occurs in domestic animals. Digestive and nervous syndromes have been observed in animals that consume sub-lethal amount of the plant. The toxicated animal appears in a narcotic state interrupted by occasional short period of excitement. Abortion is frequent in animals that digest this plant in a dry year. While this plant has traditionally been used in Middle East, it shows toxic effects in human. A case of human overdose with P. harmala seeds is reported in this paper. Symptoms experienced by our patient found to be similar to what has been reported for domestic animals.

In respect to nano-technological studies and physiological and biochemical lesions of these materials on aquatic animals, in this study we examine the toxicity effects of nano-zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) on hematological indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). LC50 of nano zinc oxide was determined according to the mortality at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. During separate experiment based on the LC50 levels, hematological parameters were studied with induction of the sub-lethal concentrations of nano zinc oxide. In this study, lethal toxicity concentration of nano-ZnO (LC50) for common carp was 3.120 ± 0.23 ppm. when the fish were exposed to sub lethal concentrations (50% of LC50) for 7days, the results showed that the nano-particles causes various changes in the blood parameters of the fish that these changes was affected by the nano-particles in blood indices by reducing the level of red blood cells (RBC), Hemoglobin, Hematocrit and increase in white blood cells (WBC) (P<0.05). In comparison of fish exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of the nano-particles compared to the control group MCHC showed a significant increase (P<0.05)but during experiment MCV and MCH didn’t show significant changes (P>0.05) in the exposed nano-ZnO. The results of this study showed that the sub-lethal toxicity of nano-particles could have a negative impact on hematological indices of Common carp, so we should prevent the entrance of such substances to the aquatic ecosystems.

Several articles have showed the effect of ALP toxicity on different organs. Toxicity mechanisms are not clearly understood yet. Due to the potential increased use of ALP as a fumigant and the lack of adequate toxicity data, previous studies were re-evaluated to characterize the epidemiological, toxicological, and clinical/ pathological aspects of ALP poisoning and its management. Related terms were looked up in bibliographical databases such as the Tehran University Medical Science Digital Library, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and British library. The studies suggest that phosphine targets the mitochondria and inhibits respiration in rat liver mitochondria, insect mitochondria, and intact nematodes. On the other hand, glutathione (GSH) levels are reduced in various tissues of ALP-poisoned rats, while remaining unchanged in insects and mammalian cells. Also, acetylcholine signaling is an important component of phosphine toxicity. Phosphine (PH3) induces oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in insects, mammalian cells, and other animals. There is no known antidote for ALP intoxication; but, melatonin as an effective antidote protects against oxidative damage in the brain, lung, and liver of the rats and suggests the involvement of ROS in the genotoxicity of PH3. Cholinesterase inhibition responds to treatment with atropine, pralidoxime, and oral sweet almond oil, especially if used immediately after ALP poisoning. Several treatments have been used in animals some of which have not been tested in human-beings yet. Such treatments should be given in controlled situations with the hope they may be helpful in treating these patients.