Laurus nobilis is one of the most popular species belonging to the lauraceae family and it has been reported to possess many physiological properties such as antimicrobial, antifungal and wound healing effects. In this study, effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Laurus nobilis on some oxidative stress markers and liver function parameters of female Wistar rats were investigated. Five rats were randomly assigned into each of groups 1-4, of which group one (1) served as control and received distilled water. Groups 2-4 were treated with 100mg/kg bw, 200mg/kg bw and 400mg/kg bw of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Laurus nobilis respectively, for a period of 14 days. The results obtained indicated that the superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities as well as, gluthathione reductase and peroxidase activities were not significantly affected. The malondialdehyde level did not change significantly after two weeks of extract administration. The extract caused no significant (P<0.05) alteration in the enzyme activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin. This study have shown that extract of Laurus nobilis neither altered hepatic function parameters nor promoted toxic stress in the female Wistar rats.

Anthropological assessment becomes the sole available medium for identification of the deceased in most forensic cases. We hope therefore to assess metrically if the femur bone could be used to estimate the age and sex of individuals by focusing on some rare morphological parameters. The skeletal samples of the right femur from 105 individuals (78 males and 27 females), who are within the age range of 21 and 60 years were harvested. The male samples had 53 profiled and 25 specimens non-profiled for age, while the females had 10 profiled and 17 specimens non- profiled for age. Direct measurements were taken for the marrow cavity diameter (MCD) and cortical thickness or radius (CT or Cr) using a centimeter rule and a sliding digital caliper to the nearest 0.1mm.The Marrow Cavity Diameter in our study is higher in the male population (1.70± 0.05) than the female population (1.43± 0.05). This variation was statistically significant (P<0.05) using the student t-test. The radius or thickness of the cortex decreases with age in females but is higher in the female population (0.73±0.03) than the males (0.68±0.03). ANOVA shows that there is a significant variation across male age groups (P=0.00) for the MCD, MA and Area of cortex. The marrow cavity diameter increases with age in males while area of cortex reduces with age in females. It is imperative therefore that the marrow cavity diameter, the medullary area and area of cortex are good assessors of age and sex.

Wormian bones, otherwise ‘Sutural’ bones, are accessory bones within or near cranial sutures. They are mostly found on lambdoid sutures and can be one or more in each suture. This study is aimed at examining the incidence and frequency of Wormian bones in the dry adult cadaveric skull in Rivers State, Nigeria. Forty-three (43) dry adult skulls were examined for the presence, number, and location of Wormian bone. Thirty-seven (37) of the skulls were from the osteological collections of the Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Science, University of Port Harcourt, and six (6) from the osteological collections of the Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University. 13 (30.23%) of the calvarias had Wormian bones while sutural bones were absent in 30 (69.77%0). 8 (61.53%) calvarias with Wormian bones had sutural bones in the lambdoid suture; with 3 (23.08%) on the left arm and 5 (38.46%) on the right arm of the lambdoid suture. 2 (15.38%) of the calvarias with Wormian bone had sutural bone in the sagittal suture and 3 (23.08%) had Wormian bones in the lambda (Inca bone). The knowledge of incidence of Wormian bone and their calvaric distribution as described in this study is essentially useful to the Anatomist, Radiologist, Pediatrician, and Surgeon in their daily practice, as well as in forensic medicine.