%0 Journal Article
%T Prophylactic Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Irvingia gabonensis Stem Bark against Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats
%A Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo
%A Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye
%A Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye
%A Adebola Busola Ojo
%J Advances in Pharmaceutics
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/894610
%X The prophylactic effect of ethanolic extract of Irvingia gabonensis stem bark on cadmium-induced oxidative damage in male albino rats¡¯ liver was investigated. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, cadmium, and treatment groups. In the prophylactic experiment, Irvingia gabonensis (200 and 400£¿mg/kg body weight) was administered by oral gavage for 21 days before exposure to cadmium. Antioxidant marker enzymes such as reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were determined in the liver and heart alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were monitored and histological examination was carried out. Results indicate that cadmium-induced rats had significantly increased relative weight of liver and heart when compared to controls. Treatment with Irvingia gabonensis at 200 and 400£¿mg/kg caused a significant decrease in relative weight of the organs. In cadmium-induced rats, serum ALT and AST activities and levels of LPO were increased whereas hepatic and cardiac marker enzymes significantly decreased. Furthermore, histological alteration in liver and aorta was observed in cadmium untreated rats and was ameliorated in cadmium rats treated with Irvingia gabonensis. In conclusion, the extract indicates antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties that eliminate the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites of cadmium. 1. Introduction It has become obvious that humans have adjusted the global cycle of heavy metals and metalloids, including the toxic non-essential like cadmium. Thus there is enough opportunity for exposure to cadmium both inside and outside the workplace [1]. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic hnavy metals and increased concentration of Cd in agricultural soils is to come from application of phosphate fertilizers, sewage sludge, waste water, and pesticides [2]. Further sources of cadmium drawn from mining at mines, smelting of ores, and industrial application of Cd in pigments, plastic stabilizers, and nickel cadmium batteries resulted in widespread agricultural soil pollution [3]. Cadmium is a risk reason for humans. It amasses in the body tissues, such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, bones, and reproductive organs [4, 5]. Liu et al. [6] reported that Cd creates reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing oxidative damage in various tissues. It is shown that exposure to Cd by different routes causes increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) in membranes of erythrocytes and tissues, where thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ap/2014/894610/