The Effects of Two Nigerian Made Perfumes on the Liver of Adult Wistar Rat

The use of perfumes is becoming increasingly popular in our environment. Attention is therefore understandably being focused on the safety of these perfumes. Hence, this study aimed to determine changes in the anatomical parameters of the liver and the activities of the biomarker enzymes of the liver (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) following the exposure of the rats to two popularly used Nigerian made perfumes. Thirty-six Wistar rats were allocated into groups: A, B, C, D, E and F with each group consisting of six rats. Animals in groups C and D were exposed to the first and second perfumes by inhalation respectively for 77 days; animals in groups E and F were exposed to the first and second perfumes by inhalation respectively for a period of 154 days, while groups A and B animals served as the control groups for the periods of 77 days and 154 days, respectively. The rats were sacrificed at the end of each period of exposure after which blood was obtained for enzyme assay and the liver weights, liver volumes, liver weight/body weight ratio were evaluated. The results showed a significant decrease in the animals body weights, liver weights, liver volumes and liver weight/bodyweight ratios in the experimental groups of rats as compared to the control groups. There were also increases in the activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. It is concluded that these perfumes have a deleterious effect on the rat liver.