Imafidon Christian Eseigbe, Olukiran Olaoluwa Sesan, Ogundipe Dare Joshua, Eluwole Alaba Omotayo, Adekunle Isiaka Ayofe, Oke Gracious Oluwamayowa
Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Department of Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Toxicol Rep. 2018 Mar 5;5:324-332. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.02.009. eCollection 2018.
Exposure to cadmium (Cd), even at low doses, is of serious health concern because it does not undergo metabolic degradation to less toxic metabolite. Liver injury/disease, with a world-wide increasing incidence, is one of the consequences of exposure to Cd toxicity. This study aimed at determining the effects of acetonic extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaf (AEVAL) in a Wistar rat model of Cd-induced liver injury. Phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out and its oral LD was determined to guide the choice of therapeutic doses. Thereafter, thirty male Wistar rats were recruited for this study. The experimental groups received 4 weeks oral graded doses of the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) following Cd-induced liver injury. Cd-induced liver injury (5 mg/kg i.p for 5 consecutive days) was characterized by deleterious alterations in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and hepatic total protein (p ˂ 0.05). Also, deleterious alteration of oxidative stress indicators (GSH, SOD and CAT) and lipid peroxidation index (TBARS) was observed in the liver homogenates. Histopathological examination showed evidence of degenerated hepatocytes as well as inflammation with disseminated steatosis. These conditions were significantly attenuated (p ˂ 0.05) following treatment with graded doses of the extract, with the highest dose expressing least therapeutic effects. This study concluded that AEVAL attenuated Cd-induced liver injury and is, potentially, a suitable option in adjuvant therapy for heavy metal toxicity.
即使是低剂量接触镉（Cd）也会引发严重的健康问题，因为它不会代谢降解为毒性较低的代谢物。肝脏损伤/疾病的发病率在全球范围内不断上升，是接触镉毒性的后果之一。本研究旨在确定扁桃斑鸠菊叶丙酮提取物（AEVAL）对镉诱导的肝损伤Wistar大鼠模型的影响。对该提取物进行了植物化学筛选，并测定了其口服半数致死量以指导治疗剂量的选择。此后，招募了30只雄性Wistar大鼠进行本研究。在镉诱导肝损伤后，实验组接受4周的分级口服剂量提取物（100、200和400mg/kg）。镉诱导的肝损伤（腹腔注射5mg/kg，连续5天）的特征是天冬氨酸转氨酶、丙氨酸转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶、总胆红素和肝脏总蛋白水平发生有害改变（p＜0.05）。此外，在肝脏匀浆中观察到氧化应激指标（谷胱甘肽、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶）和脂质过氧化指数（硫代巴比妥酸反应物）的有害改变。组织病理学检查显示肝细胞变性以及伴有弥漫性脂肪变性的炎症。用分级剂量的提取物治疗后，这些情况得到显著改善（p＜0.05），其中最高剂量的治疗效果最差。本研究得出结论，AEVAL减轻了镉诱导的肝损伤，并且可能是重金属毒性辅助治疗的合适选择。
