University of Benin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Benin City, Nigeria.
J Bras Nefrol. 2023 Oct-Dec;45(4):393-400. doi: 10.1590/2175-8239-JBN-2022-0101en.
Artificial fruit ripening agents such as ethanol, ethylene, ethephon, and calcium carbide (CaC2) is usually employed in stimulating the fruit ripening process. Currently, there is a paucity of information regarding the effects of various artificial fruits ripening methods on the health status of consumers. In this study, the physiological effects and possible health hazards associated with the consumption of plantain ripened by CaC2 and other non-chemical methods on the kidneys were investigated.
Artificially ripened plantain was mixed with rat feed and fed to Wistar albino rats for four weeks, and the levels of plasma electrolytes (Na+, HCO3-, K+, and Cl-), urea, creatinine, as well as histological changes in the kidneys were determined.
Results indicated that rats fed with carbide-ripened plantain had a significantly high level of plasma bicarbonate (HCO3-) compared to control rats., but there was no difference in the level of plasma sodium (Na+). However, the levels of plasma potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) were significantly low in rats fed with CaC2-ripened plantain as compared to the control rats. Furthermore, the levels of urea and creatinine were significantly high in rats fed with CaC2-ripened plantain compared to the control animals. Histological analyses showed glomeruli atrophy and tubular necrosis in kidneys of rats fed with CaC2-ripened plantain, thereby further indicating toxicity to the kidneys.
Histological evidence and alterations in the level of the plasma electrolytes, urea, and creatinine suggest that consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide may be harmful to the kidneys.
人工催熟剂，如乙醇、乙烯、乙烯利和碳化钙（CaC2），通常用于刺激水果成熟过程。目前，关于各种人工催熟方法对消费者健康状况的影响的信息很少。在这项研究中，研究了用 CaC2 和其他非化学方法催熟的芭蕉对肾脏的生理影响和可能存在的健康危害。
将人工催熟的芭蕉与大鼠饲料混合，喂食 Wistar 白化大鼠四周，测定血浆电解质（Na+、HCO3-、K+和 Cl-）、尿素、肌酐以及肾脏的组织学变化。
结果表明，与对照组大鼠相比，喂食碳化钙催熟芭蕉的大鼠血浆中碳酸氢盐（HCO3-）水平显著升高，但血浆中钠离子（Na+）水平没有差异。然而，与对照组大鼠相比，喂食 CaC2 催熟芭蕉的大鼠血浆中钾（K+）和氯（Cl-）的水平显著降低。此外，与对照组动物相比，喂食 CaC2 催熟芭蕉的大鼠的尿素和肌酐水平显著升高。组织学分析显示，喂食 CaC2 催熟芭蕉的大鼠的肾小球萎缩和肾小管坏死，进一步表明对肾脏有毒性。
组织学证据和血浆电解质、尿素和肌酐水平的改变表明，食用用碳化钙催熟的水果可能对肾脏有害。
