EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS OF Corchorus olitorus AND Telfairia occidentalis ON CYANIDE POISONING IN Rattus rattus

Abstract

Many people are exposed to the risk of cyanide poisoning in Nigeria through consumption of cyanide containing foods. Telfairia occidentalis and Corchorus olitorus contain cysteine and methionine which have some detoxifying effects on cyanide poisoning. However, there is dearth of information about the ameliorating effects of these vegetables on cyanide poisoning when used as dietary supplements in animal models.The study therefore assessed the efficacy of these two vegetables on cyanide poisoning in Rattus rattus. Thirty male albino Wistar rats of 7weeks old were fed on commercial rat pellets and water adlibitum for four weeks. They were randomly allocated to five treatments and one control groups. Lyophilized water extracts of Telfairia occidentalis and Corchorus olitorus were reconstituted in water to give a concentration of 3mg/l. The groups were treated with Potassium cyanide (KCN) (3mg/kg) and aqueous vegetable extract (3mgl/l) as follows: distilled water only (Control group I ); Dilute aqueous KCN only (group 2); KCN and Telfairia occidentalis extract (group 3); KCN and Corchorus olitorus extracts (group 4); Telfairia occidentalis extract only (group 5); Corchorus olitorus extracts only (group 6). Physical changes, body weight, ocular lesion and nasal discharge were documented. Biochemical analysis involving detecting levels of Alanine Amino Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were used as indicators for liver damage. Sections of the brain, liver and kidney were examined morphologically. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The mean rat weight change were 24.0±47.6 (Control group ), -7.0±19.7 (CN only) ), 0.0±33.5 (CN + Telfaria accidentalis extract), -5.0±10.5 (CN+ Corchorus olitorus extracts), 3.3±10.3 (Telfairia occidentalis extract only) and 12.0±20.4g (Corchorus olitorus extracts only) for rats in groups 1 to 6 respectively (p<0.05). In group 3 (CN + Telfairia occidentalis extract), 17.1% of the rats had ocular lesion while ocular lesion occurrence was 28.6% in group 4 (CN + corchorus olitorus extracts) and 67.1% in group 2(CN only) (p<005). Slimy nasal discharge was found in 22.9% of rats in group 4 (CN + Corchorus olitorus extracts) and 28.6% in group 2 (CN only). No discharge was found in groups 1 (Control group), group 3(CN + Telfairia occidentalis extract), group 5 (Telfairia occidentalis extract only) and group 6(corchorus olitorus extracts only). Ranges of values for ALT were 12-69 U/L (units/liter) (control group ),13.78 U/L(CN only), 15-63 U/L (CN ± Telfairia occidentalis extract) 22-74 U/L (CN + Corchorus olitorus extracts) and 2-69 U/L (Telfairia occidentalis extract only) and 7-70 U/L(Corchorus olitorus extracts only) for rats in groups 1 to 6 respectively, indicating liver damage in groups 2 (CN only) and group 4 (CN + Corchorus olitorus extract). Histopathological analysis indicated that cyanide caused the following changes in the rats: liver multifocal degeneration, necrosis and slight congestion of the kidney and brain in the rats in group 2 (CN only): mild congestion of the kidney with no visible lesion of the brain and kidney was observed in the rats of group 3 (CN + Telfairia occidentalis extract ): focal hepatic degeneration and necrosis with no visible Iesion in the brain were observed in rats of group 4 (CN + Corchorus olitorus extracts). No visible lesion of the liver and brain were observed in rats of group 5 (Telfairia occidentalis extract only) and group 6(Corchorus olitorus extracts only). All rats in group 1 (control group) had normal values for all assessed parameters. Telfairia occidentalis and Corchorus olitorus reduced cyanide toxicity in the rats fed with them implying that they have detoxification properties. Telfairia occidentalis however had more detoxification effects.