EFFECT OF BASELLA ABLA AND SOLANUM MACROCARPON VEGETABLES ON CYANIDE TOXICITY RAT

Abstract

Some Nigerian staples contain certain levels of cyanide, which if ingest in large quantity can predispose to acute poisoning. Basella alba (BA) and Solanum macrocarpon (SM) are vegetables often consumed concomitantly with the staples in Nigeria. They contain essential amino acids, vitamins and other antioxidants that may have some detoxifying effects on cyanide toxicity. The detoxifying properties have not been proven, hence this study was carried out to investigate the possible ameliorating effect of these leafy vegetables on cyanide toxicity in rats. Using experimental design, 3-week old Wistar strain albino rats were randomly allocated to one control and five treatment groups at 5 rats per group. After two weeks of acclimatisation, lyophilized aqueous extracts of BA and SM were reconstituted in water to give a concentration of 3mg/1. Potassium cyanide (KCN) was prepared at a concentration of 3 mg/l. The groups(Gs) were treated as follows: group 1 (control); group 2 (3 mg/kg body weight KCN); group 3 (3 mg/kg body weight each of aqueous BA extract and aqueous KCN): group 4 (3 mg/kg body weight each of aqueous SM extract and aqueous KCN); group 5 (3 mg/kg aqueous BA extract); group 6 (3 mg/kg aqueous SM extract). Treatments were administered using oral canular while maintaining the rats on commercial rat pellets and water to ad-libitum for 30 days. Biochemical analysis, Histopathological examination of liver, brain and kidney were conducted. Haematological examination were carried out using standard methods of the International Council for Standardisation in Haematology (ICSH). The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The mean rat weight before and after the experiment were; 125.8±9.8 g and 159.0±22.1g (control), 126.0±15.2 g and 148.6±19.6 g (G2), 127.3±10.9g and 156.1±18.8 g (G3), 130±15.6 g and 147.8±20.3 g (G4), 129.0±11.5 g and 151.8±18.9 g (G5), 128.6±15.4 g and 158.9±19.4 g (06) respectively (p<0.05). Significant reduction in the mean weight was found in Gs 2 and 4 (p<0.05) when compared with the control group. Significant reduction in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cell (RBC) and Hemoglobin (Hb) were observed in G2 (p<0.05), while cyanide effect on these hematological parameters were ameliorated in groups 3 and 4. However, G5 showed elevated mean PCV, Hb, and RBC count relative to the control (p<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen was highest in G2 (18.0±2.0 mg/dL) while G3 (16.1±0.6mg/dL) and G4 (17.3±2.3 mg/dL) had higher values relative to the control group (16.0±0.0 mg/dL). Mean values for Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes were, 26.7±4.4 (control), 32.7±1.5 (G2), 29.0±3.6 (G3), 31.0±1.0 (G4), 24.0±2.6 (G5) and 32.0±2.6 (G6) (p>0.05). Degeneration of fatty tissue and atrophy of the hepatic cords of the liver, malesion of the brain and multifocal testicular degeneration in group 2. No visible lesion was observed on organs in group 3, Vacuolation of the brain and centrolobular fatty degeration of the liver were observed in group 4, while group 5 showed no observable lesion. Severe degeneration of hepatic cords of the liver was observed in one rat in group 6. BaseIla alba considerably elevated hematopoietic indices and alleviated cyanide toxicity effect on hematopoietic system in rats whereas Solanum macrocarpon slightly elevated hematopoietic system but had some deleterious effects on some indices in rats. It is therefore recommended that Solarium Macrocarpon should not be taken by people exposed to cyanide toxicity.