ABSTRACT
Background: This research investigated the recuperative (restorative) effect of aqueous extract of Carica papaya fruit on cadmium induced prefrontal-cortex damaged in adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Previous research reports have confirmed that cadmium toxicity results in cellular damage which is due to an increase in production of reactive oxygen species and prevention of the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Various parts of the brain (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and so on) are majorly affected by cadmium as its induced damage. Methods: 30 Wistar rats (70 g-190 g) were used for this research. The rats were randomly selected into six groups of five animals each. A single dose of 3CdSO4.8H2O (Cadmium sulphate octahydrous) 3.5 mg/kg body weights was administered intraperitoneally to three of these groups against control a group that was not exposed to Cadmium. Two groups were treated with different doses of Carica papaya fruit extract for the period of four weeks. After four weeks, the rats were sacrificed and organs excised, weigh and fixed in fixative for histological processing. The photomicrographs of the normal control, induced control and treated groups were observed and compared for histomorphological similarities and differences. Results: Cadmium was observed to have caused a distortion, disruption and calcification in the cells and tissue of the prefrontal cortex. There was shrinkage of nuclei of the neurons in cadmium induced rats. It was also observed that cadmium caused a loss in function of cell in the process of protein biosynthesis. The morphology of the neuronal cells of rats treated with high and low doses of Carica papaya extract was found to be slightly normal with increased viable neuronal cells as compared with the neurons of the normal control group 1 animals, though the restorative effects of the high dose treated rats were more pronounced. Also, it was observed that the damage to the brain section neurons treated with vitamins C and E before induction was not pronounced. Moreso, loss in body weight were observed in cadmium induced group animals and over treatment with Carica papaya, gain in the rats body weight was observed in the treatment animal groups as compared with the body weight of rats in normal control. Animal body weight before cadmium inoculation, after inoculation and before animal sacrifice were compared across all the groups and it was found that, there was a progressive increase in rats body weight (99±2,35≤ 150 ±3.21), (120±2.32≤189±3.21) and (135±1.35≤175±2.15) respectively which was significant at P ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: It can be ascertained from this present study that Carica papaya has ameliorative properties against deleterious effects of cadmium on the neurons and neuroglia of the prefrontal-cortex in Wistar rats which is dose dependent.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cadmium is a carcinogenic agent in humans, and therefore, a cancer causing substance. In the body it is extensively circulated, but it is bound mainly to erythrocytes. Though cadmium binds to various macromolecules and proteins in the body, it is not well metabolized. Cadmium intensifies oxidative damage in the nervous system (and various other organ systems) thereby causing harm. The damage results from an increase in production of reactive oxygen species and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes as shown by previous researches. This study investigated possible effects of Carica papaya as an antioxidant in the damage of the brain caused by cadmium. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats weighing between 120 g-180 g of both sexes were divided into six groups of five animals each and used in this study. Six groups were induced intraperitoneally with a single dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium sulphate. Two out of these six groups were treated with high and low doses of Carica papaya, 250 mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight respectively for the period of four weeks. After sacrifice, enzyme assays were carried out on the tissue supernatant homogenates. Results: The investigation showed that MDA level of activities decreased in the prefrontal cortex supernatant of groups 1, 2 and 6 animals and an increase in the MDA level of activities were observed in groups 4 and 5 rats which was significant at p<0.05. There was a decrease in catalase activities in groups 2 and 3 rats, also, an increase in CAT activities in groups 4 and 5 rats, the decrease was significant in groups 2 and 3 animals as compared with the control group 1 rats. GST activities decreased in groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 rats and the decreased activities were significant at p<0.05 when compared with control group 1 animals. Progressive increase in the superoxide dismutase was observed in groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 rats and this increase in activities was found significant at p<0.05 in groups 4, 5 and 6 rats when compared with the control group 1 rats. Conclusion: The present study has justified the ameliorative properties of Carica papaya in scavenging the free oxygen radicals and supplement the cellular antioxidant systems.
ABSTRACT
Cadmium is a relatively rare soft metal that occurs in the natural environment typically in association with zinc ores and to a lesser extent, with lead and copper ores. It is highly toxic to both human and animals because it is widely distributed in the environment and is used in various industries. Some of the toxic effects of cadmium exposure are testicular atrophy, renal dysfunction, hepatic damage, hypertension, central nervous system injury and anemia. Parkia biglobosa serves as a remedy for quite number of ailments and has medicinal properties against bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, violent colic, vomiting sores and ulcers. This research work was targeted at investigating the activities of cadmium and Parkia biglobosa leaf extract on the histoarchitecture and histochemistry in prefrontal cortex. Thirty Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were acclimatized for two weeks and were maintained under standard condition in Bingham University animal house holding they were housed in well ventilated cages and kept under controlled light schedule and were fed with standard laboratory feed and water ad libitum. The rats were randomly grouped into six groups A, B, C, D, E, F each containing five animals. Group A served as control, Groups B, C, D, E and F were injected intra-peritoneally with 3.0 mg/kg of cadmium sulphate. After 72hrs of injecting cadmium, group C, D and E were administered orally with 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of the leaves extract of Parkia biglobosa respectively and group F received oral administration of 100 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg of vitamin C and E respectively for two weeks. Animals were sacrificed after two weeks of the last administration of the Parkia biglobosa leaf extract by cervical dislocation. Cadmium administration caused a significant increase (P< 0.05) of LDH, G6PD and MDA level in cadmium group animal while there was a significant decrease in LDH, G6PD and MDA level upon administration of Parkia biglobosa leaf extract. This study has shown that Parkia biglobosa leaf extract has antioxidant properties that might have enhanced morphological damage caused by cadmium by regenerating pyramidal and neuroglial cells and improving distribution of Nissl bodies in the prefrontal cortex of the treated rats.