ABSTRACT
PAHs are pervasive pollutants known to bioaccumulate in environmental matrices, plants, and humans. Dr. Iguedo Goko Cleanser® is a polyherbal drug with unsubstantiated claims to treat various diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. PAHs were measured following EPA-16 PAHs guidelines using Gas Chromatography (Agilent-6890N, USA). The drug's exposure-associated public health concerns was determined using suitable mathematical paradigms. PAHs present were acenaphthene (2.74 × 10-2), pyrene (2.7598 × 10-2), and chrysene (5.1277 × 10-2) ppm. Dietary intake of chrysene, acenaphthene and pyrene for adults, and children ranged from 2.466-4.615 × 10-3 and 1.215-2.308 × 10-3 ppm/mg/kg, respectively. B[α]Peq, EDB[α]Peq, and incremental lifetime cancer risk were determined to be 5.6777 × 10-4, 5.109912 × 10-5 and 5.3289 × 10-12, respectively. Our results suggest a high risk of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects, especially on chronic exposure among adolescents and adults, necessitating caution and/or avoidance of its chronic use. Therefore, policy formulation and implementation as regards the safety of plant-based remedies and allied products before their distribution among end-users must be ensured.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dr Iguedo Goko Cleanser® is a herbal formulation (HF) widely marketed in southern Nigeria and purported to be very efficacious for the management of various diseases including giardiasis, toilet infections, hypertension, diabetes, ulcer, impotence, low libido, low sperm count amongst others. Medicinal plants reportedly produce an array of adverse reactions capable of inducing harmful conditions, including death. Aim: This study evaluated the subchronic toxicity concern of HF on testicular function and gonadal histoarchitecture in Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly divided into six groups (5/group) and were orally administered HF for 60 days. The control groups received 5 mL/kg of distilled water; the treatment groups were administered 476.24 and 158.75 mg/kg body weight of HF each for both male and female rats. Using standard procedures, semen analysis was done for all male rats. Animals were anaesthetised and sacrificed on the 62nd day; the gonads were eviscerated, weighed and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histopathological examinations. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) increase in sperm count relative to control as well as spermatotoxic effects were observed in male rats. Histologically, the ovary presented some degrees of pathologies: cloggy appearing ovarian cortex with a display of a tumour-like cortical area, scantily displayed primordial follicles, haemorrhagic blood vessels, atretic secondary follicle, and eroding granulosa cells amongst others. Testicular histopathology showed abnormal seminiferous tubules' histoarchitecture, degenerated spermatids, distorted spermatogenic cells' orientation, and displaced spermatids into the luminal space. Conclusion: Herbal drugs are usually regarded to be completely safe due to their natural sources, however, this study discovered exposure-related toxic effects of Dr Iguedo Goko Cleanser® on testicular function and gonadal histomorphology. The findings recommend extreme caution with chronic use and avoidance whenever possible.
