Cabbage juice supplementation abrogates Lead acetate-induced haematological and haemorheological imbalances in male Wistar rat.

Lead is a hazardous naturally found heavy metal that has been reported to induce haematological alterations. Whether cabbage, a commonly consumed vegetable rich in antioxidants and anticancer compounds, can mitigate these alterations remains unknown. This study investigated the protective effect of cabbage juice against Lead-induced haematological changes. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were randomly selected into four groups (n = 5) and given distilled water (1 ml/100 g b.wt), Lead acetate (25 mg/kg b.wt), Cabbage juice (1 ml/100 g b.wt), and Lead acetate with Cabbage juice. All treatments were given orally for 28 days. Lead exposure induces normocytic normochromic anemia with substantial leukocytosis, lymphocytopenia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. Lead-intoxicated animals had significantly higher haemolysis and prolonged clotting times. However, cabbage juice reverses these adverse haematological and haemorheological changes induced by Lead acetate. Conclusively, cabbage juice demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and immunomodulatory properties, as well as the ability to protect the red blood cell membrane from damage caused by Lead-induced osmotic stress.

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) mitigates lead (II) acetate-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats via up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression, pituitary-testicular hormonal axis and down-regulation of oxido-inflammatory reactions.

Oxido-inflammatory stress has been involved in lead-induced testicular dysfunction and plants rich in anti-oxidants has been reported to be beneficial in combating heavy metal poisonings in animal studies. However, cabbage juice protective effect on lead-induced testicular dysfunction was investigated in this study. Twenty male Wistar rats were selected into four (n = 5) groups and given distilled water (1 ml/100 g body weight), lead acetate (25 mg/kg body weight), cabbage juice (1 ml/100 g body weight), and lead acetate with cabbage juice, respectively. All treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Sperm count, motility, viability, testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, testicular Bcl-2 expression, and enzymatic anti-oxidant capabilities were considerably (p < 0.05) decrease in lead-treated animals. However, cabbage juice significantly (p < 0.05) elevated these parameters. Testicular malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide and interleukin-6 was elevated by lead acetate. When comparing cabbage juice-treated animals to lead-treated animals, all of these parameters were considerably (p < 0.05) downregulated in cabbage juice-treated animals. Following lead administration, the testes' histomorphological alterations were not totally recovered despite therapy with cabbage juice. Conclusively, this study suggest that cabbage juice mitigates testicular dysfunction associated with lead exposure via its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and androgenic properties.

Comparative Assessment of Some White Blood Cell and Platelet Parameters among Normotensive and Hypertensive Subjects in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Reports comparing the values of white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet parameters among normotensive, newly diagnosed hypertensive, and known hypertensive participants in Nigeria are relatively scarce. This study sought to compare these hematologic parameters of normotensive and hypertensive participants in the Southeastern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty participants each of normotensive, newly diagnosed hypertensive, and known hypertensive and age- and sex-matched individuals were recruited into the study. Using an automated hematology analyzer, the following hematological parameters were determined in all participants: total WBC; neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts; percentage value of neutrophil and lymphocytes; mean platelet volume (MPV); platelet distribution width; and total lymphocyte count. RESULTS: Significantly higher total WBCs and (absolute) neutrophil counts and lower percentage lymphocyte were observed among known hypertensive male participants, whereas percentage neutrophil was significantly higher among known hypertensive female participants. Platelet count and MPV were significantly higher in hypertensive male participants compared to their normotensive counterparts. MPV was found to be significantly lower in hypertensive female participants compared to normotensive females. CONCLUSION: The present study reports significantly higher leukocytes, platelet counts, and MPV among hypertensive males and lower MPV among hypertensive females. Regular assessment of hematological parameters may perhaps be useful indicators of the prognosis of hypertension among the study population.