AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF Tamarindus indica SEED EXTRACT

ABSTRACT

Tamarindus indica is commonly known as Tamarind. It is one of the most important tropical fruit trees in the sub-indian continent. Tamarindus indica is a versatile plant with all its parts having at least some nutritional or medicinal use. Mercury Chloride (HgCl2) is a white crystalline solid histologically also known as corrosive sublimate. Mercury Chloride can easily be absorbed in the GIT and then enters the blood to interact with erythrocytes to induce oxidative stress. Exposure of mercury chloride is of global concern because it is widespread in the environment due to its multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural and medical usages. The stomach is an expanded section of the digestive tract between the oesophagus and the small intestine. The core function of the human stomach is as an aid to digestion. On exposure of the stomach to mercury chloride, it can damage the gastric wall. This research was carried out to determine the ameliorative effect of Tamarindus indica on mercury chloride-induced stomach damage in adult wistar rats. Fifty (50) adult wistar rats weighing between 181g to 280g were used for this study and were randomly assigned into five (5) groups (A, B, C, D and E) of 10 rats each. Group A served as control, Group B rats were administered 1mil mercury chloride only, Group C was administered 500mg/kg BW of Tamarindus indica only, Group D and E served as treatment groups. The administration lasted for thirty (30) days and was done orally using an orogastric tube. At the end of the administration, the animals were sacrified afterwards and the stomach was harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline and were processed histologically and stained with H&E stains. The slides were examined under low power microscope and photomicrographs taken. Results from this research showed no significant increase or decrease in body and stomach weights of rats across all groups. There was a significant decrease in Body Weight Change (g) for rats treated with Mercury Chloride only when compared with control. This suggest that mercury chloride have a negative effect on the body weight. There was a significant increase in the organosomatic index of the rats treated with mercury chloride when compared to the control group. Mercury chloride caused an increase in malondialdehyde level. There was also a significant decrease in the Malondialdehyde level of rats treated with 500mg/kg of Tamarindus indica group when compared with the mercury chloride only group. Mercury chloride caused a significant decrease in the Glutathione peroxidase level of the rats in the mercury chloride only group. However, 500mg/kg of Tamarindus indica caused a significant increase of Glutathione peroxidase level when compared to control. Mercury chloride caused a significant increase in the Glutathione levels as compared with control. Furthermore, treatment with only 250mg/kg of Tamarindus indica also caused a significant increase only. Subsequent treatment of mercury chloride with 500mg/kg of Tamarindus indica was observed to subsequently decrease the Glutathione levels when compared with mercury chloride. For catalase and superoxide Dismutase level, Mercury chloride caused a significant increase of rats in the mercury chloride only group but nevertheless 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg of Tamarindus indica had a significant decrease when compared to damage caused by the mercury chloride. Histological analysis revealed that mercury chloride damaged the mucosal gland. Particularly the ones located close to the muscularis mucosal were degenerated and blood vessels of submucosal were ulcerated. When 250mg/kg of Tamarindus indica extract was administered it achieved a near complete amelioration of the effect of mercury chloride which was the vascular ulceration and glandular necrosis. 500mg/kg Tamarindus indica achieved a certain measure of amelioration. However, there were still some remnant of the damage in the blood vessels of the glands.