ABSTRACT
Cadmium (Cd), a known toxic pollutant interferes with a number of biological processes in order to produce its toxic effects, which include hepatotoxicity. Persea americana seed contains phytochemicals such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds which have antioxidant properties and inflammatory properties, which can scavenge toxic elements. This study investigated the effect of aqueous methanol extract of Persea americana on plasma Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase and Alanine aminotransferase level in male rats exposed to cadmium. For this experiment, Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats weighing between 180-200g were used. The rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of six rats. Group 1 was the control group while Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were the test groups after which the animals were acclimated for a week. Group 1 served as normal control, Group 2 was given Cadmium only, Group 3 was given extract only, while Group 4 and Group 5 were given Cd and 250mg/kg body weight and 500mg/kg body weight of plant extract respectively. Cadmium was administered subcutaneously and the plant extract was administrated orally using an oral gavage needle and the treatment lasted for 14 days (2 weeks). Results from the study showed that groups exposed to Cd at 3mg/kg elevated plasma Aspartate aminotransferase , Plasma Alkaline phosphatase levels but decreased Alanine aminotransferase levels when compared with Normal control, However there was significant (p > 0.05) increase in Cd+PAE500 when compared with normal control. Group exposed to Cd at 3mg/kg decreased Alkaline phosphatase level when compared with Normal control. However, there was non-significant (p > 0.05) difference in PAE500, Cd+PAE500 groups when compared with Normal control and cadmium only. There was significant ( p < 0.05 ) increase in Alkaline phosphatase level in Cd + PAE250 group when compared with normal control, while treatment group PAE500, increased Alkaline phosphatase levels, when compared with normal control. Histopathological analysis showed significant hepatic tissue damage in Cd-induced rat. According to this study, the aqueous extract of P. americana was unable to successfully mitigate the hepatotoxic effect of cadmium.
