ABSTRACT
Heavy metals contamination, especially those caused by lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), has become a significant environmental and health concern because of their harmful effects, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. This study assessed the potential of ethanolic extracts of Annona muricata (EEAM) phytowaste (peels, seeds and fibre) as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and anti-oxidant agent to mitigate the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity in albino Wistar rats. The soursop fruit was bought from the market and the phytowaste was dried, grounded and extracted using the crude extraction method. Thirty rats were allocated into five groups: Group 1, Control (distilled water), group 2, Pb+Cd exposure (200 mg/kg lead acetate, 100 mg/kg cadmium chloride, group 3, Pb+Cd with zinc-selenium supplementation (1 mg/kg ZnSO4, 1.5 mg/kg Se), group 4, Pb+Cd with dose of the EEAM 250 mg/kg and group 5, Pb+Cd with dose of the EEAM 500mg/kg. After a period of 90 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood was collected. Analyses were performed using serum on their weight changes, oxidative stress markers (OD, MDA, GSH, CATALASE), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-a), apoptotic markers (CASP-3), and heavy metals. The Annona muricata extract was assessed for its phytochemical constituents. The results are consistent with the alternate hypothesis (H1) which posits that Annona muricata reduces inflammation and oxidative stress thereby mitigating the harmful effects of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd).
