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ABSTRACT
The therapeutic use of medicinal plants and plant products to treat ailments and diseases is very popular in developing countries including Nigeria. Hence the need to scientifically analyse the ameliorating effects of these plants. Cymbopogon citratus is one of such medicinal plants, popular for its tea which is considered a healthy and refreshing beverage that is largely consumed worldwide as a substitute for other tea varieties because of its pleasant aroma and taste. Gasoline is a volatile liquid that contributes to significant environmental pollution and has been shown to be hazardous to the general population due to its ability to induce extensive adverse health effects including oxidative stress and haematotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus) leaf decoctions on gasoline vapour (GV)-induced haematotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Thirty albino wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into six groups (n = 5 per group). Animals in group A served as unexposed controls, while animals in group B were exposed to gasoline vapour (GV) alone for 28 days. Animals in groups C, D, and E were exposed to GV and co-administered C. citratus leaf extract (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg, respectively), and animals in group F were exposed to GV and co-administered vitamin C (200 mg/kg) for the same time period. Exposure of animals to GV alone significantly (p < 0.05) increased malonaldehyde (MDA) levels and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) level and catalase (CAT) levels. But there was no significant change in haematological parameters except for Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) compared to the corresponding values in the control group. Supplementation with C. citratus leaf decoction and vitamin C reversed these GV-induced changes in oxidative stress markers in Groups C, D, E and F. Therefore, C. citratus leaf decoctions and vitamin C supplementation provided an ameliorative effect on GV-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of gasoline exposure.
