Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> extract (GBE) in attenuating cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 24 adult Wistar rats with an average weight of 145g were used for this study. The rats were randomly divided into groups of four: groups A (control), B (Cd at 50mg/kg BW), C (Cd at 50mg/kg BW and GBE at 100mg/kg BW) and D (Cd at 50mg/kg BW and GBE at 300mg/kg BW). Liver tissues were excised, homogenized and centrifuged to obtain supernatant for analysis of liver enzyme activities including ALP, AST, and ALT. Other samples were fixed in 10% formal saline for 24 hrs and processed for histological analysis. Statistical analysis of data - one way analysis of variance- was done using GraphPad Prism 5. Results indicated changes in the activities of liver enzymes (ALP and AST) in the treated groups compared to the control group. ALP activity was significantly higher in group B compared to groups C and D. Also, AST activities of group B was significantly higher than the control group, and no significant difference was observed in the activities of ALT across the groups. It was observed that cadmium produced cytotoxic effects in both the liver histoarchitecture and enzyme activities as seen in the increased levels of ALP, AST activities while <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> ameliorated alterations in enzyme activities and preserved liver histoarchitecture. The low dose of <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> was more effective in ameliorating the hepatotoxic effects.
Highlights
The liver, being the largest organ in the body, functions in metabolism and detoxification of toxic or unwanted substances that enter the body through the orogastric route
The activity of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in group B (Cd) (0.22±0.00) was significantly higher when compared with the control group (0.20±0.00)
The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cadmium sulphate on the activities of some liver enzymes and cytoarchitecture in cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity as well as the ameliorative properties of Ginkgo biloba extract in attenuating cadmium effects
Summary
The liver, being the largest organ in the body, functions in metabolism and detoxification of toxic or unwanted substances that enter the body through the orogastric route. Nutritive components of digestion coming from the walls of the gastrointestinal tract pass through the liver for adequate filtering and removal of unwanted substances. Because of the activities of the liver, it is vulnerable to damage in cases of high components of unwanted material ready to plaque the body. The disease condition of the liver will leave the body more vulnerable to different agents be it pathogens or toxic element that can affect the tissues of the body. Since Cd is not degraded in the environment, the risk of human exposure to it is always on the increase because it enters the food chain. The most salient toxicological property of Cd is its exceptional long half-life in the human
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