English

Ndubuisi Augustine,Wenceslaus Eze,Daniel Nwachukwu,Emeka Ugwuishi,Patrick Ugwudike,Celestine Ani,Pamela Anyaeji,Choice Nworgu,Francis Uchenna Agu,Victor Chibueze Ude,David Ikwuka

doi:10.5897/ajbr2019.1051

Abstract

The potency of the peels of Citrus sinensis against cadmium induced liver damage has not been explored in our environment. 48 wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were randomly divided into eight (8) groups of five (5) rats each. Group A was the positive control and received 5 mg/kg body weight (bw) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) intraperitoneally as a single dose. Groups B and C received the aqueous extract of zest of citrus sinensis (AEZCS) at a low doses of 10   and 40 mg/kg bw respectively. Groups D and E received cadmium chloride, followed by low and high doses of AEZCS respectively. Groups F and G received low and high doses of AEZCS followed by CdCl2 while group H served as the normal control. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and serum total proteins were analyzed. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in the mean values of LV/BW, ALT, AST, total proteins, serum dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) when the positive control group was compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). Histological sections of the negative control groups were significantly different from the positive control group but not from the groups treated with AEZCS at the high doses. Thus, AEZCS had ameliorative and protective health benefits at the high dose of 40mg/kg body weight.   Key words: Citrus sinensis, oxidative stress, cadmium chloride, hepatotoxicity.

Highlights

IntroductionRanks, citrus ranks after banana as the world second fruit crop with more than 108 million tons (FAO Statistics, 2007)
The liver or body weight ratios in the rat group pretreated with the low dose of aqueous extract of zest of Citrus sinensis (AEZCs) was significantly lower than observed in the positive control group
Significant decreases in the liver /body weight ratios was observed in the group of rats that were pretreated and post treated with the high dose of AZECS

Summary

Introduction

Ranks, citrus ranks after banana as the world second fruit crop with more than 108 million tons (FAO Statistics, 2007). It originated from Southern China where it has been cultivated for many years but it is today grown commercially in tropical, semi tropical and some warm temperate regions to become the most widely planted fruit tree in the world (Nicolosi et al, 2000). Citrus sinensis is referred to as sweet orange and belongs to the family Rutacea with a life span of over years (Geeta and Kalidhar 2010). The fruit consists of two distinct regions; the pericarp called the peel, skin, zest or rind and the endocarp or the pulp and juice sacs (Geeta and Kalidhar 2010). There are researches on the effects of citrus sinensis peel against toxicity induced by xenobiotics or mutagenic agents (Marc and George 1997)

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