Abstract

A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF FAKE PARACETAMOL SYRUP ON SERUM MICRONUTRIENT LEVELS IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

*Ayobola Abolape Iyanda

ABSTRACT

Paracetamol is a mild analgesic and anti-pyretic agent that is indicated in the treatment of a number of conditions and widely consumed in Nigeria. Because the country is vast and resources are scarce, sometimes in many rural areas the drug market is largely unregularized. Being an over-the-counter medicine, it is sold in many pharmacy outlets which make it quite likely for consumers to be exposed to fake paracetamol syrup. With this study the impact of this fake preparation on serum micronutrients is being determined. Ten week-old female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 7 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 were administered with fake bondabe paracetamol and genuine drug respectively, while group 3 served as the control. Blood was obtained by retro-orbital bleeding. Serum estimation of minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Co, Cr, Fe, Mo) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D and E) determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The degree of statistical differences among the serum levels of micronutrients for the three groups was determined by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results revealed that antioxidant micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Fe, thiamine and vitamins C and E) were significantly different in fake drug administered rats. Chromium and Mo on the other hand were not significantly different although Co was significantly different. 0% mortality was observed. The results of this study suggest that while fake drug administration may not result in death, its devastating effects in exposed animals may present as alteration in micronutrient levels.

Keywords: vitamins; minerals; fake drug, paracetamol