Abstract

THE EFFECT OF NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS ON WISTAR RAT’S TESTIS AND LIVER HISTOMORPHOLOGY IN CADMIUM-INDUCED TESTICULAR TOXICITY AND HEPATOTOXICITY

*Enye Linus Anderson, Edem Edem Ekpenyong, Gonaka Miracle Good, Ekundina Victor, Akingbade Adebanji Modupe, Adefisayo Modinat Adebukola

ABSTRACT

Background: Newbouldia laevis is a plant known for its great nutritional and medicinal importance with antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, anti-coagulant, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant properties. Cadmium is globally acknowledged as an environmental intoxicant with widespread toxicity on the biological system. Thus this work was carried out to evaluate the protective role of Newbouldia laevis aqueous leaf extract on the wistar rat testis and liver histomorphology in cadmium-induced testicular toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Methodology: This experimental study was carried out on 25 male adult wistar rats. The animals were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each – Control, Cadmium, Newbouldia laevis, Co-administration and Pre/Post Treatment Groups. The Treatment Groups received 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium, 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis, 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium + 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis simultaneously and 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium for two weeks and 200mg/kg body weight of Newbouldia laevis for two weeks. Results: The exposure of experimental animals to cadmium showed deleterious effects on the organs of study (testes and liver). Treatment with aqueous extract of Newbouldia laevis revealed varying degrees of restoration after hepatotoxicity by cadmium. However, Newbouldia laevis was unable to ameliorate the testicular damage occasioned by cadmium as cellular disruptions were still evident even with its administration. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the oral administration of aqueous leaf extracts of Newbouldia laevis can be used to manage hepatotoxicity but not testicular toxicity.

Keywords: Cadmium, Newbouldia laevis, Histomorphology, Testes, Liver, Hepatotoxicy, Testicular Toxicity.