THE ROLE OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CITRUS SINENSIS PEEL IN CADMIUM MEDIATED HEPATOTOXICITY

Predisposing exposures to cadmium have been implicated in hepatotoxicity, hence the search for therapeutic interventions. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly grouped into six (1-6) with 5 rats each. Group 1 received only 5mg/kg body weight (b.wt) of Cadmium Chloride (CdCl₂) intra-peritoneally. Group 2 received feed and water ad libitum. Groups 3 and 4 received CdCl₂ followed by low and high dose (10mg/kg b.wt and 40mg/kg b.wt respectively) of Aqueous Extract of the Zest of Citrus sinensis (AEZCs). Groups 5 and 6 were pre-treated with low and high doses of the extract before CdCl₂. Extract administrations were orally and the experiment lasted for 8weeks. The livers were harvested, grossed and the liver to Bodyweight ratios (LW/BW) was determined shortly before being processed for histology and homogenate for SOD and MDA assay. Blood samples were collected for AST, ALT, ALP and total proteins (TP) analysis. Significant (p<0.05) differences in LW/BW, SOD, MDA, ALT, ALP, AST and TP were observed between groups 1 and 2. This was similarly noted between groups pre-treated and post-treated with AEZCs low dose as well as groups pre-treated and post-treated with high dose. Group 1 showed progressive non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. At the high dose, AEZCs restored LW/BW to near normal, moderated liver enzymes activities and increased serum protein. Furthermore, SOD concentrations were boosted, hence the decrease in lipid peroxidation. Histological evidence corroborates these findings, suggesting that AEZCs may detoxify the liver from cadmium toxicity at this dose.