European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

REDUCTION IN ORGANS CADMIUM RETENTION IN MALE RATS: THE ROLE OF ALLIUM CEPA

Serah Funke Ige*, Jelili A. Badmus, Kamoli Adekunle Oyedokun, Joy Chineye Okeke

ABSTRACT

Cadmium has been known to be associated with various organs toxicity. Cadmium-induced organs toxicity arises from cadmium retention in those organs. Most of the organs toxicities have been ascribed to cadmium induced oxidative stress. Allium cepa is a known antioxidant that has been reported to ameliorate cadmium-induced organ toxicity. Therefore this study was carried out to investigate the effect of Allium cepa in cadmium retention of selected organs. Twenty four rats were randomly grouped into four groups of six rats each. Group 1, 2, 3, and 4 were given deionized water, 0.3ml of 0.05 mg/mL CdSO4, 1.0mL/100g BW Allium cepa for seven days before 0.3ml of 0.05 mg/mL CdSO4 for 21 days, and Allium cepa co-treated with cadmium for 21 days respectively. All the treatments were given orally. Blood, liver, duodenum, kidney and testes were analyzed for cadmium concentration, zinc concentration, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation. Treatment with cadmium resulted in significant: decrease in percentage weight gain, increase in the organs cadmium retention, decrease in Zinc/Cadmium concentration ratio, decrease in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, increase lipid peroxidation, co-treatment of cadmium treated animals with Allium cepa ameliorate all these effects of cadmium. This study gives evidence that cadmium retention in organs were reduced by Allium cepa as a result of its ability to reduce oxidative stress. The reduction in oxidative stress was brought about by increase in the zinc concentration in organs.

Keywords: Zinc, Oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase, Allium cepa