RENOTOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF WATER HYACINTH LEAF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE USING RAT MODEL
*Adeyemi O. and Osubor C. C.
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the toxicological impact of water hyacinth leaf protein concentrate (WHLPC) on the kidney of albino rats. Rats were fed with various formulations (7.73, 15.46, 23.19, and 30.92) %w/w of WHLPC over a period of 20 weeks. A control feed contains soybean (15.46%w/w) in place of WHLPC. Rats were grouped into 5 groups in accordance with the feed formulations and the control. Each group contains 20 rats, 4 rats were removed from each group and sacrificed at the start of the experiment and on week 5, 10, 15 and 20 respectively. The kidney was isolated, a portion was fixed in buffered neutral formalin for histology studies and the other portion was homogenized for toxicology tests. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined in the kidney. Standard enzyme assays were conducted for catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), alanine transaminases (ALT), aspartate transaminases (ASP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and -glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) among all treatment groups including the control. Histology photomicrograph showed normal cellular architecture lending credence to the biochemical assays. Conclusively, WHLPC, at nutritional concentration used in this study may be considered safe for the kidney.
Keywords: kidney, water hyacinth, rats, toxicology, histology, soybean, assay.
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