Hepatotoxicity of Rambo and Cork Mosquito-Coil Smoke and the Protective Effects of G. Latifolium Leaf Extract

Abstract

The protective effects of G. latifolium aqueous leaf extract against mosquito coil (Cork and Rambo) smoke-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats were investigated using a total of 33 albino rats, weighing between 200–250 g. The rats were randomly grouped into five main groups: A, B, C, D, E and F. Group A was used as the control and it contained 3 rats only; groups B and C contained 6 rats each and were exposed to Cork and  Rambo mosquito coil smokes only, respectively, for 31 days. Groups D and E contained 9 rats each and were each subdivided into three subgroups (namely D1,D2, and D3; and, E1, E2,& E3), each containing 3 rats. The subgroups were exposed to their respective mosquito coil smokes and simultaneously treated with different concentrations of aqueous extracts of G. latifolium leaf for 31 days. The results showed the phytochemical analysis of G. latifolium leaf extract contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and vitamin C. Exposure to Rambo and cork insecticides smoke caused significant (P<0.05) elevation of AST, ALT and ALP, creatinine and bilirubin levels and reduction of Hb,  % PCV, serum albumin, and total protein. However, co-treatment with G. latifolium leaf extract significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated the observed effects. Histopathological analysis of liver of exposed rats showed impairment of the hepatic architecture resulting in necrosis, and hemorrhages while in rats co-treated with G. latifollium extract, these effects were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Thus, G. latifollium extract can protect against Cork and Rambo smokes-induced hepatotoxicity. Comparatively, exposure to Cork smoke had more devastating effects than Rambo smoke.

Keywords: Cork and Rambo insecticide smoke, liver toxicity, G. latifollium protection and phytochemicals.