ABSTRACT:The toxic effects of aluminium Chloride (AlCl 3 ) in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) have been studied. The species weighing 250 ± 20g were administered varying concentrations of the LD 50 (3630mg/kg body weight), ½ LD 50 (1815mg/kg body weight) and ¼ LD 50 (907.5 mg/kg body weight) of aluminium Chloride solution orally as drinking water for six weeks after which it was discontinued. The specimens were grouped into three. The first group was administered the various concentrations of (AlCl 3 ) with no abatement, while the second and third groups were administered the same concentrations of (AlCl 3 ) as the former but were fed respectively with 20% and 50% by weight of aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata mixed with their feeds for six weeks as abatement. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The results showed significant increase in the levels of urea, creatine, aspartate aminotransferase (AAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), total glyceride, total bilirubin, total cholesterol and glucose levels (P<0.05). However, significant decrease in the levels of these parameters was observed with the application of A. muricata. This reveals the potency of A. muricata leaves to abate the effects of the poison in the kidney and liver of mammals. © JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v18i1.5Introduction: Aluminium, the third most abundant element of the earth's crust, is a non-essential element. It occurs naturally and makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth (Nayak, 2002). The ubiquity of numerous aluminium compounds in the soil, water and air ensure that we live in an aluminium-rich environment (Nayak, 2002;Molley et al., 2007). Due to its abundance, every organism contains small of the tissues of mammals, including the blood, brain, liver, lung, kidney, heart and bones (Golub et al., 2000;Gonzalez et al., 2007).Over time, aluminium-contaminated water and other liquids percolate through landfills; the percolating liquid often reacts with the solid waste in the landfill, and may pose public and environmental health risks because of the contaminants it absorbs; Drinking water provide about 1% of the normal daily aluminium intake (Yokel et al., 2002).There is little doubt that in the experimental setting, aluminium is toxic to hundreds of cellular processes both in man and animals (Exley and Korchazhkina, (2001). Aluminium intoxication has been reported to cause oxidative stress and a decrease in the intracellular levels of glutathione (Gonzalez et al., 2007). Aluminium might exert its toxic effects by using transport proteins which control iron homeostasis for example, using transport proteins such as tranferrin, or interfering with iron homeostasis at the level of iron regulatory proteins.
Annona muricata
MATERIALS AND METHODSEthical consideration: Experimental protocols and procedures used in this study conform to the position statement and guidelines regarding the use of animals in toxicology by Ethics and research committee of the University of Benin, Ben...
