In vitroAntimicrobial andin vivoLead Acetate Poison Abatement Study ofGarcinia kolaHeckel

Abstract

The in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo heavy metal abatement properties of aqueous extracts of Garcinia kola Heckel (bitter cola) were investigated using opportunistic pathogens and Wistar rats as experimental models. A marked inhibitory activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans was recorded at 100 mg/ml of the crude relative to ketoconozole and fluconazole drugs. Similarly, different concentrations (25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) of the crude extracts of bitter cola inhibited species of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa almost as effectively as the control drug of streptomycine used. Chronic lead acetate poisoned wistar rats in groups B, C, D, E exposed to G. kola supplemented feed and water ad libitum showed variable decrease in the serum alkaline phosphatase level while aspartate and alanine aminotransferases level reduces in C and D groups compared to the negative control group. The kidney biomarkers; serum creatinine and urea concentrations were not significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 for rat groups C, D, E when compared with the positive and negative control groups respectively. Mild infiltration and cell distortion were observed in the liver and kidney sections of the rats exposed to uncoated bitter cola supplemented feed while suggesting an overriding effect from the nut coats. The study reaffirms the medicinal potential of coated and uncoated bitter cola to act as abatement of lead toxicity and alternative antimicrobial. Furthermore, G. kola could be a double-edged drug for the spontaneous amelioration of lead toxicity and secondary infections due to lead poisoning.

Biological Evaluation of Garcinia kola Heckel

“…Consistent use of synthetic antibiotics is the leading cause of resistance in bacteria, which can be connected with biological phenomena such as membrane permeability, mutations, physiochemical changes, and efflux dynamics in target microorganisms [ 15 ]. In comparison to other microbes, bacterial strains have the genetic potential to rapidly acquire and transfer resistance to routinely used antibiotics [ 15 ].…”

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“…While individual exposures (contamination with a single metal ion) have been reported to have deleterious effects on the human body, combined exposure (co-exposure) has been shown to be more fatal. 29,30,31 Compared with the toxicity of each metal ion, Lead/Arsenic, and Lead/Arsenic/Mercury co-exposure caused a significant increase in oxidative stress in the blood while Mercury/Arsenic and Lead/Arsenic/Mercury caused greater hepatotoxicity. 31 A similar synergy also exists between molybdenum and cadmium where kidney antioxidant indices such as glutathione reductase (GR) and ceruloplasmin reduced significantly in co-metal treated groups compared to the single metal treated groups.…”

“…The liver gets damaged when lipid peroxidation results in oxidative damage in hepatic cells. 30 Apart from histopathological studies and lipid peroxidation biomarkers such as malonedialdehyde (MDA), other parameters which indicate liver damage include antioxidant enzymes 42 and cytokines. 43 It has been experimentally established that heavy metals such as Lead exhibit immense negative effect on the liver 44 and several other examples are captured in Table 2.…”

“…43 Furthermore, supplementing the feed of lead acetate poisoned rats with mushroom and Garcinia cola has been found to provide commendable hepatoprotective properties in different studies. 69,30 Aqueous extracts of Carica papaya roots also possess interesting ability to attenuate the effects of arsenic poisoning in rats. 70 The negative effects of arsenic on the antioxidant status and haematological parameters of the liver were corrected by this extract.…”

“…99,93 Active extracts will be incorporated into foods to conveniently convey these supplements. 30 While attempting to combat the unpleasant effects of heavy metal toxicity, new health challenges could emerge as a result of the toxicity of the applied herbs. 98 This calls for more intensive toxicological research which will assist in the establishment of right dosage for these herbal ameliorators.…”