Cadmium-induced hepatorenal-toxicity in rats: Possible ameliorative effect of Talinum triangulare

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of graded doses of aqueous extract of T. triangulare on cadmium-induced renal- and hepatotoxiity in rats. Male wistar rats (n = 30), divided into 5 groups; control (n = 6) and test groups (n = 24) were used for the study. The test was divided into groups that received only cadmium (cadmium only) and 3 groups that received cadmium plus graded doses of herbal extract (400, 600 and 1000 mg Kg^-1 body wt) respectively. Cadmium chloride, 3 mgkg^-1 body wt.sc was administered only on day 1 of the 14 day study period. Cadmium significantly (p<0.05) reduced liver ALT, AST and ALP activities relative to the control. This was accompanied by a significant (p<0.05) elevation in plasma activities of these enzymes when compared with the control. It also significantly (p<0.05) increased organ/body wt ratio, plasma creatinine and urea levels relative to the control. Though treatment with graded doses of the herbal extract provided varying degrees of mitigation against these cadmium-induced alterations, the highest dose of 1000 mgKg^-1 body wt was the most effective dose.