@article {642, title = {Comparative Analysis on the Effect of Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis) in Reducing Cadmium and Lead Accumulation in Liver of Wistar Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {4}, year = {2012}, month = {October ,2012}, pages = {214-218}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {214}, abstract = {

Context: Palm oil from Elaeis guineensis is an edible nutrient substance with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We examined its protective effect against lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the liver. Materials and Methods: 12\% w/w of palm oil (PO) in rat chow concentrate was fed to rats exposed to Cd (200ppm) and Pb (100ppm) in drinking water at different feeding regimens. PO was administered either at the same time with the metals (group 2), post-treatment after exposure (group 3) or pre-treatment before exposure (group 4) for six weeks. The heavy metal accumulations in the liver were determined using AAS. Results: Weight losses induced by these metals were significantly (P\<0.05) reversed by PO administration. Analysis among the groups showed that post-treatment group had a significant (P\<0.05) higher percentage protection to Cd, but same time treatment for Pb (P\<0.05) when compared with other groups. The protective ability to PO was only significantly (P\<0.05) increased for Pb at week 2, but showed a time-dependent significant (P\<0.05) increase for Cd across all treatment regimens. Conclusion: PO is beneficial in reducing metal accumulation in the liver and has a higher hepatoprotective effect to Cd compared to Pb at the selected doses by possibly affecting the processes of uptake, assimilation and elimination of these metals.

}, keywords = {Accumulation, Cadmium, Heavy metals, Lead, Liver, Protection.}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.102266}, author = {Chukwuemeka R Nwokocha and Magdalene I Nwokocha and Daniel U Owu and Joshua Obi and Bukola Olatunde and Chioma Ebe and Ozioma Nwangwu and Moses O Iwuala} } @article {639, title = {Comparative Study on the Hepatoprotection to Heavy Metals of Zingiber Officinale}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {4}, year = {2012}, month = {October ,2012}, pages = {208-213}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {208}, abstract = {

Context:Zingiber officinale\ (Zingiberaceae) is a herb used for culinary and therapeutic purposes due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials.\ Objectives:\ We examined its protective ability against mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the liver.\ Materials \& Methods:\ Ground\ Zingiber officinale\ (7\%, w/w of feed) was administered to rats either at the same time with the exposure ofheavy metals (group 2), a week after exposure to heavy metals (group 3) or given a week before heavy metal exposure (group 4) for six weeks. Animals were exposed to either of Hg (10 ppm), Cd (200 ppm) and Pb (100 ppm) in drinking water. The heavy metal accumulations in the liver were determined using AAS.\ Results:\ Weight losses induced by these metals were not reversed by\ Zingiber officinale\ administration. There was a significant (P\<0.01) increase in protection to Pb (97\%) and Cd (63\%) accumulation when compared to Hg (32\%) at week 2. The protective ability was significantly (P\<0.01) decreased at week 4 when compared to week 2 for Cd and Pb but not to Hg in groups 3 (50\%) and 4 (52\%). At week 6, hepatoprotection to Hg (44\%) and Cd (85\%) was significantly (P\<0.01) different but not to Pb which was only significant (P\<0.05) in week 2 of treatment for all groups.\ Discussion and Conclusion:Zingiber officinale\ affected the bioavailability, elimination and uptake of these metals in a time-dependent way with highest beneficial reducing effect to Cd followed by Hg and least protection to Pb in the liver.

}, keywords = {Accumulation, Cadmium, Lead, Liver, mercury, protection, Zingiber officinale}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.102263}, author = {Chukwuemeka R Nwokocha and Daniel U Owu and Magdalene I Nwokocha and Chibueze S Ufearo and Moses O. E. Iwuala} }