Immuno-oxidative and histological evaluation of Vernonia amygdalina and Aframomum melegueta ethanolic leaf extracts in cadmium-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity in rats

Abstract

This study investigated the immuno-oxidative and histological effects of Vernonia amygdalina and  Aframomum melegueta ethanolic leaf  extracts against cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity in rats. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were  randomly assigned to 5 groups. Group A served as the control while group B received a single oral dose of CdCl₂ (12 mg/kg body weight)  and groups C, D and E received in addition to CdCl₂, 500mg/kg V. amygdalina; A. melegueta and the combination respectively daily for  four weeks. The lungs and heart were harvested for immuno-oxidative biochemical parameters and processed for histological analysis  using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Analysis of variance was used to compare categorical variables with p<0.05 taken as significant.  The results revealed that CdCl₂ exposure significantly decreased the activities of Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione peroxidase and  increased Interleukin- 6, and Tumour necrosis factor alpha with presence of inflammation and congestion in the lungs and heart compared to the control. Treatment with V. amygdalina and A. melegueta leaf extracts significantly reversed CdCl₂-induced alterations in  the antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory markers and histological findings with co-administration displaying synergistic impact. Hence, co- treatment with V. amygdalina and A. melegueta is likely to be more beneficial.