Prophylactic Effects of Ethanolic Extract ofIrvingia gabonensisStem Bark against Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

The prophylactic effect of ethanolic extract of Irvingia gabonensis stem bark on cadmium-induced oxidative damage in male\udalbino rats’ liver was investigated. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, cadmium, and treatment groups. In the prophylactic\udexperiment, Irvingia gabonensis (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was administered by oral gavage for 21 days before exposure to\udcadmium. Antioxidant marker enzymes such as reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx),\udsuperoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were determined in the liver and heart alanine aminotransferase (ALT)\udand aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were monitored and histological examination was carried out. Results indicate\udthat cadmium-induced rats had significantly increased relative weight of liver and heart when compared to controls. Treatment\udwith Irvingia gabonensis at 200 and 400 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in relative weight of the organs. In cadmium-induced\udrats, serum ALT and AST activities and levels of LPO were increased whereas hepatic and cardiac marker enzymes significantly\uddecreased. Furthermore, histological alteration in liver and aorta was observed in cadmium untreated rats and was ameliorated in\udcadmium rats treated with Irvingia gabonensis. In conclusion, the extract indicates antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties that\udeliminate the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites of cadmium