Biochemical and histological studies of Albino rats fed vegetables from farmland nearby oil impacted sites in Rivers State, Nigeria

Igwe, K. O., Onyeike, E. N., Uwakwe, A. A.

Abstract: Biochemical and histological analysis were conducted to determine the effects of feeding albino rats with selected vegetables harvested from farmlands nearby oil impacted sites in Rivers state, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty albino rats were divided into six groups (Five rats each group) , each of the groups were fed each of the four selected vegetables.The vegetables were Hibiscus esculentus, Telfairia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina and Talinum triangulare while the farmlands were located at Bomu, Eleme, Umusoya, Rukpokwu and Omagwa. The result obtained was compared to values from rats fed similar edible vegetables harvested from non oil producing areas in Imo State. The biochemical indices of liver function determined include, total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase. Standard methods of analysis was used. The result of total protein concentration showed that serum of rats fed Vernonia amygdalina and Talinum triangulare from the study areas was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than values obtain from those from the control areas with values ranging from 53.47 ± 0.11to 62.31 ± 0.10 g/dl. Serum of rats fed Hibiscus esculentus and Telfairia occidentalis harvested from the study areas had significantly higher albumin value while for Talinum triangulare, it showed lower value. For globulin, serum of rats fed Telfairia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina and Talinum triangulare from the study areas had significant lower values (p < 0.05). The result of total bilirubin concentration showed that serum of rats fed all vegetables had significantly higher values (p < 0.05) with values ranging from 18.26 ± 0.35 to 40.78 ± 0.33 mg/dl. For alkaline phosphatase concentrations, serum of rats fed all vegetables had significantly higher values (p < 0.05) with values ranging from 27.25 ± 0.05 to 53.87 ± 0.00 U/I. serum of rats fed Vernonia amygdalina and Talinum triangulare harvested from the study areas had significantly higher alanine aminotransferase concentration value while those fed Hibiscus esculentus and Telfairia occidentalis had lower values.finally,the result of aspartate amino transferase concentrations showed that serum of rats fed all vegetables had significantly higher values (p < 0.05) with values ranging from 23.22 ± 0.07 to 57.70 ± 0.06 U/L. Histopathological examination show mild inflammation of the liver of the rats fed vegetables from the study areas. The result indicate a compromise in liver of rats fed vegetables harvested from crude oil impacted farmlands.