Effects of Aqueous Extract of Xylopia aethiopica and Vitamin E on Hepatic and Oxidative Enzyme Markers in Rats Exposed to Cyanide Toxicity

This research was conducted to study the effects of aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica and vitamin E supplementation on hepatic and oxidative enzyme markers in rats exposed to cyanide toxicity. A total of 30 male albino rats weighing between 100 – 160g were used for the study. Rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats per group as follows: normal control, cyanide control, cyanide plus Xylopia aethiopica seed extract (XSE), cyanide plus Xylopia aethiopica peels extract (XPE), cyanide plus Xylopia aethiopica whole extract (XWE), and cyanide plus vitamin E. The cyanide treated groups received XSE, XPE and XWE at 50mg/kg and vitamin E at 100 mg/kg three times per week. The cyanide group were given potassium cyanide (KCN) solution at concentration of 9.0 mg/kg in the drinking tap water daily. The experiment extended for 4 weeks. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdhyde (MDA) were measured in serum and liver. The results showed that the cyanide control rats had a significant (p < 0.05) increase in AST, ALT in the serum, MDA in the liver and decrease SOD and CAT in the liver when compared to the normal control respectively. Treatment of cyanide-intoxicated rats with the XSE, XPE, XWE and vitamin E showed significant decrease in the activities of AST, ALT in the serum, MDA level in the liver and increase SOD and CAT activities in the liver when compared with the rats given cyanide only. Overall, the different aqueous extract made from Xylopia aethiopica exhibited significant protective effect in ameliorating cyanide poisoning in rats as compared to vitamin E, a known potent antioxidant. Thus, Xylopia aethiopica may be considered as a potential antidote against cyanide – mediated toxicity.