Abstract:

Different studies proved the likelihood of remnant of some component of preservative on seeds and grains after a long period of time. This research was aimed at evaluating the effect of vigna unguiculata treated with some preservatives on the biochemical parameters of albino Wistar rats. Thirty-six (36) male albino Wistar rats of known body weight were assigned into six (6) groups of 5 rats each. The seed was weighed 1kg into five sections, each treated with the selected preservative dichlorvos, aluminium phosphide, pepper, and ash respectively, sealed and kept in an airtight bucket and left for six months. After preservation, the treated sample was grounded into a fine powder and fed to albino rats according to their respective groups. After two months of dietary intervention, the rats were euthanized and a blood sample was collected through throat slitting. The hematology, liver enzymes, CRP, and kidney function parameters were analyzed using standard methods. The residual content of the preservatives was also analyzed and was discovered to exceed the international permissible standard across the treated samples except for the pepper group in which there was contamination.  A significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in liver enzymes in the Ash and pepper groups compared to the control. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in CRP in the rats exposed to sample preserved with ash compared to the control. No significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in the level of differentials in all the groups compared to the control. PCV  level decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the group exposed to a sample preserved with pepper, aluminum phosphide, dichlorvos and ash compared to the control. WBC and platelet decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the group exposed to a sample preserved with ash compared to the control. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in the level of urea and creatinine in the dichlorvos group compared to the control. A significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in the level of serum electrolytes in pepper and ash compared to the control. This research revealed the alteration in the biochemical parameters of adult male albino Wistar rats analyzed after exposure to the treated samples, which indicates the toxic effect of the residual component of the preservative. Pepper and Wood ash-preserved samples also alters the biochemical parameters hence suggesting the possibility of the presence of toxic residual components or contamination observed in the pepper group.