Abstracto

Toxicity assay of Sudan II dye adulterated palm oil on the serum proteins, electrolytes and lipid parameters of male albino wistar rats.

Aniekan S Henshaw *, Ima-Obong Williams , Henry E Peters , Christine A Ikpeme

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Sudan II adulteration of palm oil on the serum proteins, electrolytes and lipid parameters of albino wistar rats. Methods: A total of sixty (60) 750 mL bottles of red palm oil were purchased from random markets in Nigeria. Sixty (60) male albino rats weighing 150-180 g were divided into 5 groups of 12 rats each. Group 1 served as normal control. Groups 2 to 5 were fed 90% rat chow supplemented with 10% red palm oil. The Sudan II dyes were co-administered with the red palm oil with the diet (rat chow) to provide levels of 0.025% (PO/0.025) (group 3), 0.03% (PO/0.03) (group 4) and 0.04% (PO/0.04) (group 5) for a period of 30 days (short term) and 90 days (long term). The animals were sacrificed and blood was collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. The total serum protein (globulin and albumin) concentrations, electrolyte (sodium ion, chloride ion and potassium ion) concentrations and the lipid parameters (HDL, TChol, LDL-Cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol) were determined using standard methods. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Result: The results showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum Na and K levels in the test groups. Also, total serum proteins were significantly (P<0.05) elevated in the test groups. Significant (P<0.05) increase in lipid parameters were also observed in the test groups. A rise in serum electrolytes is indicative that the dyes may interfere with these electrolytes in several metabolic pathways. Significance: The findings from this study, indicates that this unethical practice might be hazardous to human health, hence it needs to be discontinued.