The liver remains the target organ for the accumulation of cadmium toxicity, mediated by the upregulation of reactive oxygen species. Allium cepa constitutes a potential source of natural antioxidants, while Ivermectin has been identified to treat a range of diseases, having antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-cancer properties. Therefore, this study investigated the protective effects of Ivermectin and Allium cepa on cadmium-induced liver damage in adult Wistar rats. Twenty-eight (28) adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups. Group A, control received distilled water; Group B, treated with 1.2 mg/kg b.w of Ivermectin; Group C, treated with 1.2 mg/kg b.w of Ivermectin and 2 mg/kg b.w Cadmium respectively; Group D, treated with 2 mg/kg b.w cadmium; Group E, treated with 2 mg/kg b.w Cadmium and 1.5 ml Allium cepa respectively; and Group F, treated with 1.5 ml Allium cepa. Single dose administration of cadmium was done intraperitoneally, while administration of Ivermectin and Allium cepa were given orogastrically for four (4) weeks. Animals were sacrificed twenty-four (24) hours after the last administration, and the right lobe of liver was excised following the abdominal incision, and then fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological observation, while the left lobe of the liver was homogenated in 5% sucrose solution for biochemical assay using LDH, MDA, SOD and Catalase enzyme activity.
Cadmium administration caused elevation of MDA enzyme activity, promoting cell membrane lipid peroxidation following cellular non-traumatic injury, similarly significantly increased LDH and Catalase activity, while it reduced the SOD enzyme activity. Histopathological changes associated with cadmium showed vacuolar and granular degenerations in hepatocytes, heterochromatic nucleuses and sinusoidal, hepatic deposits of amyloidal plaques. However, Ivermectin and Allium cepa treatment maintained the biochemical parameter integrity and the histological features relative to the control animals. Administration of Allium cepa and Ivermectin preserved liver histoarchitecture and maintained biochemical integrity of antioxidants and carbohydrate metabolic enzyme. More importantly, the antioxidant properties of the Allium cepa and the therapeutic action of Ivermectin had proved efficient against cadmium-induced liver damage in adult Wistar rats.
