HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF LEAD AND

CADMIUM AND THE COMPARATIVE

ASSESSMENT OF THE MITIGATING POTENTIALS
OF A STANDARD METAL CHELATOR AND SPICE
MIXTURE.
Obaji Deborah Ginika, Obiekwe Uchechukwu, Obaji Obinna Victory and Ugwuja
Emmanuel Ike.
4th International Scientific Conference organized by the Directorate of Research and
Publications, College of Medicine,UNN Enugu campus.
@ CBN, Centre of Excellence Auditorium, UNEC Enugu
 Introduction
• Lead and cadmium are extremely toxic heavy metals that
negatively impact almost every organ and system of the body
when inhaled or swallowed.
• Lead and cadmium poisoning has been treated with synthetic
chelators.
• Their adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, rashes,
altered liver enzymes, loss of appetite, hypertension, tachycardia,
hypocalcemia, etc. (Venkatesh and Shambhavi, 2013).
 Methods
• Animals acclimatization exposure & treatments
sacrifice and organ collection histologic analysis

• Group 1 - control
• Group 2 – lead (50mg/kg)
• Group 3 – cadmium (15mg/kg)
• Group 4 -lead +cadmium
• Group 5 - Lead+cadmium + metal chelator (MC) (15mg/kg)
• Group 6-lead + MC
• Group 7-cadmium +MC
• Group 8-Lead +Spice Mixture (SM) (300mg/kg)
• Group 9- cadmium +SM
• Group 10-lead+Cadmium +SM
KIDNEY PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 1, 2, 3 & 4
KIDNEY PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 5, 6 & 7

Heavy metals + standard metal

chelator
KIDNEY PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 8, 9 & 10

Heavy metal + Spice mixtures

• LIVER PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 1, 2, 3 & 4
LIVER PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 5, 6 & 7

Heavy metals + standard metal

chelator
LIVER PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF GROUP 8, 9 & 10

Heavy metals + Spice mixtures

 Conclusion
• This study shows that the mixture of ginger and garlic can produce a comparable
ameliorative effect on lead and cadmium induced toxicity in the kidney and liver of rats.
• Although, SM did not produce any appreciable ameliorative effect in the liver of
cadmium exposed rats.
• In the absence of standard chelators, the anti inflammatory properties of spice mixture
in ameliorating the effect of Pb and Cd poisoning in resource poor settings should be
considered.
• More so, since there is high heavy metal pollution in Ebonyi state, diets rich in these
readily available spice mixture will be prophylactic.
 References
• Chandran, L. &Cataldo, R. (2010). Lead Poisoning: Basics and New Developments. Pediatrics in
review / American Academy of Pediatrics, 31:399-405.
• Okorie, U., Onu, J. A., Otuchristian, G. & Otu, R.C. (2020). Hepatotoxic Restorative Potential of
WhitfieldiaLateritia Leaf Decoction and Vitali Supplement on Phenylhydrazine-Induced Anemic
Cockerels. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: D Agriculture and Veterinary, 20(7): 36-51
• Ugwuja, Emmanuel & Ekpono, Ezebuilo&Ikaraoha, Ikechukwu. (2019). Effects of Co-
administration of Calcium and Spices on Renal Function Parameters of Lead Exposed Rats.Journal
of experimental research, 7(2): 51-57
• Venkatesh T and Shambhavi T. (2013). Treating lead toxicity: possibilities beyond synthetic
chelation. Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Science University, 2(1): 4 – 31.