Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Moringa oleifera seed oil and Anacardium occidentale oil contain certain antioxidants including ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids; these antioxidants have potentials to act against oxidative stress generated by cadmium accumulation and activities in tissues. This study was aimed at investigating some antioxidant effects of moringa seed oil and cashew nut oil on cadmium toxic effects in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. Thirty five juvenile male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) of five (5) animals. Group A served as control [fed ad libitum]; Groups B, C, D, E, F and G were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg of cadmium sulphate (3CdSO4.8H₂O) to induce cadmium poisoning. After cadmium administration: Group B animals were left untreated; Group C and D animals received daily oral administration of 100 mg/kg vitamin C and 30 mg/kg vitamin E respectively; Groups E and F were administered 4 mg/kg of Moringa seed oil and 4 mg/kg of Cashew nut oil respectively- orally and daily, while Group G received daily oral administration of 2 mg/kg of Moringa oleifera oil and 2 mg/kg of Cashew nut oil [combined]. The experiment lasted three weeks [21 days]; animals were sacrificed and the hippocampus and blood were assayed for enzymes LDH, G6PDH, SOD and GPx. Average weights and blood sugar were also measured. Results indicate that cadmium caused oxidative stress in the hippocampus by upsetting the tested enzymes’ activities significantly; these effects were ameliorated by the anti-oxidant contents of the oils to varying extents.