Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved in memory formation, organization and storage; being a limbic system structure that is particularly important in forming new memories and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. Cadmium on the other hand is a metallic poison that affects the brain tissues as a whole, producing seriously deleterious effects. Antioxidants could ameliorate the negative effects of toxic substances on body tissues. Since Moringa oleifera seed and Anacardium occidentale nut oils are natural edible oils that are greatly rich in antioxidants and medicinal phytochemicals, it is important to observe their potentials in helping the body to combat the effects of cadmium toxicity particularly on the hippocampus. Thirty five juvenile male Wistar rats were grouped into seven: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Group A served as the control and the animals were fed ad libitum; other groups had each animal administered 2.5 mg/kg body weight of 3CdSO₄.8H₂O to induce cadmium toxicity prior to treatment with the agents employed. Each Group B rat was left untreated to observe the effects and nature of cadmium toxicity; each Group C animal received 5 mg/kg body weight Vitamin C dissolved in 0.9% NaCl solution orally. Group D animals were given a daily dosage of 6 mg/kg body weight Vitamin E dissolved in olive oil each. Group E rats were treated with 4 mg/kg body weight Moringa oleifera seed oil each; Group F rats were treated with 4 mg/kg body weight Anacardium occidentale nut oil and group G rats were treated with 2 mg/kg body weight Moringa oleifera seed oil plus 2 mg/kg body weight Anacardium occidentale nut oil. Cadmium intoxication has observable deleterious effects on brain tissues. All agents used produced positive anti-cadmium effects, however to varying degrees. The natural oils were more potent than the selected regularly used antioxidants.