Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Aim: Evaluate the protective effects of palm oil on renal parameters after dichlorvos toxicity in albino rats.

Study Design and Methodology: The study consisted of 3 phases: The acute study which lasted for 24 hours, the sub-acute study which lasted for 14 days and the sub chronic study which lasted for 30 days. The design and treatment pattern is shown below. Phase 1: Acute Study. Group 1: No DDVP, No palm oil for 24 hours (Negative control), Group 2: 30 mg/kg of DDVP without palm oil (positive control), Group 3: 30 mg/kg of DDVP and 100 mg/kg palm oil for 24 hours (treatment group). Phase 2: Sub-Acute (14 days) Study. Group 4: No DDVP, No palm oil for 14 days (Negative control), Group 5: 10 mg/kg of DDVP without palm oil daily for 14 days (positive control), Group 6: 10 mg/kg of DDVP and 100 mg/kg of palm oil daily for 14 days (positive control). Phase 3: Sub-Chronic (30 days) Study. Group 7: No DDVP, No palm oil for 30 days (Negative control), Group 8: 10 mg/kg of DDVP without palm oil daily for 30 days (positive control), Group 9: 10 mg/kg of DDVP and 100 mg/kg palm oil daily for 30 days (treatment group). All administration was done orally. After the period of treatments, the rats were sacrificed after 18 hours of fast. Whole blood samples (5 mls) were collected into lithium heparin bottle and spun at 3500 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain plasma samples. Samples obtained were used for the determination of Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃, urea, and creatinine while renal tissues obtained were used for histopathological examinations.

Results: Significantly higher values were seen in urea in the dichlorvos treated rats over a period of 24 hours, 14 days, and 30 days as compared to rats co-treated with palm oil and the control. Creatinine indicated significantly higher over a period of 24 hours while non-significant increases were observed in the dichlorvos treated rats over a period of 14 days and 30 days. More so, significantly higher values were seen in potassium in the dichlorvos treated rats over a period of 24 hours and 14 days, while significantly higher values in potassium were seen after period of 30 days as compared to rats co-treated with palm oil and the control. Sodium and chloride did not indicate significant difference over the period of 24 hours, 14 days, and 30 days. Histological examination of the renal tissue indicated structural distortions dichlorvos treated rats over a period of 24 hours, 14 days and 30 days while significant improvements in the structural integrity of the kidney were observed in rats co-treated with palm oil.

Conclusion: Results obtained indicated that palm oil showed a protective effect in ameliorating the nephrotoxicity induced by dichlorvos as shown by the histological examination and decreased values of creatinine and urea as well as potassium in palm oil treated rats.