The Amelioration of Cyanide Induced Liver Toxicity with Bentonite Using Wistar Rat as Experimental Model

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effect of a natural bentonite found in Nigeria on liver enzymes of Wistar rat fed with cyanide from cassava waste water. The enzymes assayed were alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST).

Materials and Methods: A total of 45 Wistar rats were used. The rats were divided into four groups and a control group. Each group had nine rats including the control. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were given a daily dose of 0.4ml of cassava waste water containing a sub-lethal amount of cyanide (2.16 x 10-3 mg) for three weeks. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were counter administered with 0.2 ml, 0.4 ml, and 0.8 ml of 7% bentonite solution respectively. Administration of bentonite was done simultaneously with the cyanide administration. Serum samples were assayed weekly for ALP, ALT and AST activities.

Results: A significant increase in ALP, ALT and AST activities (p=0.05) for each week was recorded for group 2 (0.5 ml cyanide) when compared to the groups fed with bentonite. Significant decreases (p=0.05) were seen in the ALP, ALT and AST levels of groups fed with bentonite when compared to the control group and to the group fed only cyanide, with group 5 (0.8 ml bentonite) having the lowest ALP for each week. Body weight gain and reduction was also observed.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that bentonite has a detoxifying effect on the liver of cyanogenic Wistar rats.