An investigation of the toxic effects of cooked phosphide-residue contaminated cowpea on wistar rats

Abstract

Pesticide related death is common in Nigeria. Many of these deaths have been identified to occur as result of misuse of these chemicals. For example, it was demonstrated in an earlier study that contamination of cowpea with phosphide residue post-fumigation is capable of considerable hepato-renal damage. The aim of this study is to determine if processing of such contaminated cowpea is capable of such degree of hepatic and renal damage. Eighteen female Wistar rats used for the study were randomly divided into 3 groups and fed cooked phosphide-residue contaminated cowpea for a period of 8 hours. After which blood was collected for the estimation of hepato-renal indices; tissues were also processed for histologic examination. None of the indices (alanine and aspartate amino transferases, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, uric acid) were significantly different (p>0.05) compared with control, histology result revealed no visible lesion for kidney section although mild infiltration of mononuclear cells were observed for liver sections. The results of this study suggest that processing of phosphide-residue contaminated cowpea is capable of modulating its hepato-nephrotoxic effects.