Assessment of the toxicity and biochemical effects of detergent processed cassava on renal function of Wistar rats

Abstract

Fufu is a major component of food in West Africa. Local cassava farmers use detergent to ferment cassava root tuber during processing into fufu. Studies have established the hazardous health effects of detergent in humans. This study was carried out to determine the median lethal toxicity of detergent-processed cassava, and assessed its effects on the renal function of male Wistar rats. Fufu with different concentrations of detergent (250, 500 and 750 g/l) were given as food twice daily to the rats for the acute toxicity study. The sub-chronic test lasted for four weeks, during which the fufu samples prepared with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g/l of detergent, were separately given to five groups of five rats, respectively. The results of the acute toxicity test showed increase in mortality with corresponding increase in detergent concentration. Plasma and urine creatinine and urea concentrations of all the detergent-treated rats were significantly higher than that of the negative and positive controls. Urinalysis showed significant presence of glucose and ketone bodies, as well as, blood and protein. Renal photomicrographs showed deranged cortical structure with diffuse loss of tubules, inflammatory cells infiltrate in the interstitium. The study concluded that detergent-processed cassava has adverse effects on the structure and function of the kidneys of rats.

Keywords: Acute; Creatinine; Detergent-processed cassava; Kidney; Rats.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Effect of detergent-processed cassava on food intake of Wistar rats. Results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5).

Fig. 2

Effect of detergent-processed cassava on body weight gain (g) of Wistar rats. *= significantly different from the negative control. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5).

Fig. 3

Effect of detergent-processed cassava on the relative kidney weight of Wistar rats. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5).

Fig. 4

(a) Effect of detergent-processed cassava on plasma creatinine of Wistar rats. *= Significantly different from negative control group. ^a = Significantly different from the positive control group. ^b = Significantly different from the negative control detergent. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5). (b)Effect of detergent-processed cassava on plasma urea of Wistar rats. *= significantly different from the negative control. ^a = significantly different from the positive control. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5). (c)Effect of detergent-processed cassava on plasma uric acid of Wistar rats. *= significantly different from the negative control. ^a = significantly different from the positive control. ^b = significantly different from the group treated with 40 g/l. ^c = significantly different from the group treated with 50 g/l. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5).

Fig. 5

(a) Effect of detergent-processed cassava on urine creatinine of Wistar rats. *= Significantly different from negative control group. ^a = Significantly different from the positive control group. ^b = Significantly different from group treated with 40 g/l. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5). (b)Effect of detergent-processed cassava on urine urea of Wistar rats. * = Significantly different from the negative control. ^a = significantly different from the positive control. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5). (c) Effect of detergent-processed cassava on urine uric acid of Wistar rats. * = significantly different from the negative control group. ^a = significantly different from the positive control group. Result are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 5).

Fig. 6

Effect of detergent processed casssava on histology of rat kidneys. Representative photomicrographs showing the renal cortex of Wistar rats subjected to H&E stain. Observe : (1) intact morphological pattern of renal corpuscle characterized by capsular covering of simple squamous epithelium (BC), surrounding a fluid containing space (BS) within which is a delineable glomerular tufts and capillary lumen (G). Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), Distal convoluted tubule (DCT), Urinary space (US) are also intact. (2) Renal corpuscles and tubules are intact, with some atrophied glomerulus (*). (3, 4, 6, 8) - show deranged cortical structure with diffuse loss of tubules (TL), inflammatory cells infiltrate in the interstitium (back circles). (5) There are indications of glomerular atrophy (GA) at the upper and lower right sides, though the renal corpuscles and tubules appear normal. [7,9] presents diffuse regions of tubular congestion (TC)/cuboidal epithelial loss and glomerular congestion (GC) respectively. Inflammatory cells infiltrate the interstitium of 9 (black circles). There are some intact glomerulus (G) in these groups. (8) – shows mild glomerular capillaries congestion (CC).