EFFECTS OF ROASTED CASHEW NUT – SUPPLEMENTED DIET ON ETHANOL INDUCED – NEUROLOGICAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR TOXICITIES IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol whose primary metabolites are the highly toxic acetaldehyde, acetate and other reactiveoxygen species, which has been implicated in both neurological and cardiovascular disorders. The study investigated theeffects of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diet (RCN) on ethanol-induced neurological and cardiovasculartoxicities. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats (120-150) g were segregated into five (5) groups (n = 6): Group A(Control-Standard diet), Group B (30% Ethanol + Standard diet), Group C (30% Ethanol + 5% RCN), Group D (30% Ethanol + 10% RCN) and Group E (10% RCN). Ethanol (30% v/v) was administered at 4 ml/kg body weight for twenty-eight days. Proximate analysis on the control standard diet and the RCN diets was done using AOAC standard methods.Biochemical parameters including alcohol metabolizing enzymes activities,antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, brain and heart biomarkers of ethanol toxicities, weredetermined using spectrophotometry. Data obtained were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance,followed by the Tukey’s test with p < 0.05 considered significant. The proximate composition of the control diet, 5% and 10% RCN supplemented diet, showed (4.44, 4.72, 4.94)% for protein, (12.20, 13.51, 14.46)% moisture, (9.30, 9.48, 9.53)% ash, (5.72, 7.43, 7.49)% oil, (2.09, 2.59, 2.73)% fiber and carbohydrates (66.25, 62.27, 60.85)%, respectively. Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in treated groups increased in the Ethanol (92 and 77)%, Ethanol + 5% RCN (68 and 52)%, and Ethanol + 10% RCN (34 and 27)%, respectively, compared to the control. Creatine kinase activity in the plasma and heart of treated groups increased in the Ethanol (49 and 31)%, Ethanol + 5% RCN (22 and 20)% and Ethanol + 10% RCN (13 and 11)%, respectively, compared to the control. Lactate dehydrogenase activity in plasma and heart increased in the Ethanol by (73 and 53)%, Ethanol + 5% RCN by (48 and 21)% and Ethanol + 10% RCN by (35 and 14)%, respectively, compared to control. However, there was significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the brain acetylcholinesterase activity in the Ethanol treated groups compared to the control. Superoxide dismutase in Ethanol group, Ethanol + 5% RCN and Ethanol + 10% RCN decreased by 31%, 17% and 7%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, catalase activity decreased by 55%, 35% and 24%, respectively, in the plasma compared to control. Lipid peroxidation increased significantly (p < 0.05), in the plasma by 0.75 fold in the Ethanol group compared to the control. Cholesterol levels increased by 1.0, 0.7, and 0.4 folds; low density lipoprotein by 0.9, 0.63 and 0.21 folds, also, very low-density lipoprotein by 1.2, 0.9 and 0.4 folds in the plasma of Ethanol, Ethanol + 5% RCN and Ethanol + 10% RCN groups, respectively, compared to the control. Histopathology of the brain showed lesions in decreasing order (Ethanol > Ethanol + 5% RCN > Ethanol + 10% RCN) compared to the control group (having no lesions). In conclusion, results obtained suggest that consumption of roasted cashew nut could be beneficial in ameliorating ethanol-induced neurological and cardiovascular toxicities in male Wistar rats.