Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of calcium carbide and ethylene glycol in Wistar albino rats
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Markose Bini
Abstract
Background
Naturally ripened fruits play a vital role in human nutrition. Under certain conditions, synthetic chemicals like calcium carbide (CaC2) and ethylene glycol (EG) are being freely used illegally in India and other countries for fruit ripening without serious concern on its toxic effects. This preclinical study evaluated the toxicity on different organs after the exposure of industrial-grade CaC2 and EG to the rats.
Methods
Acute toxicity was induced by the oral administration of a single dose of chemicals to the rats, and their morbidity and mortality were monitored. For subacute study, different organs of animals were analyzed biochemically and histologically after the exposure of low doses of chemicals for 30 days.
Results
At an acute dose of 5 mg/kg body weight of CaC2, 85% of the animals were found dead within 14 days; however, no mortality was observed following EG administration. At subacute doses, RBC and hemoglobin levels were found to be declined (p < 0.01), whereas total WBC and platelet counts, especially lymphocytes, were elevated remarkably (p < 0.01). Total protein, albumin, and urea were also found to be increased (p < 0.01). Histopathological observations support the toxicity in rats at higher doses of CaC2 and EG.
Conclusions
The study revealed that the artificial fruit-ripening agents like CaC2 and EG cause toxic effects on the internal organs of rats. The subsequent inflammatory response might have weakened the immune system. This in turn suggests the requisite for urgent measures to regulate the use of harmful synthetic agents in fruit ripening.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Ramadasan Kuttan, Research Director, Amala Cancer Research Centre, for his support in carrying out the study. They also thank Dr. T. A. Ajith, Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences for his valuable guidance throughout the study. They are indebted to the research technicians, namely, Mrs. C.G. Preetha, Ms. M.J. Liji, and MLT technician Mrs. C.D. Sindhu for their sincere help throughout the course of the study.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (ACRC/IAEC/17(1)/P-03dt.22/12/2017) according to the rules and regulations of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) constituted by the Animal Welfare Division, Government of India.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Minireview
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of mitragynine, the principle alkaloid of Mitragyna speciosa: present knowledge and future directions in perspective of pain
- Original Articles
- Trehalose protects against spinal cord injury through regulating heat shock proteins 27 and 70 and caspase-3 genes expression
- Evaluation of cytogenotoxic potential of Morinda lucida leaf extract on Swiss albino male mice using two bioassays
- Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of calcium carbide and ethylene glycol in Wistar albino rats
- Evaluation of the possible hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic potentials of the Averrhoa carambola juice extract in female albino rats
- Chlorpyrifos and its metabolite modulates angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryo
- Prescribing pattern of antihypertensive medication and adherence to Joint National Commission-8 guidelines in a rural tertiary care Indian teaching hospital
- Assessment of cardiac risk in chronic asymptomatic alcoholics using blood pressure and electrocardiogram, and the relation with duration of drinking
- Effect of ghrelin on VEGF-B and connexin-43 in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy
- In vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of the n-butanol fraction of Senna podocarpa (Guill. and Perr.) leaf
- Blood pressure-reducing activity of Gongronema latifolium Benth. (Apocynaeceae) and the identification of its main phytochemicals by UHPLC Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry
- Evaluation of the anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like activities of aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus in mice
- Terpenoids and phytosteroids isolated from Commelina benghalensis Linn. with antioxidant activity
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- Suspected reactivation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis focus after non-medical abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids: a case report
- Acknowledgment
