Ameliorative effects of palm oil on sniper induced toxicity on the cerebral cortex of adult male Wistar rats

Introduction: Sniper insecticide is a highly toxic, water soluble, synthetic organophosphate belonging to the DDVP (2, 2 — dichlorovinyl dimethylphosphate) compound family of chemicals. It’s wide spread indiscriminate indoor usage and more recently, an effective instrument for suicide related mortality which has been a source of great concern. Red palm oil, on the other hand, is an edible vegetable oil from the fleshy pulp of the oil palm that contains antioxidants; carotenoids that is responsible for its color (pigmentation) and Vitamin E that support brain health. This palm oil is consumed widely, used as an antidote in Nigeria and so is used for various ingested poisons.

Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of palm oil on sniper induced toxicity on the cerebral cortex.

Materials and methods: Sixteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 4 per group). Group A was the Control, while Group B was administered just sniper (5 mg/kg), Group C was administered 2 ml of Red oil and Group D received 5 mg/kg of sniper + 2 ml of red oil. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed, their brains extracted and fixed in 10% formal saline for routine histological analysis.

Results: There was significant increase in the body weight of Groups A, B, C and D. The relative organ weight of Wistar rats showed an insignificant decrease in the relative brain weight of Group B compared to the Control. Groups C and D also had a relative decrease in comparison to the control. The cerebral cortex reveals neuronal damage and proliferation of glial cells in the sniper-induced group and the mild recovery of neuronal cells in the rats treated with sniper and palm oil.

Conclusion: The results from this study shows that there was a significant reduction in organ weight in Group B [Sniper only] when compared to the control group. When palm oil was administered, there was mild recovery of neuronal cells. This shows the ameliorative effects/ impact of Palm Oil in Neurotoxicity.