Protective effect of Lyophilized Aqueous Extract of Basella alba Vegetable on Heamatological indices and selected Organs of Cyanide Induced Toxicity in Rats

The protective effect of lyophilised aqueous extract of Basella alba (BA) vegetable on cyanide induced toxicity in rats was investigated. Twenty, 3weeks old male wistar strain albino rats were randomly distributed into one control and three treatment groups of five rats each; control group (no cyanide, no extract), group 2, treated with 3mg/kg body weight cyanide (CN only), group 3, treated with 3mg/kg body wt. cyanide and equivalent amount(3mg/kg body wt.) of extract (CN+BA) and group 4, treated with 3mg/kg body wt. ofextract only(BA only) were used for the investigation.Cyanide toxicity(when compared with the control) reduced food and water intake, while the food intake was improved in group 3 which was treated with equivalent concentration of cyanide and extract(CN+BA). Biochemical analysis of liver enzymes showed that cyanide (CN only) damaged the liver as there was significantly elevated activity of Aspartate aminotranferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase(ALT) which were considerably decreased by Basella alba. Heamatological analysis indicated a significant reduction in PCV, RBC and Hb of group treated with cyanide(CN only). The reduction effects were considerably cancelled by basella alba in the group treated with equivalent concentration of cyanide and extract(CN+BA). Lyophilized aqueous extracts of Basella alba showed good potentials as a safe antidote for cyanide toxicity when administered concominantly with sub-lethal dose of cyanide.