Protective Effects of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Peperomia Pellucida (L.) Kunth on Benzo-a-Pyrene-Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats

This study evaluated the efficacy of Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth ethanol leaf extract against PAH-induced organ damage and reproductive dysfunction in adult Wistar rats. Thirty-five (35) rats weighing 150–200g, randomly divided into five (5) groups of seven (7) rats each, were used in this study. Fresh leaves of Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth were air-dried, ground into fine powder and used in the preparation of an ethanol extract. Toxicity and organ damage was induced using Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). Group I received normal rat feeds and distilled water only for 6 weeks. Group II received 1 ml/kg b.w. of olive oil daily from week 1 to week 3 (orally). Group III received 2mg/kg b.w. of B[a]P dissolved in 1 ml/kg b.w. olive oil (vehicle) daily from week 1 to week 3 (orally). Groups IV and V served as curative prophylactic groups respectively. At Weeks 4 and 6, the rats were fasted for 24 h prior to sacrificing/sample collection and then mildly anesthetized with chloroform and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. B[a]P induced toxicity in the experimental animals as indicated by significant (P