COCOS NUCIFERA WATER AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT IN LEAD-INDUCED ALTERATIONS OF CARDIO-PULMONARY TISSUES

The coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an important fruit tree in the tropical regions and the fruit can be made into a variety of foods and beverages. Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the earth’s crust. Young children and adults are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effect of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse impact with the heart and lungs being the major organs affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological effect of coconut water on lead induced toxicity in the heart and lungs of adult male wistar rats. Twenty- Eight (28) Adult Male Wistar rats were purchased from the Pharmacological Department of Niger Delta University. The rats were weighed and grouped into 5. The rats were given growers marsh and water for 12 hours cycle and were allowed to acclimatize for 14 days. The rats in the treatment groups were administered with 2mg/kg of Lead acetate intraperitoneally and there treated with a varying concentration of coconut water. At the end of 4 weeks of administration, the heart and lungs of animals were harvested, processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Result showed the lungs of the lead only group showed enlargement of the alveoli, thickening of the septa and infiltration of inflammatory cells while rats in the lead group treated with coconut water also showed thickening of the interalveolar septa. However, animals in the coconut water only group showed normal appearance of lungs while the heart result revealed no alteration to it's morphology upon lead administration and also there were maintenance of the normal cardiac structure. Our conclusion reveals coconut water dosage administered in this study did not ameliorate lead toxicity in the heart and lungs of adult male wistar rats. Future research should focus on molecular pathways involved in these changes and explore alternative protective agents for lead-induced toxicity