ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON THE FIRST FILIAL GENERATION FROM THE WISTAR RATS FED WITH CALCIUM CARBIDE RIPENED ORANGE.

Abstract

Purpose and Methods: The use of chemicals for fruit ripening is constantly on the increase and inadvertently, such chemicals are consumed unperceived. The aim of the study is the assess the Biochemical parameters of the Pups from the Wistar rats fed with Calcium Carbide induced ripened orange. Unripe mature oranges were gotten for the parent plant at Ogu, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The fruits were divided into two; the first group was allowed to ripe at normal room temperature and 1kg of the second oranges wrapped with black nylon were forced to ripe within 48 hours with 10grams of Calcium carbide which was dissolved in 5ml of water in a closed steel bucket. 600g of each groups of the ripened oranges were peeled differently and blended in an electric blender with 350ml/1L distilled water. The juice was filtered with a clean fine sieve and were poured into clean bottles labeled accordingly and stored in a refrigerator for future use. 24 adult Wistar rats [12 male and female of each sex] weighing between 126.9- 213.3g were used. They were acclimatize for two [2] weeks and was fed with standard grower mash with clean water ad libitum. The Wistar rats were grouped into three, [1] Control, of 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] receive normal water and feeds only as placebo. [2] Treatment group I, containing 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] received 5ml/kg of the naturally ripened orange juice [3] Treatment II of 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] received 5ml/kg of the Calcium carbide induced ripened orange juice orally against their body weight for four weeks. The Wistar rats copulates freely during this period. Birthing occurred in the three groups and the Pups were collected weight at birth, at one week and the two week. They were sacrifice at second week and blood sample collected for the Biochemical analysis. Data collected from this study was analyzed as Mean ± Standard Error of Mean [SEM]. Significant difference among the groups was determined as P<0.05; by two-way ANOVA; using Statistical Analysis Program for Social Sciences [SPSS 22.0 Version].

Findings and recommendations: The results of this study showed statistically significant increase in the mean AST, ALT, ALP, Creatinine, Urea, Total Biluribin and Lactate Dehydrogenase of the pup of the Wistar rats fed with Calcium carbide forced ripened orange juice in contrast with the control group (p<0.05). There was significant reduction in the mean Albumin, Total Protein and Total Cholesterol in the pups from the Wistar rats fed with Calcium carbide forced ripened orange juice when compared with the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, there is nutritional programming of Calcium Carbide forced ripened fruit when consumed by a mother and could cause hepatic and/or extra-hepatic toxicity, renal failure, heart failure, coronary heart diseases of the offspring. Thus; we recommend strongly, the abolishment of Calcium carbide as an agent for fruit ripening.