Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry

Comparative study on effect of Chrysophyllum albidum medicinal plant from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas on selected biochemical parameters in rats was evaluated.  Leaves of C. albidium were collected from a botanical garden (non-crude oil polluted site) and Okrika (crude oil polluted site), and studied. The leaves passed for heavy metals analyses and heavy metals such as mercury (0.38 ±0.07 mg/100 g), lead (3.06±0.40 mg/100 g), cadmium (0.09±0.00 mg/100 g), copper (1.00±0.18 mg/100 g), chromium (0.23±0.01 mg/100 g), and cobalt (4.90±1.22 mg/100 g) were observed in leaves of C. albidum  from crude oil polluted area. Rats placed on compounded feed of C. albidium leaves from crude oil polluted area revealed marked degeneration in haematological indices, liver enzymes, urea and creatinine of the kidney. These observed degeneration could be linked to toxicity of the heavy metals found in the leaves of C. albidum from crude oil polluted area since leaves of C. albidum are known to have medicinal potency that could protect the integrity of internal organs and tissues. There is need to properly inform those who rely on medicinal plants from crude oil polluted areas of the possible dangers such may pose in the body. This study has evaluated the comparative effect of C. albidum medicinal plant from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas on selected biochemical parameters in rats.