Antioxidant Activity of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and ‘Ugwu’ (Telfairia occidentalis) in the Lungs of Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Exposed to Cement Dust

Abstract

The antioxidant effects of selected vegetables and spices were assessed in the lungs of albino rats exposed to industrial pollutants. Albino rats grouped into six containing 18 rats each were exposed to cement dust at 200 m from a cement plant in Nigeria. Group one was the control and groups two through six formed the test rats. The histology of lung tissues of the rats was examined before analysis and served as the baseline index. The test rats were then fed with 400 mg kg-1 extracts of roselle, moringa, ginger, 'ugwu' and a mixture of the extracts, respectively for 180 days. The control rats received only distilled water for the same duration. The rats were monitored for 180 days after which their lungs were harvested and histopathological analysis carried out again. The lungs of control rats showed severe interstitial fibrosis and cellular debris. Moderate fibrosis were observed in the lung tissues of rats treated with roselle and moringa extracts. The rats that were fed with extracts of ginger, 'ugwu' and the mixture of the extracts had mild septal fibrosis. The findings of the study demonstrated the antioxidant properties of the food plants modulated the effects of cement dust. Hence, the plants could be used as palliatives in polluted environments to lower the health problems associated with cement dust exposures.