Modulation of biochemical stress initiated by toxicants in diet prepared with fish smoked with polyethylene (plastic) materials as fuel source

Abstract

This study investigated the oxidative modulation potentials of diets supplemented with Solanum lycopersicum and Allium cepa against biochemical changes initiated in rats fed diet prepared with fish smoked with polyethylene material (FSP) and fish smoked with firewood (FSF). Thirty male Wistar albino rats were randomly grouped into six with five rats in each group. The biochemical parameters analyzed indicated significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of liver enzymes [alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)] and concentration of total bilirubin and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats maintained on diets prepared with FSF and FSP only when compared to rats maintained on rats pellets only and rats maintained on the supplemented diets. These groups of rats also presented significant (p < 0.05) fluctuations in activities of glutathione peroxidise (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and concentrations of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and glutathione (GSH). However, the S. lycopersicum and A. cepa treated groups showed significant restoration towards their respective normal control values. These results indicate that smoking as a food processing method (especially using polyethylene materials) generates oxidants that may induce oxidative damage. The antioxidative role of A. cepa and S. lycopersicum in the diets of treated animals emphasized their hepatoprotective potentials.

Keywords: Smoked fish, polyethylene, S. lycopersicum, A. cepa, oxidants, antioxidative, toxicants