Effects of ethanol seed extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum in the treatment of Mercury chloride-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity

Abstract

Mercury chloride (HgCl₂) is a compound of mercury, which is highly toxic and corrosive. Mercury chloride was formerly utilized as a treatment for syphilis; however, it is no longer employed for medical purposes due to its toxicity. A chemical evaluation of Tetracarpidium conophorum nuts revealed it can be useful to manage cardiovascular and liver diseases due to the presence of tocopherol. The study investigated the possible medicinal effects of T. conophorum seed extract on Mercury chloride-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity. A total of twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats, weighing between 184-276kg, were used for this study. The rats were randomly divided into six groups (A-F) of four rats each. Group A served as control. Animals in groups B and C received daily oral administration of low dose and high dose 250 and 500mg/kg body weight of T. conophorhum extracts only respectively. Groups D and E were the mercury chloride induced rats which were treated with low dose and high dose 250 and 500mg/kg body weight of T. conophorhum extracts. Group F received 1mg/kg body weight solution of Mercuric chloride only. The rats were anesthetized under chloroform, heart and liver harvested and fixed in neutral buffered formalin for hematoxylin and eosin histological staining procedure, and histological slides were examined using light microscope. Histological findings reveal that mercuric chloride is both cardiotoxic and hepatotoxic. It causes severe damage to blood vessels in the heart, leading to ischemic effects on cardiac muscles, and induces significant liver damage, including inflammation and hepatocyte degeneration. Tetracarpidium conophorum extract provided some protection against these effects: it helped reduce liver inflammation and damage, and partially shielded the heart from vascular and myocardial damage. However, higher doses of the extract may not offer extra benefits and could potentially have adverse effects.