This study was aimed at determining the phytochemical composition, antioxidant effect and acute toxicity of Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) baill (IG) ethanolic leaf extract. Qualitative phytochemcal analysis was carried out on the ethanolic leaf extract using standard procedures. Different concentrations of the plant extract (20 µg/ml-100µg/ml) were used to assess its effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical activity, It's reducing power and it total phenolic content. Lorke's method of acute toxicity was adopted for the acute toxicity study. Results obtained showed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, and carbohydrates in the leaf extract. The ethanolic leaf extract of IG significantly (P< 0.05) inhibited the activity of DPPH when compared with the vitamin C standard. IG leaf extract also showed a higher reducing power as compared with the Vitamin C standard. The total phenolic content of IG ethanolic leaf extract was however, significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of gallic acid, the standard used. Futhermore, the LD50 of the ethanolic leaf extract was found to be above 5000mg/kg body weight. Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) baill ethanolic leaf extract is a rich source of important phytochemicals and possesses a high antioxidant activity. Also, the administration of the ethanolic leaf extract in wistar rats is safe up to a dose of 5000mg/kg body weight.

Cadmium is a well-known environmental pollutant that has been proven to be nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic in the body. In this study, the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) Baill (IG) against cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats was investigated. 30 female wistar rats of weights between 98-153g were grouped into 6 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 served as the control and was placed on rat feed and water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 10mg/Kg body weight (mg/kgbw) of cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) only,10mg/Kgbw CdCl 2 and 200mg/kgbw extract, 10mg/Kgbw CdCl 2 and 400mg/kgbw extract, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 were given 200mg/kgbw and 400mg/kgbw of IG extract respectively and the treatments lasted for 28 days. Results obtained revealed significant (p<0.05) increases in the serum levels of all renal and liver function biomarkers in group 2 (CdCl 2 only) as compared with the control. There were however significant (p<0.05) decreases in the serum levels of the assayed parameters when groups 3 and 4 were respectively compared with group 2. It can therefore be concluded that ethanolic leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) Baill enhances the integrity of the kidneys and liver of cadmium-induced wistar albino rats.

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Arsenic is a known environmental pollutant that is detrimental to health. In this study, the effect of ethanol stem bark extract of Irvingia gabonensis (ESEIG) against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats was investigated. Wistar albino rats of weights between 100 and 179g were assigned to eleven (11) groups of five (5) animals each. Group 1 (control) was given feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 was exposed to sodium arsenite (SA) at a dose of 4.1 mg/kg body weight (kgbw) for two weeks. Groups 3-11 were treated with ESEIG with or without SA. Treatment was done orally and lasted 28 days. Serum activities of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT as well as total bilirubin, (TBIL) and direct bilirubin, (DBIL) concentrations were assayed in serum in addition to histological assessment of liver tissues. Exposure to SA caused significant (p˂0.05) increases in all assayed parameters as well as histological anomalies such as vascular congestion and ulceration, infiltration of inflammatory cells and Kupffer cell activation when compared with control. However, treatment with ESEIG both simultaneously and 2 weeks after SA exposure, reversed the deleterious effects of SA. Paradoxically, administration of the ESEIG alone at different doses produced significant (p˂0.05) increases in all assayed parameters when compared with control except TBIL. The results obtained in this study suggest that ESEIG may be protective against SAinduced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats and slightly toxic when administered alone, necessitating further studies. Contribution/ Originality: This study is one of the very few studies that have investigated the effect ethanol stem bark extract of Irvingia gabonensis against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. 1. INTRODUCTION Arsenic is a well-known environmental pollutant and a human carcinogen that contaminates groundwater in many parts of the World, including Nigeria [1-7]. Several epidemiological studies have shown that, exposure to trivalent and pentavalent forms of arsenic, which occurs Worldwide majorly through occupational and environmental exposure, causes characteristic skin alterations (ulceration), including hyperkeratosis and skin cancer [8]. Epidemiological studies conducted in some countries [9-13] indicated a connection between arsenic exposures from contaminated drinking water to carcinogenesis among the inhabitants. Cutaneous and hepatic manifestation of

Background Exposure to arsenic orchestrates a myriad of noxious health effects, including cancer. Different parts of Irvingia gabonensis are used as herbal remedies in traditional medicine. In this study, the comparative effects of the ethanol leaf (ELEIG) and stem bark extracts (ESEIG) of Irvingia gabonensis on sodium arsenite (SA)-induced lipid profile disturbances in Wistar rats were investigated. Methods Fifty five Wistar rats weighing between 100 g and 179 g were distributed into eleven groups (n=5). Group 1 (control) received feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 received SA at a dose of 4.1 mg/kg body weight (kgbw) for 14 days. Groups 3–11 were treated with the extracts with or without SA. Treatment was done by oral intubation for 14 days. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), total lipids (TL) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were used to determine the lipid profile effects of the extracts. Results Exposure to SA caused significant (p ˂ 0.05) increases in all assayed parameters, relative to control. Post-treatment and simultaneous treatment with ELEIG and ESEIG mitigated the effects of SA. In addition, ELEIG alone at various doses produced results comparable with control values. However, ESEIG alone caused significant (p ˂ 0.05) increases in all assayed parameters, relative to control. Conclusion These results show that ELEIG and ESEIG ameliorate SA-induced lipid profile disturbances in Wistar rats. However, long-term administration of ESEIG alone may be discouraged.