The effect of calabash chalk on the uterus of adult female Wistar rats

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of calabash chalk on the uterus of adult female Wistar rats. The 15 female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups A, B and C. Group A served as the control while groups B and C served as experimental groups. Their body weights were measured on a weekly basis throughout the experimental period. In addition to feed and water given to all groups, group A received distilled water only for 21 days, group B 40 mg/kg per body weight of non-salted calabash chalk for 21 days and group C 40 mg/kg per body weight of salted calabash chalk for 21 days. On the 22nd day the animals were sacrificed and their uterus harvested for histological studies. Data was analysed using one-way ANOVA and SPSS version 2.0. The body weight of animals in group B was significantly reduced (P<0.05) when compared to control group. The histological findings of the uterus revealed endometrial hyperplasia and presence of inflammatory cells in the group treated with non-salted calabash chalk and epithelial metaplasia coupled with endometrial hyperplasia in the group treated with salted calabash chalk. These hyperplastic and metaplastic effect could be attributed to the presence of lead in calabash chalk. Calabash chalk could cause histological changes in the uterus. Thus, prolonged or regular consumption of calabash chalk should be discouraged as it has been shown to have negative effect.

Chemical analysis of calabash chalk and its effect on locomotor activities and behavior in Swiss albino mice

“…The significant decrease in body weight among the treated groups of mice might have occurred due to the presence of toxic substances in the chalk [ 4 , 10 , 30 ]. These effects may be responsible for gastritis, nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach upset, colicky pain, and anorexia [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], which may lead to loss of appetite and reduced body weight. Moreover, the presence of calabash chalk in gastrointestinal mucosa reduces the absorption of nutrients which might play a vital role in this regard [ 35 ].…”

“…These effects may be responsible for gastritis, nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach upset, colicky pain, and anorexia [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], which may lead to loss of appetite and reduced body weight. Moreover, the presence of calabash chalk in gastrointestinal mucosa reduces the absorption of nutrients which might play a vital role in this regard [ 35 ]. Furthermore, the reduction of body weight in the treated groups might be due to the disturbance in the hunger and thirst centers because of the consumption of calabash chalk [ 3 , 14 ].…”

Evaluation of the effects of calabash chalk on the haematological profile of Wistar rats

“…Several reports documenting experimental evidence of some of the hazardous effect of calabash chalk has shown it to cause alteration in the growth of the femur bone (Ekong et al, 2012), gastrointestinal disorders (Moses et al, 2012), alterations in the cerebral cortex of foetuses (Ekanem et al, 2015), ovarian, uterine and gestational toxicity and (Oyewopo et al, 2017;Aprioku and Ogwo-Ude, 2018;Opara and Nwagbaraocha, 2018), alteration in lipid and electrolyte profile (Alli and Nafiu, 2017), haematoxicity and hepatotoxicity (Akpantah et al, 2010;Ogbuagu et al, 2017). Despite the negative health effects of consumption of calabash chalk, the consumption has continued unabated.…”