Abstract

Anonde Andrew Chekwube, Okoroiwu I.L., Okolie N. J. C., Udokwu Euphemia Ifeoma and Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi*

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of co-administration of Myristica Fragrans Houtt (nut meg) and vitamin E on osmolity fragility of potassium bromate intoxicated wistar rats. Dried nuts of nut meg were purchased from Ubani market in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria and were identified by a botanist in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. There was significant difference in osmotic fragility of rats exposed to 30 mg bromate group, and those treated with 500 mg nutmeg, 300 mg vitamin E and the combination in week 1, 2 and 3.There was significant difference in osmotic fragility of rats exposed to 10 mg bromate group, and those treated with 100 mg vitamin E alone and in combination with 500 mg nutmeg in week 1, 2 and 3. This study showed that while nutmeg and vitamin E ameliorates the toxic effects of potassium bromate, the co-administration of Vitamin E and nutmeg may offer moreprotection against these toxicity. The protective effects of both nutmeg and vitamin E are linked with their anti-oxidant properties and as such can provide protection against toxicants whose mode of action involves generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress.