Cardiotoxicity Induced Lead Acetate: The Role of Ficus Vogelii Extract

The heart as it is one of the major organs that sustain the part of human body because the contractility of its muscles helps to supply blood that maintains them. To investigate the effects of lead acetate on the cardiac muscles and the potency of the extract of Ficus vogelii as a useful herb. The 48 Wistar rats used for this work were purchased and acclimatized for 7 days and were divided into 12 groups of 6 rats per group. Group A (Control group) received normal saline and water ad libitum. The animals were given lead acetate in a dose of 2mg/kg body weight. Group B was further divided into B1-B4 (aqueous extract groups). Group C also further regrouped into C1-C4 (ethanolic extract groups). Even though the heart is one of the hardest organ to be affected by toxicity, our result showed that lead acetate causes the following on the myocardial necrosis, oedema, optical empty spaces, fatty changes, hemorrhages, myocardial cell death, etc. The groups that received the extract show little effect of lead acetate on the myocardium, this could be as a result of the therapeutic potency of the herb. Ficus vogelii leave can be used as an herbal remedy in tackling myocardial toxicity. With this our little result we recommend the herb for use.

Key Words: Cardiotoxicity, Lead acetate, Extract, Role; Morbidity