Garcinia hydroxylbiflavanonol-1 (gb1) isolated from seeds of garcinia kola ameliorates the toxic effects of cadmium chloride on the ovaries and uterus of albino wistar rats

In humans, cadmium toxicity in females especially during pregnancy can cause serious maternal and foetal morbidity and in extreme untreated cases, foetal mortality occurs. Studies aimed at the understanding the hormonal interplay following exposure to toxic compounds in females have been limited due to too few appropriate animal models. This study examined the possible protective effect of Garcinia hydroxylbiflavanonol (GB1) from seeds of Garcinia kola on cadmium chloride (CdCl2) induced reproductive toxicity in female Wistar rats. We observed that cadmium (Cd) accumulated in the uterus and ovaries of rats, significantly decreased (p<0.05) antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH)], and significantly rose (p<0.05) the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the uterus and ovaries of rats. Serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decreased significantly (p<0.05) following CdCl2 administration. GB1 significantly (p<0.05) decreased Cd accumulation, MDA, H2O2 and significantly increased (p<0.05) SOD, CAT and GPx activities in the uterus and ovaries, and significantly increased (p<0.05) serum reproductive hormones except for LH. Taken together, these results suggest that GB1 exerts multiple mechanistic protective effects against cadmium toxicity probably attributable to its known antioxidant potentials.