Effects of ethyl acetate extract of Moringa oleifera leaf and vitamin c co-exposures on acute cadmium chloride-induced toxicopathological changes in Clarias gariepinus

Cadmium (Cd2+) is reportedly one of the most toxic metals, which is increasingly polluting our aquatic environments. The need to modify Cd2+ toxicity led to the investigation of the possible effects of ethyl acetate extract of Moringa oleifera ( M. oleifera) leaf (EAEMOL) and vitamin C on cadmium chloride (CdCl2) co-exposures of adult Clarias gariepinus over a 96-hour period. The exposure involved 105 fish in five groups of seven fish each in triplicates. Group I contained the control unexposed fish, Group II contained Tween 80, and Groups III-V contained CdCl2, EAEMOL co-exposure, and the vitamin C co-exposure, respectively. A total of 52.38%, 28.57%, and 47.62% mortalities occurred in Group III, IV, and V exposed fish, respectively, with marked deterioration in fish water quality over the exposure period. Although CdCl2 exposure caused considerable lipid peroxidation, the EAEMOL and vitamin C co-exposures insignificantly (p > 0.05) aggravated it rather than ameliorate it. Similarly, the co-exposures slightly elevated the recorded drop in liver metallothionein (MT) level induced by the CdCl2 exposure. Although CdCl2 exposure caused severe gill damage, only moderate gill damages occurred in both co-exposures based on the degree of tissue change protocol. Therefore, the EAEMOL and vitamin C co-exposures, as administered, ameliorated the CdCl2 toxicity in the exposed fish based on the recorded mortality and gills cellular damage as the induced biochemical changes were insignificant (p > 0.05). However, the rationale behind the recorded slightly elevated serum lipid peroxidation and liver MT levels by the co-exposures need further elucidation. (C)& nbsp;2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences / Next Einstein Initiative.& nbsp;& nbsp;