A Study on Hepatoprotective Role of Virgin Coconut Oil on Liver Toxicity Induced by Cadmium Chloride in Rats

Cadmium is a toxic carcinogenic metal, abundant in our surrounding since industrial age. Injury I occurring due to direct toxic effect of cadmium metal poses a variety of disruption of the I hepatocytes. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been consumed worldwide for various health-related I reasons and some of its benefits like the antioxidant property have been scientifically evaluated. I Hence present study was designed to gauge the protective role of virgin coconut oil in attenuating I cadmium induced liver damage. Animals were divided into the following groups with 6 rats in each I group; Group 1: Control Group (rats were injected with single dose of 0.9% NaCl intraperitoneally) I and sacrificed after 15 days, Group 2: (Virgin Coconut Oil treated group), Group 3: (Cadmium I treated Group), Group 4: (Virgin coconut oil+ cadmium treated group) Rats were pretreated with I virgin coconut oil (2ml/kg bw) for 30 days and then were injected with single dose of 1mg/kg I bodyweight cadmium. Rats were sacrificed 15 days after cadmium administration. Liver was I removed and stored for histopathological parameters after injecting appropriate anesthesia. Results I of the present study showed that there was significant increase in the level of SGPT and SGOT in I cadmium treated group compared to normal control. Pre-treatment with virgin coconut oil showed a I decrease in the level of SGPT and SGOT compared to cadmium treated rats. Histological results I were supported the biochemical results. Hence, Virgin coconut oil showed protective role in I attuning cadmium induced liver and testicular damage.