Blood Chemistry and Major Body Organ Induced-Toxicity by Locally-Made Traditional OMGKRP Karuho Poison in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

OMGKRP is one of various Karuho poison mysteriously used by unscrupulous individuals to kill people during conflict and animals in Goma City, in DRC. The symptoms and signs of most cases are usually confused with many chronic diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; with renal, hepatic and cardiac manifestations as well as blood chemistry changes. The study investigated the toxic effect of OMGKRP poison on blood chemistry, serum enzymes and organ toxicity including the kidney, lung, liver and heart of Wistar albino rats. A laboratory-based experimental study was conducted. Fifty animals in 5 groups each with 10 animals were dosed daily for 28 days with 1.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 20.0 mg and 5000.0 mg/Kg body weight of OMGKRP and normal saline as control group. International standard guidelines, OECD 407 and NIH 2011 were followed during the study period. The blood chemistry analysis, relative organ weight and histopathological changes in the kidney, lung, liver and heart were performed. The findings showed that OMGKRP was associated with increased blood chemistry parameters including total proteins, creatinine, urea, K ⁺ levels, direct albumin levels, a decrease in Cl^− levels and albumin levels. Histopathological findings showed an increased relative weight and tissue damages of the lung, kidney, liver and heart. Therefore, OMGKRP Karuho poison caused toxicity on blood chemistry, serum enzymes as well as histopathological changes in the lung, renal, hepatic and cardiac tissue damages in Wistar albino rats.