Author(s)

Sunday Otu Ita^1*, Edet Okon Akpanyung², Akpoezoukumo Salima Robert¹, Esther Olusola Aluko¹, Faith Okon Eseabasi¹, Michael Uwem Sunday-Essien¹

¹Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.

Evaluation of some biomarkers of inflammation in male Albino Wistar rats following ingestion of Nigerian Bonny Light Crude Oil (NBLCO) and the effect of antioxidant supplementation was the focus of this study. Forty-eight adult male Albino Wistar rats weighing 150 - 180 g were randomly divided 8 per group into: group I (control) oral gavaged 3 ml/kg of normal saline; group II received 3 ml/kg of NBLCO; groups III, IV and V received in addition to 3 ml/kg of NBLCO 1 ml/kg vitamin C, vitamin E and 3 ml/kg of honey bee respectively; group VI received 3 ml/kg of honey. After 28 days of treatment, all animals were anaesthetized with chloroform and blood collected by cardiac puncture for analysis. Results showed that NBLCO administration significantly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein while supplementation with antioxidant significantly reversed such effects (p < 0.05). NBLCO significantly reduced platelets and fibrinogen levels compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the vitamin supplementation significantly reduced platelets and fibrinogen levels compared to group II (NBLCO) (p < 0.05). Honey supplementation on the other hand significantly reduced platelets and fibrinogen compared to group II (NBLCO) (p < 0.05). From the results obtained it is concluded that ingestion of NBLCO has the potential to induce development and progression of inflammation but could substantially be mitigated by supplementation with antioxidant vitamins C, E and honey.

Crude Oil, Inflammation, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, C-Reactive Protein, Antioxidants

Ita, S. , Akpanyung, E. , Robert, A. , Aluko, E. , Eseabasi, F. and Sunday-Essien, M. (2016) Evaluation of Some Inflammatory Biomarkers in Male Albino Wistar Rats Following Ingestion of Crude Oil and the Role of Bee Honey, Vitamins C and E. Modern Research in Inflammation, 5, 55-62. doi: 10.4236/mri.2016.53006.