Annual Research & Review in Biology

Aim: This study was designed to assess the toxic effect of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles on some biochemical parameters of Wistar rats.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Between June and November, 2016.

Methodology: Thirty six rats were randomly distributed into six experimental groups of six animals each. Group 1 served as the control and received distilled water. Groups 2 to 6 were orally exposed to a single dose varying concentrations of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. The animals were observed daily for signs of toxicity and mortality for 14 days. Thereafter, they were sacrificed and alterations in the haematological parameters, serum lipid profile and some functional indices of the liver and kidney were then evaluated.

Results: The administration of the nanoparticle did not result in mortality of the rats at the tested doses. Also there were no  significant (P<0.05) alterations in the computed liver- and kidney-body weight ratios, serum lipid profile, white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, urea, sodium, chloride, potassium and glucose levels. The concentrations of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and neutrophils decreased significantly. In contrast, the levels of the red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, also, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased significantly (P<0.05).  Also the administration of the nanoparticle induced a significant increase in the concentration of malonaldehyde (MDA) formed in the liver and kidney at 1000, 2000, 4000 and 5000 mg/kg.

Conclusion: Although, no mortality was observed, this study suggests that magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles may have mild hepatotoxic effects at the doses investigated.