Chemical Evaluations of Boiled Hemidactylus frenatus and Scolopendridae cataracta Solutions and their Histopathological Effects on Livers and Kidneys of Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the chemical profiles of boiled Hemidacylus frenatus (wall gecko, WG) and Scolopendridae cataracta (centipede) solutions and their effects on the liver and kidneys of albino rats. The GC-MS analyses of the solutions revealed that notable among the compounds present in boiled whole wall gecko solution (BWWGS) were hexadecanoic acid, 11-octadecanoic acid and methyl stearate. Hexadecanoic acid, 9,10-epoxy-18-(trimethylsiloxy)-, methyl stearate, 6-Octadecenoic acid and n-hexadecanoic were relatively present at high levels in boiled degutted wall gecko solution (BDWGS) while 9-octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid and methyl stearate were also present in boiled centipede solution (BCS). Histological examinations of the kidneys and liver showed that the most notable effects of these solutions after 28-day exposure of the rats were haemorrhage in both organs, vacuolar degeneration in the kidneys and degeneration of the hepatocytes; in dose-dependent manners. The BWWGS and BCS induced hepatic and renal morphological changes in organs of the rats that were treated with them; indicating that the solutions contained toxic substances. The toxic effect was more pronounced with BWWGS relative to BDWGS; suggesting that the gut of WG might have contained agents responsible for the higher toxicity of its boiled solution. In conclusion, the boiled wall gecko and centipede solutions were toxic to the organs of the rats because of the toxic substances detected in them.