THE EFFECT OF Annona muricata PHYTOWASTE ON THE BIOACCUMULATION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM ON THE TISSUE ORGAN PARAMETERS OF WISTAR RATS

Cadmium and lead represent hazardous heavy metals that present substantial threats to environmental quality and human health worldwide. These metallic contaminants undergo bioaccumulation in living tissues, triggering oxidative damage and multiple pathological manifestations in vital organs. Given the extended biological retention periods of these toxicants, there exists an urgent requirement for efficacious and environmentally sound therapeutic approaches. This research examined how Annona muricata phytowaste extracts influence lead and cadmium tissue accumulation in Wistar rat models.Thirty male Wistar rats (80-100g) were allocated randomly across five treatment cohorts over 90 days. Group I received distilled water (control), Group II was administered lead acetate with cadmium chloride, Group III received zinc (1mg/kg) and selenium (1.5mg/kg), while Groups IV and V were treated with ethanol- based Annona muricata extract at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively. Heavy metal quantification in splenic, cerebral, and skeletal tissues was performed via atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Results revealed marked metal deposition in untreated subjects, with cadmium elevated by 189% in brain, 115% in spleen, and 102% in bone. Lead increased by 79% in bone, 55% in brain, and 115% in spleen. Zinc-selenium intervention reduced cadmium by 76% (spleen), 67% (brain), and 65% (bone), while lead decreased by 64%, 67%, and 54% respectively. The 250mg/kg EEAM dosage decreased cadmium by 73% across all tissues, with lead reductions of 66%, 46%, and 64%. The 500mg/kg dosage demonstrated superior protection in soft tissues, reducing cadmium by 80% in brain and lead by 75% in spleen, though skeletal tissue showed paradoxical increases suggesting metal mobilization.This investigation validates the therapeutic utility of Annona muricata phytowaste for ameliorating heavy metal intoxication, with protection equivalent to conventional supplementation. The transformation of agricultural by-products into therapeutic resources aligns with sustainable development objectives while addressing environmental contamination.