Toxicological Effects of Kaikai - An Experimental Study in Wistar Rats

The public has witnessed several health and social challenges including chronic liver diseases, different organ cancers, death, and distortion of social status as a result of prolonged consumption of home brew local gin called Kaikai. The health challenges due to prolong consumption of Kaikai in Nigeria have assumed significant public health dimension requiring further investigation. This situation has been worsened by the apparent lack of data, information and study about the toxicological constituents and respective effects of the local gin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of Kaikai in Rats which could be extrapolated to gain the picture of its effect in human. An experimental study which involved the administration of Kaikai to Wistar Rats under strict monitoring and observation. This was followed by histological investigation of harvested liver and blood. Histology result of Rat?s organ showed the presence of macronodular or macrovesicular steatosis, microvesicular steatosis, fibrosis and serum electrolyte imbalance. By inference, the duration of consumption of Kaikai or local gin, the dosage of alcoholic constituent and impurities would determine the nature of impact.