Mountain Top University Library

Lead exposure has been associated with oxidative stress and renal dysfunction, making it crucial to identify natural compounds that can mitigate these adverse effects. Talinum triangulare has been implicated in mitigating oxidative stress and renal dysfunction as
it is rich in bioactive compunds. This research employed a controlled experimental design where male Wistar rats were exposed to lead (Pb) and subsequently treated with the aqueous extract of T. triangulare. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were used for this study,
divided into 4 groups, with 7 rats in each group. This study aims to investigate the potential antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of T. triangulare on the kidneys of lead-induced male Wistar rats, as well as to explore the influence of the PRM1 and
SPATS1 genes. SPATS1 (spermatogenesis-associated serine-rich 1) is a testis-specific protein gene that plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis in mammals, the protamine1 gene is specifically involved in producing protamine 1, one of the protamine proteins
found in sperm. These genes have been implicated in various cellular processes, including antioxidant defense mechanisms. Mutations or abnormalities in these genes can significantly affect male fertility. Qualitative analysis was conducted to assess the
various biochemical compounds present in T. triangulare; the results demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, phlobatannins, glycocides and carbohydrates in the aqeoues extract of T. triangulare. Antioxidant analysis was carried
out for Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Lipid peroxidation (LPO) which was shown to be non-signifcant due to the effect of the extract and lead not being properly expressed. The presence of PRM1 and SPATS1 genes was detected using the
conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and gel electrophoresis to elucidate any potential correlations between the treatment and the presence of the PRM1 and SPATS 1 genes. It was observed that the primers of the genes did not bind
properly to them which could have been due to the annealing temperature of the PCR reaction not being sufficient enough. While the outcomes did not reach statistical significance, certain indications suggest that the aqueous extract of T. triangulare may
have the potential to mitigate the impacts of lead-induced poisoning Keywords: Talinum triangulare, antioxidant effects, lead-induced oxidative stress, kidney function, PRM1 gene, SPATS1 gene, male Wistar rat