Sub-acute pathological effects of calcium carbide as an artificial fruit ripening agent on various organs of albino mice

Ayodeji Blessing Ajileye; Oluwapelumi Abigail Ogunbinu; Michael Naomi Alanza

doi:10.20883/medical.e987

Authors

Ayodeji Blessing Ajileye Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1576-6207
Oluwapelumi Abigail Ogunbinu Biomedical Laboratory Science Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Michael Naomi Alanza Medical Laboratory Science Department, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e987

Keywords:

calcium carbide, fruit ripener, hazardous, inflammatory cells, pawpaw

Abstract

Introduction. Calcium carbide is the most commercially used artificial fruit ripener because it is inexpensive to produce though, involving the use of hazardous elements and can easily be purchased in local markets. This study aimed at investigating the architectural changes of organs extracted from albino mice fed with fruits that were ripened with calcium carbide. Material and methods. About 40 mice of both males and females, weighing between 18g-25g were randomly used for this study. They were divided into five (5) groups, made up of six mice namely Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 respectively. A set of unripe mature pawpaw and banana were ripened with calcium carbide (CCRP & CCRB) and were fed orally to groups 3 and 5 respectively for four weeks with water. Another set of the unripe mature pawpaw and banana were ripened naturally (NRP & NRB) without subjecting them to any artificial ripening processes and were fed orally to groups 2 and 4 mice respectively for four weeks with water. Rat feed and water were also given to the control group 1.

Results. Increased body weights were observed in the calcium carbide ripened banana (CCRB) treated group when compared to the other groups (control and calcium carbide ripened pawpaw). Histological sections revealed increased numbers of inflammatory cells, presence of collapsed epithelial layer, ruptured muscle, disorganized clara cells, aggregation of fibroblasts in the lungs; mild interstitial edema in the brain between the cardiocytes: mononuclear cell infiltration with cloudy swelling of the renal epithelium; dendritic cells in the brain.

Discussion and conclusions. According to this study, eating fruits that are ripened with calcium carbide has adverse related health effects thus negatively altering the histological architecture of the organs such as the lungs, liver, kidney, heart as well as the brain. Fruit vendors must therefore use caution when applying calcium carbide and adhere to international regulations that strictly limit its use.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Mursalat M, Rony AH, Rahman AH, Islam MN, Khan MS. A critical analysis of artificial fruit ripening: Scientific, legislative and socio-economic aspects. CHE THOUGHTS – Chemical Engineering and Science Magazine. 2013;4(1):6-12.

Perotti VE, Moreno AS, Podestá FE. Physiological aspects of fruit ripening: the mitochondrial connection. Mitochondrion. 2014 Jul;17:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2014.04.010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2014.04.010

Joshi H, Kuna A, Lakshmi MN, Shreedhar M, Kumar AK. Effect of stage of maturity, ripening and storage on antioxidant content and activity of Mangifera indica L. var. Manjira. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition. 2017;2(3):01-09.

Mendelson E, Zumajo-Cardona C, Ambrose B. What is a fruit? Biodiversity. 2020; 8(27):1-7. doi: 10.3389/frym.2020.00027. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2020.00027

Tripathi K, Pandey S, Malik M, Kaul T. Fruit ripening of climacteric and non-climacteric fruit. Journal of Environmental and Applied Bioresearch. 2016;4(1):27-34.

Mariya B, Haruna AH, Babangida AZ. Phytochemical analysis of some selected indigenous fruits collected from lokogoma-abuja, nigeria. Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants. 2020;6(2):50-55. doi: 10.11648/j.jdmp.20200602.14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jdmp.20200602.14

Hailu M, Workneh TS, Belew D. Review on postharvest technology of banana fruit. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2013;12(7):635-647.

FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization. Review of Food Safety and Quality Related Policies in Bangladesh. 2010; 1-12.

Maduwanthi SDT, Marapana RAUJ. Induced Ripening Agents and Their Effect on Fruit Quality of Banana. Int J Food Sci. 2019 May 2;2019:2520179. doi: 10.1155/2019/2520179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2520179

Sogo-Temi CM, Idowu OA, Idowu E. Effect of biological and chemical ripening agents on the nutritional and metal composition of banana (Musa spp). Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2014;18(2):243-246. doi: 10.4314/jasem.v18i2.14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v18i2.14

Singh B, Singh JP, Kaur A, Singh N. Bioactive compounds in banana and their associated health benefits - A review. Food Chem. 2016 Sep 1;206:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.03.033. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.03.033

Siddiqui MW. Dhua RS. Eating artificially ripened fruits is harmful. Current science. 2010;99(2):1664-1668.

Singal S, Kumud M, Thakral S. Application of apple as ripening agent for banana. Indian journal of Natural products and resources. 2012;3(1):61-64.

Adeyemi MM, Bawa MH, Muktar B. Evaluation of the Effect of Calcium Carbide on Induce Ripening of Banana, Pawpaw and Mango cultivated within Kaduna Metropolis. Nigeria. Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria. 2018;43(2):567-570.

Asif M. Physico-chemical properties and toxic effect of fruit-ripening agent calcium carbide. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2012;5(3):129-135. doi: 10.4103/1755-6783.98602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1755-6783.98602

Okeke ES, Okagu IU, Okoye CO, Ezeorba TPC. The use of calcium carbide in food and fruit ripening: Potential mechanisms of toxicity to humans and future prospects. Toxicology. 2022 Feb 28;468:153112. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2022.153112

Rahim MA. Indiscriminate use of chemical in fruits and their health effects. Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2012;2(9):47-54. doi: 10.17265/2159-5828/2012.09.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5828/2012.09.004

Islam MN, Mursalat M, Khan MS. A review on the legislative aspect of artificial fruit ripening. Agriculture & Food Security. 2016 5;8(1):1-10. doi: 10.1186/s40066-016-0057-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0057-5

Ajayi AR, Mbah GO. Identification of indigenous ripining technologies of banana and plantain fruits among women-marketers in southeastern Nigeria. Agro-Science. 2007;6(2):60-66. doi: 10.4314/as.v6i2.1572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v6i2.1572

Hakim MA, Huq AO, Alam MA, Khatib A, Saha BK, Haque KF, Zaidul ISM. Role of health hazardous ethephone in nutritive values of selected pineapple, banana and tomato. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment. 2012;10(2):247-251.

Chen Q, Fischer A, Reagan JD, Yan LJ, Ames BN. Oxidative DNA damage and senescence of human diploid fibroblast cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 May 9;92(10):4337-41. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.10.4337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.92.10.4337

Bafor EE, Greg-Egor E, Omoruyi O, Ochoyama E, Omogiade GU. Disruptions in the female reproductive system on consumption of calcium carbide ripened fruit in mouse models. Heliyon. 2019 Sep 6;5(9):e02397. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02397. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02397

Li X, Xu C, Korban SS, Chen K. Regulatory mechanisms of textural changes in ripening fruits. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences. 2010;29(4):222-243. doi: 10.1080/07352689.2010.487776. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2010.487776

Chakraborty TR, Donthireddy L, Adhikary D, Chakraborty S. Long-Term High Fat Diet Has a Profound Effect on Body Weight, Hormone Levels, and Estrous Cycle in Mice. Med Sci Monit. 2016 May 12;22:1601-8. doi: 10.12659/msm.897628. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.897628

Uzzal AR, Sultana S, Yasmin A, Islam T, Rahman MD. Cytotoxic effects of Calcium Carbide on swiss albino mice. 2021;3:97-105.

Ur-Rahman A, Chowdhury FR, Alam MB. Artificial ripening: what we are eating. Journal of Medicine. 2008;9(1):42-44. doi: 10.3329/jom.v9i1.1425. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jom.v9i1.1425

Kjuus H, Andersen A, Langård S. Incidence of cancer among workers producing calcium carbide. Br J Ind Med. 1986 Apr;43(4):237-42. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.4.237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.43.4.237

La Vecchia C, Bosetti C. Cancer risk in carbon electrode workers: an overview of epidemiological evidence. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2003 Oct;12(5):431-4. doi: 10.1097/00008469-200310000-00013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00008469-200310000-00013

Agency for Toxic Subtances and Disease Registry. Phosphine (PH 3) CAS 7803-51-2;UN 2199 Also: Aluminum Phosphide (CAS 20859-73-B; UN 1397) and Zinc. Phosphide (CAS 1314-84-7; UN 1714). 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2017.

Patoare Y, Hossain MI, Islam MN, Chowdhury A, Parveen S, Hossain MM, Hasnat A. Effect of calcium carbide on rat tissue. Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2007;6(2):93–98. doi:10.3329/dujps.v6i2.682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/dujps.v6i2.682

Bini M, Rajesh B, Babu TD. Chronic exposure of industrial grade calcium carbide and ethylene glycol exert genotoxic effect in Wistar albino rats. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology. 2021;34(5):617-623. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0360

Cruzan G, Corley RA, Hard GC, Mertens JJ, McMartin KE, Snellings WM, Gingell R, Deyo JA. Subchronic toxicity of ethylene glycol in Wistar and F-344 rats related to metabolism and clearance of metabolites. Toxicol Sci. 2004 Oct;81(2):502-11. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfh206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfh206