Immunomodulatory and Toxicological Effect of Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Albino Rat Orogastrically Dosed with Salmonella typhi

The immunomodulatory and toxicological properties of Goya extra virgin olive oil on albino rats orogastrically dosed with Salmonella typhi were evaluated in this study. Twenty albino rats were randomly distributed into four groups (A-D) of five rats each. The groups (B-D) infected with Salmonella typhi, revealed that the animals shows depressed activity and weakness characterised by slow movement. The rats in groups B were treated with olive oil, group C were treated with 20 mg ofloxacin, while Group A rats served as control and group D rats were left untreated. Group B and C rats were treated orogastrically with olive oil and ofloxacin daily for seven days. The total phenol derivative present in the olive oil which contributes to the observed inhibitory effect of the oil was 14.90 mg/g. At the end of the treatment period, haematological analysis of the groups infected and fed with olive oil (B) showed white blood cell count (WBC) to be within the normal range (11.8×103/mm3) indicating the immunomodulatory effect of olive oil. The WBC was least in value in the control group (A) (6.7 ×103/mm3) and highest in the untreated group (D) whose WBC (15.9×103/mm3) was outside the normal range of WBC for an apparently healthy rat. The control group had the highest PCV (Packed cell volume) value of 56%, while olive oil to some extent help to modulate the PCV which can be revealed when the group treated with olive oil (52%) was compared with the untreated group (41.3%). Histopathological analysis shows liver of all infected group to have karyolysis and have cells that shows less prominent nucleus. The kidney of all the infected animals in group fed with olive oil (B) and those treated with antibiotics (C) shows infiltrations of cell, destruction of the glomerular tuft, and focal destruction of the renal tubules while The group left untreated (D) showed Tubular necrosis, vacuolation, destruction of the renal tubules, hyalinization, and degeneration of the glomerular tuft with possible infiltration of lymphocytes. The findings of this study revealed the non-toxic and immunomodulatory properties of olive oil, its suitability as an amazing food supplement that can improve human health and its efficacy as an alternative to antibiotics.