iarjalsIARJALSIARJALS2708-5104https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjals.2021.v02i01.012The Synergistic Interaction of Consumption of Staple Cassava-Diet and Nitrate/Nitrites-Containing water in Metabolism of Cyanide Toxicity in Albino Wistar RatsO. S.BakareO. Y.AdeniranS. M.DanielDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, NigeriaThis research work investigated the synergistic interaction of consumption of low proteinous staple cassava diet and nitrate and nitrite-containing water with a view of assessing the chronic toxicity of cyanide toxicity to animals feeding on cassava diet and evaluating the level of nitrate in water sources consumed by students in the university community viz-a-viz studying the link between cyanide and nitrate metabolism amongst the people of Akoko environs of Ondo State, Nigeria. The metabolism of a low protein cassava diet and nitrate/nitrite-containing water was investigated in albino wistar rats fed on a low protein cassava diet. The cassava roots were harvested, peeled, washed and cut into smaller sizes to aid quick homogenization, blended with cold ortophosphoric acid until complete homogenate and the homogenate were centrifuged to obtain a clear supernatant. The assays and activity of total and free cyanide, determination of urinary thiocyanate contents, sodium thiocyanate assay, linamarin contents, determination of crude linamarase enzymes, reduction of nitrate to nitrite in water by cadmium column, hematological assay and serum enzyme assay were performed using standard methods. Fifty-five recently weaned albino Wistar rats were acclimatized and used for this research work. They were placed on commercial rat’s pellets and or on a formulated diet containing 80 % cassava and 20 % pellets. A dose of 100 µg/kg body weight of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) or a sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and free drinking water were administered throughout the duration of two month of the experiment. The animals were divided into five groups of five animals each; animals in group one were administered cassava diet and free nitrate water, group two received cassava diet and 100 µg/kg body weight nitrate water, group three animals received pellet and 100 µg/kg body weight nitrate water, group four animals received pellet and 100 µg/kg body weight nitrite water and group five animals received pellet and nitrate free water. The animals in group five served as the control. Urine samples were collected weekly and analyzed. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture for enzyme, hematological, and liver and kidney function tests. Results showed markedly increased urinary excretion of nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen cyanide, and thiocyanate ions in the test group compared to controls. Weight loss, reduced packed cell volume, white blood cell count, and hemoglobin concentration were observed in test rats. Elevated serum enzymes and hepatomegaly further indicated the toxic effects of cyanide and nitrates. Nitrate levels in water sources from towns in Akoko North East and South West of Ondo State, Nigeria, were also assessed. Borehole water, particularly in Akungba Akoko and its environs, showed the highest concentrations. The study concluded that cyanide toxicity is prevalent in this area due to consumption of cassava-rich diets combined with nitrate-contaminated water, possibly explaining the high incidence of related diseases.