Histopathological Assessment of Organ Impairment of Rattus albus Treated with Selected Medicinal Plants
Authors: Uduchi Immaculata O. , Nnaemeka J. C. Okolie , Obiajuru Ifeanyi  O. C. , Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi , Ilo Cajetan E. , Okoye Jude O. 
Published: June 2022

A histopathological assessment of organ impairment of Rattus albus treated with selected plant extracts: (Napleonaea imperalis, Sida acuta and Vernonia amygdalina) was studied from October 2014 to March 2016. The aim of the study was to determine the histopathological effects of the plant extracts on Rattus albus. The Rattus albus were treated with 3 selected plant extracts: Vernonia amygdalina, Sida acuta and Napoleonae imperialis and observed for 3 weeks. A total of 22 male and 23 female laboratory animals were selected and treated with plant extracts and reference drugs. The different treatment groups and controls were selected for histopathological studies using paraffin wax embedding method.They were sacrificed and examined histopathologically for pathological features. The results showed that, all 3 selected plant extracts contain Tanins, Saponins, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Cardiac Glycosides, Phytate, Oxalate, Phenol, Steroids, Terpenoids and Cyanide. Out of 4 laboratory animals in each group treated with 10µg of crude Napoleonea imperialis,Sida acuta and Vernonia amygdalina extracts, no feature of impairment was observed in the intestine, kidneys and liver of all the laboratory animals used. Out of 4 laboratory animals in each group treated with 20µg of crude Napoleonea imperialis extract, the intestine and liver of one each showed features of impairment. Out of 4 laboratory animals treated with 20µg of crude Sida acuta extract, the intestine, kidney and liver of one animal each showed features of impairment. Out of 4 laboratory animals treated with 20 µg of crude Vernonia amygdalina extract, no impairment was observed in the intestine, kidneys and liver of all laboratory animals used. Out of 4 laboratory animals treated with 30 µg of crude Napoleonea imperialis extract, the intestine of 1, the kidney of 1 and livers of 2 showed features of impairment. Out of 4 laboratory animals treated with 30 µg of crude Sida acuta extract, the intestine of 2, kidney of 1 and livers of 2 showed features of impairment. Out of 5 laboratory animals treated with 30 µg of crude Vernonia amygdalina extract, the intestine of 1, the kidneys 1 and livers of 2 showed features of impairment.Organ impairment on laboratory animals due to plant extract shows that, out of 12 animals (6 males and 6 female laboratory animals) treated with Napoleoneae imperialis 10 (83.3%) had normal intestine and 2 (16.7%) had abnormal intestine, 11 (91.7%) had normal kidneys, 1 (8.3%) had abnormal kidney, 9 (75%) had normal liver and 3 (25%) had abnormal liver (Table 2). Out of 12 laboratory animals (6 male and 6 female laboratory animals) treated with Sida acuta 9 (75%) had normal intestine and 3 (25%) had abnormal intestine, 10 (83.3%) had normal kidneys, 2 (16.7%) had abnormal kidney, 9 (75%) had normal liver and 3 (25%) had abnormal liver. Out of 13 laboratory animals (6 male and 7 female laboratory animals) treated with Vernonia amygdalina, 12 (92.3%) had normal intestine and 1 (7.7%) had abnormal intestine, 12 (92.3%) had normal kidneys, 1 (7.7%) had abnormal kidney, 11 (84.6%) had normal liver and 2 (15.4%) had abnormal liver. Analysis of the data using chi square showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in the frequency of organ impairments between the different organs of the laboratory animals. The highest frequency of impairment was observed on the liver followed by intestine and the least impairment was on the kidneys. Three types of impairment: inflammatory changes, degenerative changes and distortions were observed on the intestine of the laboratory animals. On the kidneys, 5 types of impairment: lymphocytic infiltration, degenerative changes, necrosis, vacuolation, and distortion of stroma and glomerulus were observed. On the liver, 4 types of impairment: inflammatory changes, hepatocytic degernerative changes, necrosis and distortion of hepatocytes were observed. Whereas the frequency of impairment was higher in liver organs 9 (20.0%) than kidneys 4 (8.9%), the types of impairment observed were higher in kidneys than liver organs. This study has shown that Napoleonae imperialis, Sida acuta and Vernonia amygdalina extracts at higher concentration, exhibit pathologic effects on host organs: intestine, kidney and liver.