Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: March | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 83-90
Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Gongronema Latifolium on the Histology of the Liver and Bone Marrow of Wistar Rat
James Olayiwola. Adisa1, Salome Yeni Danladi1, Ejike Chukwudi. Egbujo2, Cynthia Kawai1, Chisom Okoli1, Kizito Jugu3, Ju Gye3
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of JOS, Plateau State Nigeria
2Meena Histopathology and Cytology Laboratory, JOS Plateau State Nigeria
3Histopathology Department JOS University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Ejike Chukwudi. Egbujo
ABSTRACT
Gongronema latifolium is a wide spread tropical rain forest plant in Africa, largely eaten locally as vegetable for food especially by those in the southern parts of Nigeria for its medicinal and nutritive value. The knowledge of its histologic effects particularly of the liver and bone marrow is not adequately documented. Fresh leaves of Gongronema latifolium were dried and ground to obtain 500g which was subjected to aqueous extraction and gave a yield of extract of 43g of fine powder of G. latifolium. Thirty (30) weaned wistar rat were used in the study. They were randomly divided into three (3) groups namely control, low dose and high dose respectively. The treatment groups were fed with the aqueous leaf extract alongside animal feed and clean water, while the control group was only fed with animal feed and clean water. The low dose and high dose groups were given 25% and 75% of the dosage consumed by users respectively for 21 days while control group was given water as placebo. The rats were sacrificed and the liver and bone marrow tissue harvested respectively. The liver tissue was fixed, processed, sectioned and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin method. The bone marrow was aspirated from long bones, smears made, fixed and stained using Leishmann staining technique. The evidence of toxicity was observed more in the high dose group. The nuclei of the hepatocytes in this group showed mild enlargement and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leucocytes as well as increased production of white blood cells in the bone marrow suggesting an inflammatory effect on these organs.
Key words: Gongronema latifolium, Liver, Bone marrow, Wistar rat, Histologic and Toxicity