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Sub-Acute Toxicity of Rauwolfia Vomitoria on the Kidneys and Liver of Wistar Rats: A Histological Study


Affiliations
1 Department of Anatomy, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda
2 Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
3 Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
 

Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel (Apocynaceae) is used in the African traditional medical practice for the management of various diseases such as cough, malaria, and as an anti-psychotic.

Objectives: The present study investigates the toxicological potential of the sub-acute administration of the aqueous leaf extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria (R.V) on the kidney and liver of adult Wistar rats.

Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups and orally administered 120 mg/kg R.V (group B), 300 mg/kg R.V (group C) and 1 ml distilled water (Control) for twenty-one days. Histology of the kidney and liver as well as selected indices of renal and hepatic functions were assayed for after completion of the study.

The extract produced a dose dependent increase in the activities of serum Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and produced no significant difference (P≤0.05) in the levels of creatinine and urea in the experimental groups when compared to the control group. Histological observation of both organs shows no cyto-architectural difference between the control and experimental groups.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the administration of the R. vomitoria at these doses has no toxic effect on the kidneys but could impair liver function in Wistar rats.


Keywords

AST, ALT, Urea, Creatinine, Histology.
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  • Sub-Acute Toxicity of Rauwolfia Vomitoria on the Kidneys and Liver of Wistar Rats: A Histological Study

Abstract Views: 228  |  PDF Views: 195

Authors

Ridwan Babatunde Ibrahim
Department of Anatomy, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda
Ismail Olasile Onanuga
Department of Anatomy, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda
Abdulbasit Amin
Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Akeem Olayiwola Bolaji
Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Musa Iyiola Ajibola
Department of Anatomy, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda

Abstract


Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel (Apocynaceae) is used in the African traditional medical practice for the management of various diseases such as cough, malaria, and as an anti-psychotic.

Objectives: The present study investigates the toxicological potential of the sub-acute administration of the aqueous leaf extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria (R.V) on the kidney and liver of adult Wistar rats.

Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups and orally administered 120 mg/kg R.V (group B), 300 mg/kg R.V (group C) and 1 ml distilled water (Control) for twenty-one days. Histology of the kidney and liver as well as selected indices of renal and hepatic functions were assayed for after completion of the study.

The extract produced a dose dependent increase in the activities of serum Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and produced no significant difference (P≤0.05) in the levels of creatinine and urea in the experimental groups when compared to the control group. Histological observation of both organs shows no cyto-architectural difference between the control and experimental groups.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the administration of the R. vomitoria at these doses has no toxic effect on the kidneys but could impair liver function in Wistar rats.


Keywords


AST, ALT, Urea, Creatinine, Histology.