HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS ON THE LIVER AND KIDNEY IN ADULT WISTAR RATS
Chris-Ozoko L.E, 1Ekundina V.O and Opute R
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Delta State University Abraka
ABSTRACT
Cassia occidentalis is a plant found mostly in the southern, middle belt and northern parts of Nigeria. It is a herb that belongs to the family of plants called leguminosae. It is commonly known as “coffee senna” and used widely for the cure of many ailments. In this research, the histological effects of cassia occidentalis extract on the liver and kidney of wistar rats as well as its effect on the organs weights were carefully studied. The rats (n=24) with an average weight of 150g were randomly placed into 4 groups. Each group consisted of six (6) rats. Group one served as the control group while groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 100mg, 200mg, and 300mg of cassia occidentalis extract respectively for 29 days. The rats were fed with growers mash and given water liberally. On the thirtieth day, the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys and livers were carefully harvested, weighed and fixed in 10% formal saline for histological examination. Weight measurement showed non-significant increase in organ weight in the treated groups compared to control animals. Histological examination revealed some changes in the livers and kidneys of treated rats. The changes are vascular congestion and dilatation and infiltrates of mild chronic inflammatory cells leading to an activation of the immune cells of the liver. The results from this research showed that cassia occidentalis extract had a hepatoprotective function. Conclusively from this research, the consumption of cassia occidentalis could have a possible positive effect on the liver and kidney.
KEYWORDS–Cassia occidentalis, Wistar rats, histology.