Effect of Ethanol Extract of Tetrahydrocannabinol Fraction of Cannabis sativa on the Liver Histology of Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, has been utilized for centuries in various cultures for medicinal, recreational and industrial purposes.The plant contains a range of bioactive compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, which have  een shown to exert diverse physiological effects.The aim of the study was to determine the histological effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major component of Cannabis sativa, on the liver tissue of wistar rats. The liver is a critical organ involved in various metabolic and detoxification processes, and THC's impact on its structure and function remains understudied. In this experiment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol fraction of Cannabis sativa on the liver histology of adult wistar rats.This research adopted an experimental study design using adult wistar rats as the model organism. Twenty adult wistar rats were randomly grouped into four, each group having five wistar rats. Group I was given distilled water which served as control. Groups II, III and IV were given 500mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 125mg/ kg of THC extract respectively for two weeks. The rats were euthanized and liver sections were taken and stained using H&E and PAS staining respectively. Changes were observed including glycogen accumulation and vascular congestion in the central vein, indicative of moderate hepatic impairment. These findings highlight the potential hepatotoxicity of THC, warranting further investigation into its long-term effects on liver function. Sub-chronic administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced dose-dependent histological changes in the liver of adult wistar rats. While the control group maintained normal hepatic architecture, THC treated groups showed varying degrees of inflammatory infiltration, vascular alterations, and structural distortion, with the most severe changes observed at the highest dose (500 mg/kg). PAS staining further revealed altered glycogen distribution in treated groups. Overall, the findings indicate that increasing doses of THC may adversely affect liver structure. The study contributes to the growing body of research on the health implications of cannabis use.