Toxicological effect of consumption of extract of <i>Jatropha Tanjorensis</i> on the liver of adult Wistar rats.

Abstract

Background: The leaves of J. tanjorensis are locally consumed as vegetable added to daily foods and has also served a medicinal purpose, however, it toxicological effects is yet to be fully evaluated in our environment.

Aim: The present research was to assess the effects of the extract of the leaf of Jatropha tanjorensis on the liver of rats.

Materials and Methods: Adult male and female rats (mean weight 180g) were randomly assigned to four groups of 6 rats each namely group I (control group) and three treatment groups II, III, and IV. Rats in treatment group II were given 600mg/kg/day of the extract orally by gavage route by the use of a syringe. Rats in treatment group III were given 700mg/kg/day by gavage while group IV rats were given 800mg/kg/day of the extract by gavage. Rats in the control group were given 600ml H₂O/ per kg body weight per day. The rats were given the treatment once per day, seven days a week for two weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment each rat was anaesthetized with chloroform. The abdominal region was opened and the liver was excised and fixed for histological studies.

Results The histological examination revealed that the liver of rats from the treated groups (II. III and IV) had necrotic regions. Also evident are congestion and portal triaditis of the hepatocytes. The severity of the ultra structural changes in the morphology of the liver was dose dependent as seen on histological examination. The pathological distortion in liver architecture was more at higher doses.

Conclusion :These findings indicate that the consumption of the extract of Jatropha tanjorensis is toxic to the liver.

Keywords: Jatropha Tanjorensis, liver, histology, hepatocytes