Effects of Oral and Subcutaneous Administration of Acalypha Wilkesiana Macafeeana Leaf Extract on Histopathological Pattern of Selected Organs of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Acalypha wilkesiana belongs to the family of Euphobiaceae with common names as copperleaf and fire dragon. The juice of the leaf can be robbed on fungal skin infections and oral consumption has been reported to be antimycotic and antibacterial in action. Therefore, the general objective for this study was to investigate the histological effects of oral and subcutaneous administration of Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract on organs of white rats. The specific objectives were to: (i) investigate possible histo-morphological alteration of selected organs of white rats exposed to Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract, (ii) examine the integumentary system for possible deleterious effects and (iii) critically evaluate the histological indices of the Liver and Kidney of the test animals. Sixty (60) albino male rats, with average mean weight of 199.34g were randomly selected into ten (10) groups of 6 rats per cage and was labeled as cages A1, B1, C1, D1 E1 and A2, B2, C2, D2, E2 respectively. They were housed in wire gauze cages with saw dust as beddings to acclimatize under standard condition of temperature (25 ± 5oC) and a light/dark periodicity of 12:12hrs. Commercially purchased drinking water, standard Top feed(R) was given ad libitum. The plant was authenticated at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. Preparation and extraction of plant extract as well as the phytochemical analysis of the leaf was done in line with conventional protocols. Cages A1, B1, C1 and D1 were treated orally, cages A2, B2, C2, and D2 subcutaneously both in order of 200, 400, 600 and 800mg/kg body weight with regards to the L.D50 ≥ 6, 344mg/kg (oral) and ≥ 5, 766mg/kg (subcutaneous). In addition, cages E1 and E2 serves as the untreated control group without extract administration. Empirical and physical measurements were carried out before and after commencement of extract administration. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Grossing was done, while cut tissues at 3-5mm were processed in an automatic tissue processor. Sections were obtained at 3-5microns using the hertz digital rotary microtome (Hestion ERM 4000 Germany). Furthermore, staining of the sections was according to haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) method and the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) for specific organs. Sections were examined using Swift(R) Binocular microscope with an in built lighting system. Data was presented in Means ± SD and analyzed using one way ANOVA and Duncan post hoc test. Animal acclimatization, test administration, grossing, tissue processing, microtomy, staining and microscopic examination of histology sections lasted for 6 months. The results showed that all treated animals showed varying degree of weight loss which was marked in the animals treated subcutaneously (C2 and D2 respectively). Difference in weight of the test animals were statistically significant (p <0.05). Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of alkaloids, terpenes, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides. Grossly, all organs both test and control showed no variation in colour, size and consistency. Grossing revealed a stable architecture while histological findings were normal. There was no evidence of necrosis and no histo-morphological changing pattern. Therefore, this study showed that oral and subcutaneous administration of Acalypha wilkesiana boiled decoction in rats may have effect on body weight without deleterious / cellular degeneration on human organs in a similar circumstances.