Histopathological changes in the Kidney and Liver of Albino Rats treated with Extract of Acalypha Wilkesiana
Aim: The hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of Acalypha wilkesiana extract on rat liver and kidney were studied on 40 male Wister albino rats weighing 180 – 200g. Methodology: The animals were divided into 5 groups of eight rats each. They were administered 0mg/kg, 480mg/kg, 960mg/kg, 1440mg/kg and 1920mg/kg body weight of Acalypha wilkesiana extract orally. After seven days, four animals from each group were sacrificed under ether anaesthesia. At the end of another seven days, the rest of the animals were sacrificed. The liver and kidney were harvested for hispathological examination using H & E staining procedures. The body weight of the animals, the weight of the liver and kidney were also taken. Results: The results showed a significant loss in body weight (p<0.05) of the animals treated with 1440mg.kg and 1920mg/kg of the extract for 14 days (2.41 + 0.03 and 2.8 + 0.02) compare with the control (3.7 + 0.02). There were no apparent differences in the relative weights of the liver and kidney in the treated and control groups. The histopathological examination result showed that rats in the low dose (480mg/kg body weight) group showed normal histo-architecture with the control in 7 and 14 days of exposure to the extract, while those in the high dose (960mg/kg, 1440mg/kg and 1920mg/kg) groups showed histopathological changes after 14 days, which ranged from moderate to severe tubular necrosis, glomerular inflammation, to interstitial nephritis. The result suggests a likely alteration in hepatic and renal function and possible hepato and nephrotoxicity respectively. These were dose and duration dependent. Conclusion: The outcome suggests that the plant extract maybe injurious to man on prolonged usage and higher doses. The need for the health education of the users may be necessary. Key Words: Nephrotoxicity, Hepatotoxicity, Acalypha wilkesiana extract, rats.