Vitamin E supplementation with Rauwolfia vomitoria root bark extract improves hematological indices

Rauwolfia vomitoria is a plant used for the treatment of insanity. The possible adverse effects of crude ethanolic root bark and leaf extract of the plant on Nissl substances of albino Wistar rat fetuses were studied using 25 mature female Wistar rats. The animals were divided equally into 5 groups, labeled A, B, C, D, and E. Group A was the control, while groups B, C, D, and E were the experimental. The female rats were mated with the males overnight, and the sperm positive day was designated as day zero of pregnancy. Oral doses of 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight of the root bark extract were administered to groups B and C animals, respectively, while groups D and E animals received 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract, respectively, from day 7 to 11 of gestation. On day 20 of gestation, the rats were sacrificed, the fetuses brains extracted, and the cerebral cortices excised and routinely processed for Nissl substances using Cresyl fast violet staining method. Results showed reduced staining intensity of Nissl substances in the treated groups, especially those that received the root extract. Thus, the herbs may have adverse effects on protein synthesis within the cerebral cortex.

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Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel. root bark extract affects behaviour and brain microstructures

IBRO Reports ◽

10.1016/j.ibror.2019.07.1370 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. S431

Author(s):

Moses Ekong ◽

Mokutima Eluwa ◽

Monday Akpanabiatu ◽

Theresa Ekanem

Keyword(s):

Bark Extract ◽

Root Bark ◽

Rauwolfia Vomitoria

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Teratogenic Effect of Crude Ethanolic Root Bark and Leaf Extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) on the Liver of Albino Wistar Rat Fetuses

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/ajms.v4i1.6848 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 30-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mokutima A Eluwa ◽

Theresa B Ekanem ◽

Paul B Udoh ◽

Amabe O Akpantah ◽

Moses B Ekong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Virgin Female ◽

Teratogenic Effect ◽

Female Rats ◽

Male Rats ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Root Bark ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Rauwolfia Vomitoria

Objectives: Rauwolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant which is used locally for the treatment of a variety of disorders including snake and insect bites and stings, insomnia and insanity. This study was to investigate the teratogenic effect of the ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria on the fetal liver. Material and methods: Twenty-five virgin female Wistar rats weighing between 180 – 200g were used. The animals were divided into 5 groups, labeled A, B, C, D and E, each consisting of 5 rats. Group A rats were the control, while Groups B, C, D and E were the experimental. The female rats at proestrous were mated with sexually matured male rats. The day after was designated as day zero of pregnancy. Groups B and C animals received oral doses of 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg body weight of the root bark extract while groups D and E animals received 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract respectively from 7th to 11th day of gestation. On the 20th day of gestation, the rats were sacrificed and the fetuses examined for gross anomalies. Each liver was routinely processed using Haematoxylin and Eosin method. Results: Histological observations of the fetal liver showed marked distortion of normal liver architecture in the treated groups when compared with the control, the effect being more pronounced in the groups that received the root bark extract. Conclusions: Our result suggests that ethanolic root bark and leaf extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria maybe hepatotoxic to the developing rats liver. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v4i1.6848 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 4(2013) 30-34

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