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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949893
Histopathologic effects of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.)Vahl. on Wistar rats
The toxicity of powdered Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.)Vahl. leaves, known for treating different ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and bacterial infections [1] in some Nigerian communities, was investigated in rats to helps in determining the upper limits of administration [2]. Twenty Wister rats (male and female) were fed with different graded mixtures of Pfizer feed mash and the leaf powder. The animals were weighed and divided into four groups of three treatment groups and one control group with each group consisting of five rats. The rats were administered different concentrations of powdered S. jamaicensis leaves mixed with different amount of feed mash i.e. 75, 50 and 25g of S. jamaicensis was mixed with 25, 50, and 75g of normal feed mash. The control was fed only with feed mash all through the period of experiment. The results obtained showed slight variation on the physical signs/body appearance of the animals and mild histopathlogic 1esions such as congestion, fatty changes and necrosis in selective tissues such as the liver, blood vessels, kidney, lung and testis but the brain, eyes, intestines (small and large) and heart tissues were essentially normal. S. jamaicensis seem to cause mild non-dose dependent systemic toxicity in some specific tissues.
References: 1.. Bonati, A., (1993), J. Ethnopharmacol. 2:167–171. 2. Sofowora, A., (1993), Medicinal plants and Traditional medicine in Africa. Spectrum Books Ltd, Ibadan, pp 58–196.