HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max) ON THE FETAL LIVER OF WISTAR RATS

Soybean is an annual herbaceous legume plant that has diverse applications, serving as animal feed, fodder, and human food and beverage, including flour, starch, oil, spices, and culinary herbs. Soybean have been reported to have a variety of pharmacological properties including hepatoprotective activity. It’s effect on the fetus is rather relatively unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of soybean (Glycine max) on the histology of fetal liver in Wistar rats. Eighteen (18) adult juvenile Wistar rats with an average weight of 60 g were randomly assigned into three (3) groups (A-C). Group A served as control; Group B was administered 250 mg/Kg body weight of Glycine max; Group C was administered 250 mg/Kg body weight of Glycine max.The administration lasted for 21 days and was done orally using an orogastric tube. After the duration of administration, the animals were weighed, anaesthetized and sacrificed, with the liver processed for routine hematoxylin and eosin staining for histological
evaluation. From this study, results showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight change in the groups administered Glycine max when compared to control. There was also a significant decrease (p<0.05) in fetal weight and Crown-rump length in the group given 500mg/Kg body weight of Glycine max when compared to control. Histological findings showed relatively normal liver architecture in the groups given Glycine max when compared to control as evidenced by developing hepatocytes radiating from central vein, and sinusoids. In conclusion, findings from this study suggest that Soybean resulted in significant alterations in maternal and fetal health outcomes (especially at 500 mg/Kg body weight dosage). However, the observed effects may be primarily physiological as there were histological alterations.