INVESTIGATING THE HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL EFFECT OFSpondias mombin ROOT EXTRACT ON LIVER AND KIDNEY OF WISTAR ALBINO RATS
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Abstract
Spondias mombin, a tropical medicinal plant, is widely employed in ethnomedicine, yet its safety profile on vital organs remains insufficiently defined. This study investigated the histopathological and biochemical effects of graded doses of Spondias mombin root extract on the liver and kidney of Wistar rats. Twenty-four male albino rats (150–200 g) were divided into
six groups (n = 4): a control group and five groups administered 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract orally for 28 days. Serum electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) were analyzed using standard biochemical methods, while hematoxylin and eosin staining was employed for histological assessment of liver and kidney tissues. Body
weight, organ weight, and tissue integrity were evaluated to determine systemic effects. The results showed significant variation in body weight across groups (p < 0.05), with the highest gain at 800 mg/kg and the lowest at 200 mg/kg, though organ weights did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Biochemical parameters remained largely stable across all doses, except for a significant reduction in serum creatinine at 1000 mg/kg (p = 0.006). Histological examination revealed normal hepatic and renal architecture up to 600 mg/kg, while higher doses (800–1000 mg/kg) showed hepatic ballooning degeneration and microvesicular steatosis, with kidneys appearing normal in all groups. These findings suggest that S. mombin root extract is relatively safe at low to moderate doses but may cause dose-dependent hepatic steatosis at higher concentrations. Further chronic toxicity and mechanistic studies are recommended to establish safe therapeutic limits and identify the bioactive compounds mediating both protective and toxic hepatic effects.
six groups (n = 4): a control group and five groups administered 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract orally for 28 days. Serum electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) were analyzed using standard biochemical methods, while hematoxylin and eosin staining was employed for histological assessment of liver and kidney tissues. Body
weight, organ weight, and tissue integrity were evaluated to determine systemic effects. The results showed significant variation in body weight across groups (p < 0.05), with the highest gain at 800 mg/kg and the lowest at 200 mg/kg, though organ weights did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Biochemical parameters remained largely stable across all doses, except for a significant reduction in serum creatinine at 1000 mg/kg (p = 0.006). Histological examination revealed normal hepatic and renal architecture up to 600 mg/kg, while higher doses (800–1000 mg/kg) showed hepatic ballooning degeneration and microvesicular steatosis, with kidneys appearing normal in all groups. These findings suggest that S. mombin root extract is relatively safe at low to moderate doses but may cause dose-dependent hepatic steatosis at higher concentrations. Further chronic toxicity and mechanistic studies are recommended to establish safe therapeutic limits and identify the bioactive compounds mediating both protective and toxic hepatic effects.
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