International
Journal of Herbs and Pharmacological Research IJHPR,
2012, 1(3): 62 – 67.
www.antrescentpub.com
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RESEARCH
PAPER:
THE
EFFECT OF MONDIA WHITEI ON THE HISTOLOGY OF THE BRAIN OF WISTAR RAT
1Dikibo E., 1Ehimigbai J., 1Eloka CCV., 2Ekoh SN., 3Ezeah GAC., 4Okoro CJ.
Department
of 1Medical Laboratory Science, Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma-Nigeria, 2Chemical Pathology, 3Medical
Microbiology, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park-lane Enugu. 4Medical
Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu,
Nigeria.
Corresponding
Author: elizabethdikibo@gmail.com
Received: 23rd July, 2012
Accepted: 12th September, 2012 Published: 31st October, 2012
ABSTRACT
This
study was designed to investigate the effect of Mondia whitei on the
histology of the brain. 20 adult male Wister rats were involved in the study. The
animals were assigned into four groups: a control (group A) and three test
groups (B, C and D). Animal weights were measured before and after
acclimatization (2 weeks); and after three weeks of dosage administration. At
the end of three weeks, the animals were sacrificed to harvest the brain for histological
study. The results showed that while normal brain cells were presented in the
control (group A), group B presented cellular pyknosis, necrosis, degenerative
vacoulations, and mild infarction without gliosis. Group C showed cellular
degeneration, pyknosis, gliosis/astrocytosis, vacoulation, while group D showed
cellular degeneration, pyknosis and parenchymal erosion. The observed
histological changes were duration dependent and suggest that Mondia whitei is
toxic to the brain and may induce neurotoxic damages in a duration dependent
manner. Hence, there is a need for further research on the effects of Mondia
whitei on other organs and system.
Key
words: brain, mondia whitei, neurotoxic effects, histology
_____________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
WHO,
(1985) defines a medicinal plant as any plant in which one or more of its parts
contain substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which are
precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs. The indigenous medicinal plants
form an important component of the natural wealth of Nigeria and many
indigenous plants have been used by common man since time immemorial for curing
of various ailments and thus lessening human suffering without the actual
knowledge of the active ingredients that cause relief (Soladoye et al.,
2006).
Interestingly,
Nigeria flora has already and will continue to make a great contribution to the
health care needs of Nigerians (Gbile and Adeshina, 1987; Gbile et al.,
1988; Soladoye et al., 2006). The potentialities of some of these plants
have been established and the various plant parts commonly used in traditional
medicine include stems, leaves, roots, shoot of plant or whole plant to prepare
extracts, decoction, concoction, mixtures, creams, soaps, infusions, pastes,
macerations, syrup and powders (Soladoye et al., 2006). Although it is
generally agreed that medicinal plants and their products are naturally safer
than their synthetic counterparts drugs (Gamaniel, 2000), a general assumption
of this safety should not always be made, as a plant may prove efficacious but
would have low therapeutic index or safety margin (Agaie et al., 2007).
In most cases, their toxicity potentials have been attributed to the contained
active principles as well as over-dose due to the absence of standard dosage
system in herbal medicine (Onyeyili et al., 2000; Hashemi et al., 2008).
Furthermore,
various plants have been used in folk medicines of different cultures to treat
male infertility problems.
Some have been
identified pharmacologically, allowing for understanding of their mechanisms of
action but most of these plants have not been scientifically investigated in
order to test and substantiate their claimed properties (Kamtchouing et al.,
2002 and Sharma et al., 2003). Substances often used as aphrodisiac
cross the blood brain barrier and mimic or stimulate some area of sexual
arousal in the central nervous system (Gundidza et al., 2009).
They act at the
level of the central nervous system (Brain and spinal cord) by altering
specific neurotransmitter or specific sex hormone concentrations and can be
viewed as any food, drug, scent or device that can arouse or increase sexual
drive or libido (Rosen and Ashton, 1993). They can be effective in both sexes,
though most act through an increase in testosterone concentration and as such,
male-specific (Murphy and Lee 2002). One such plant is Mondia whitei, an
aromatic plant of the Periplocacea family. It is a woody climber with
large tuberous root stock which is widely distributed in Tropical Africa
(Watcho et al., 2004). The roots are traditionally used as either
aphrodisiacs or for the treatment of urinary tract infection, jaundice and
headaches, while the whole plant is used to treat diarrhoea (Adjanohoum et
al., 1996 and Noumi et al., 1998). There are claims that it is an efficacious
aphrodisiac for the treatment of male impotence and infertility especially the
aqueous extracts and root (Lampiao, 2009). This study therefore, is designed to
investigate the effects of Mondia whitei on the histology of the brain.
ASN-PH-020919
ISSN:
2315-537X
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