Effect of Oral Administration of Gnidia Stenophylla Gilg Aqueous Root Extract on Food Intake and Histology of Gastrointestinal Tract in Mice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aqueous preparations of a medicinal plant,Gnidia stenophylla Gilg (Thymelaeaceae) are commonly used tocure malaria and other ailments in Ethiopia. This study evaluatedthe safety of the plant extract by determining its effects on foodintake and histology of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) after oraladministration for 13 weeks in albino mice.METHODS: Thirty mice were equally assigned to three groups.Group I served as control and received a vehicle while groups IIand III were given 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight/day plantextract respectively, orally, for 13 weeks. At the end of the study,the mice were scarified and postmortem gross andhistopathological evaluations were performed on their stomachsand intestines.RESULTS: Chronic oral treatment with the extract for 13 weeksdid not induce any sign of illness and death and had no effect onfood intake of the mice. Furthermore, extract treatment at bothdoses did not produce any detectable gross morphological changein GIT. Microscopic evaluation of sections of the stomach,duodenum and jejunum of the mice treated with 400 mg/kg bodyweight did not show any histopathological change. In the micetreated with 800 mg/kg body weight, however, the GIT sectionsrevealed cytoplasmic vacuolation, hydropic degeneration andexcessive erosion of the surface mucosal cells.CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that aqueousroot extract of G. stenophylla at effective antimalarial dose is safeeven when taken for a longer period in mice. At a higher dose,however, the extract may induce gastrointestinal irritation. Furtherstudies on other vital organs and non-rodent species includinghumans are recommended.KEYWORDS: Gnidia stenophylla Gilg, aqueous root extract,chronic toxicity, histology, histopathology, gastrointestinaltract, gastrointestinal irritation deficit, EthiopiaBACKGROUND: Aqueous preparations of a medicinal plant,Gnidia stenophylla Gilg (Thymelaeaceae) are commonly used tocure malaria and other ailments in Ethiopia. This study evaluatedthe safety of the plant extract by determining its effects on foodintake and histology of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) after oraladministration for 13 weeks in albino mice.METHODS: Thirty mice were equally assigned to three groups.Group I served as control and received a vehicle while groups IIand III were given 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight/day plantextract respectively, orally, for 13 weeks. At the end of the study,the mice were scarified and postmortem gross andhistopathological evaluations were performed on their stomachsand intestines.RESULTS: Chronic oral treatment with the extract for 13 weeksdid not induce any sign of illness and death and had no effect onfood intake of the mice. Furthermore, extract treatment at bothdoses did not produce any detectable gross morphological changein GIT. Microscopic evaluation of sections of the stomach,duodenum and jejunum of the mice treated with 400 mg/kg bodyweight did not show any histopathological change. In the micetreated with 800 mg/kg body weight, however, the GIT sectionsrevealed cytoplasmic vacuolation, hydropic degeneration andexcessive erosion of the surface mucosal cells.CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that aqueousroot extract of G. stenophylla at effective antimalarial dose is safeeven when taken for a longer period in mice. At a higher dose,however, the extract may induce gastrointestinal irritation. Furtherstudies on other vital organs and non-rodent species includinghumans are recommended.KEYWORDS: Gnidia stenophylla Gilg, aqueous root extract,chronic toxicity, histology, histopathology, gastrointestinaltract, gastrointestinal irritation deficit, EthiopiaBACKGROUND: Aqueous preparations of a medicinal plant,Gnidia stenophylla Gilg (Thymelaeaceae) are commonly used tocure malaria and other ailments in Ethiopia. This study evaluatedthe safety of the plant extract by determining its effects on foodintake and histology of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) after oraladministration for 13 weeks in albino mice.METHODS: Thirty mice were equally assigned to three groups.Group I served as control and received a vehicle while groups IIand III were given 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight/day plantextract respectively, orally, for 13 weeks. At the end of the study,the mice were scarified and postmortem gross andhistopathological evaluations were performed on their stomachsand intestines.RESULTS: Chronic oral treatment with the extract for 13 weeksdid not induce any sign of illness and death and had no effect onfood intake of the mice. Furthermore, extract treatment at bothdoses did not produce any detectable gross morphological changein GIT. Microscopic evaluation of sections of the stomach,duodenum and jejunum of the mice treated with 400 mg/kg bodyweight did not show any histopathological change. In the micetreated with 800 mg/kg body weight, however, the GIT sectionsrevealed cytoplasmic vacuolation, hydropic degeneration andexcessive erosion of the surface mucosal cells.CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that aqueousroot extract of G. stenophylla at effective antimalarial dose is safeeven when taken for a longer period in mice. At a higher dose,however, the extract may induce gastrointestinal irritation. Furtherstudies on other vital organs and non-rodent species includinghumans are recommended.