Abstract:
Background/Aim: The liver does many important things including makes bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion makes certain proteins for blood plasma makes cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body. Cassia angustifolia is a plant regularly consumed in many part of Sub-Sahara Africa in management of various conditions such as infection, pain and diarrhea. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Cassia angustifolia on the liver of Wister rats.
Method: Animals of either sex were selected. Group 1 received distilled water (10 ml/kg), while group 2, 3 and 4 received Cassia angustifolia 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg respectively. Animals were kept in standard cages and given access to the extract, water and food orally for 28 days, after which they were weighed and sacrificed. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and taken immediately for hematological and chemo pathological analysis. The histological hepatotoxic potential of the plant was studied using haematotoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining technique.
Result: The result revealed Significant (P<0.05) decrease in RBC, HGB, MCV, while there was no change in the level of neutrophiles, basophiles, eosinophiles and platelets. The extract did not produce any significant change (P<0.05) in the level of ALB, AST and ALT when compared to the control. At 50 mg/kg dose level, Cassia angustifolia produced a decrease in BILD concentration in the treated rats while at 100 mg/kg dose level it caused slight increase in the levels of ALP, BILD AND BILT concentration. Histopathological evaluation also agrees with other parameters.
Conclusion: the result of the study suggests that the plant may be safe for consumption as it is been used by the locals for the purpose intended. The result also revealed that the drug may be of benefit in hepatic cases.
