Abstract:
Introduction/Aim: Medicinal plant is normally used by most people in under developed and
developing countries. In this study the effect of ethanol stem extract of Homalium letestui on
histological features of paracetamol-induced albino rat injury, using various staining
techniques.
Method: Thirty six (36) rats where used for this work. Group one served as the positive
control receiving normal saline, group two served as organotoxic group receiving
paracetamol 2000 mg/kg body weight, group 3 received silymarin 100 mg/mg bw, while
group 4, 5 and 6 received 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg of the extract respectively. General
staining technique Hematoxylin and Eosin and specific observation technique, Bence Jones
which focuses on glomeruli and Bowman’s capsule, were used. Haematological and
chempathological investigation were also carried out.
Result: In Bence Jonces technique, there was severe basement membrane degeneration of the
Bowman’s capsule in the organotoxic group. There was intact basement membrane structure
in the normal and Silymarin group, while there was dose dependent improvement in the
architecture of Bowman’s capsule for the pretreated rats. In Hα E, Paracetamol treated rats
showed severe damage in the kidney cells, which were revealed as severe area of epithelial
lining degeneration, glomerular inflammation, Tubular necrosis and vascular degeneration.
Pretreatment with stem extract of Homalium letestui (250 -750 mg/kg) and standard drug,
Silymarin (100 mg/kg) helped in reducing the cellular damage induced by Paracetamol.
Conclusion: Histological work agrees with other parameters suggesting that the plant may
prevent or protect kidney architecture
