Abstract

Buchholzia coriacea seeds has been reported to have various medicinal properties. This study evaluates the effect of the aqueous extract of Buchholzia coriacea seed (wonderful kola), on Aluminium chloride induced liver toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. 24 rats weighing between 90g-200g were divided into five groups. Group A- (the control group) received water and animal chow. Group B received 200mg/kg of AlCl3 only, Group C received 200mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract Buchholzia coriacea only. Group D received 50mg/kg body weight body weight (Low Dose) of aqueous extract Buchholzia coriacea and (200mg/kg) AlCl3 . Group E received 250mg/kg body weight (High Dose) of aqueous extract of Buchholzia coriacea and (200mg/kg) AlCl3 . The animals were sacrificed, the liver was excised and processed for routine paraffin sections at 5micromes thick. Sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin to demonstrate histoarchitecture. Biochemical analysis was also carried out to determine the effects on liver antioxidant enzymes. Histological assessment showed narrowed central vein, degeneration of hepatocytes and distortion of sinusoids in the AlCl3 alone treated groups. The histoarchitecture of the liver in the other groups showed improvement especially in Group E (High Dose of B. coriacea) and Group C (B. coriacea extract only). The biochemical analysis on the other hand showed significantly reduced activities in GSH, SOD, CAT and significantly increased level of MDA in the Alcl3 only group. In the other groups, MDA levels reduced, GSH, SOD and CAT also increased enzymatic activities following the administration of B. coriacea. The study concludes that Buchholzia coriacea seed extract plays a role in protecting liver from Alcl3 toxicity

Keywords

aluminium chloride, cytotoxicity, liver, B. Coriacea seed, male wistar rats