Studies on the Use of Root Extracts of Triclisia subcordata and Hippocratea africana on the Neurohistology of the Cerebellum of Adult Wistar Rats

Aims: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Triclisia subcordata and Hippocratea africana on the histological features of the cerebellum of adult Wistar rat.

Methodology: Twenty adults male Wistar rat with an average weight of 200 g were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 served as the control and received 5 ml kg-1 of water. Group 2 animals received 150 mg kg-1 body weight of ethanolic root extract of T. subcordata, group 3 animals received 200 mg kg-1 body weight of ethanolic root extract of H. africana, while group 4 animals received combined ethanolic root extracts of 150/200 mg kg-1 body weight of T. subcordata and H. africana orally for 7 days. The weight of the animals were confirmed prior, during and after the administration of the extracts. The brains were processed for routine histological study using haematoxylin and eosin. Representative sections were used for silver impregnation method for neuronal morphology.

Results: There was a high significant difference (P = .05) in the final body weights of the control group 1 and that of the test group 2 animals given 150 mg kg-1 T. subcordata when compared to their initial weights. The body weight of group 4 animals given combined 150/200 mg kg-1 T subcordata and H. africana was however significantly (P = .05) lower than the control after administration of the extract. There was no significant difference in body weight in group 3 which received 200 mg kg-1 of H. africana throughout the duration of the administration. The cerebellum of all the test groups showed histopathological features including cell atrophy, pyknosis, vacuolation of oligodendrocyte with loss of Purkinje cell neurons.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this result shows that the extract may individually and in combination cause neurodegenerative alterations in the cerebellar cytoarchitecture hence must be taken in moderation.