Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Brassica juncea (Mustard Seed) on the Brain and Kidney Tissues of Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Mustard seeds (Brassica species) are widely used as medicinal crops and spices. They are a rich source of oil and protein containing as high as 46 – 48% oil and 43.6% protein in whole seed meal. Historically, mustard seeds are mentioned in ancient Sanskrit writings dating back five thousand years. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used  the seeds for medicinal purposes. However, not much has been documented on the neurotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of mustard  seeds.  A study designed to investigate the possible toxicity of mustard seeds on brain and kidney tissues was carried out. Twenty albino wistar rats of mixed sexes, aged two months and weighing 100  - 140g were divided into four groups of five rats labeled A to D. Groups A and B were orally administered different concentrations of ethanolic extract of mustard seeds, 2000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg body weight respectively daily for two weeks while groups C and D served as pre and post-treatment  controls and received no extract.  Kidney and brain tissues of rats were histologically processed and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin technique and examined microscopically. Sections revealed that the ethanolic extracts of Brassica juncea had visible histological effects and altered the histoarchitecture of the brain and kidney tissues of the test groups. The results suggest that prolonged ingestion of extract is toxic to tissues at the concentrations investigated.

Keywords: Mustard seeds, albino wistar rats, ethanolic extract