The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Garcinia Kola on the Spleen of Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola on the spleen of the adult wistar rats. Twenty four (24) adults wistar rats weighing between 180-270kg were divided into four groups A, B, C & D; each consisting of six animals each. . Group A served as the control and were orally administered 0.2ml of distilled water; the experimental groups received 0.3ml, 0.6ml and 0.9ml of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola respectively for twenty eight days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sacrificed under the influence of chloroform vapour. The spleen were harvested, weighed and fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The final body weight of groups C & D decreased significantly (P<0.05) compare with the control A. The mean relative organ weight of groups C & D increased significantly (P<0.05) when compare with the control group A while group B had a similar mean weight with the control group A. Histological findings revealed distortion of the spleen cells of the experimental groups. The result of this study therefore suggests that consumption of the ethanolic extract of the Garcinia kola in high doses may put the spleen at risk of adverse histopathological conditions.

Keywords: Wistar rats, Organ weight, Garcinia kola, Spleen, Distilled water.