Effect of Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Seeds on the Liver and Gonads of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds, on the liver and gonads of male albino rats, was investigated.  This investigation was prompted by the increasing international acceptance of the seeds of the African bush mango as being an effective weight reducing herbal medication. Thirty-two (32) male albino rats, were divided into eight groups (A1,A2, B1,B2, C1, C2, D1 and D2), with four rats in each group in a completely randomized design. The treatment regime for the groups were 0mg/kg BW (control) –A1 and A2, 50mg/kg BW – B1 and B2, 100mg/kg BW –C1 and C2 and 150mg/kg BW – D1 and D2 of the test substance respectively. The extract was administered by oral intubation for fourteen (14) days, after which the organs, to be investigated were collected for further histological processing. Photomicrographs of collected organs showed mild to severe degenerative effects on the histology of the organs investigated. The seed extract of Irvingia gabonensis had a dose-dependent effect on the organs. Some of the histopathological effects observed in the liver were, sinusoidal dilations (SD), hemorrhaging of the central vein (HCV), inflammation (I) and abnormal distribution of hepatocyte (ADH). Others were, macrosteatosis(M) and  macrovesicular fatty infilterations (MFI). In the testes, arrested spermatogenesis (AS), degenerated germinal epithelium (DGE), absent interstitial cells (AIC), hardened basal cells (HBC) and empty seminiferous tubules(EST) were some of the effects of the seed extract observed.  This indicates that seed extracts of Irvingia gabonensis could cause degeneration of both liver and testes in the male mammal at high concentrations.

Keywords: Irvingia gabonensis seeds, histopathological effects, liver, gonads, and African bush mango