Relative Organ Weights and Histological Changes in Wistar Rats Treated with a South East Nigerian Polyherbal Formulation (Ajumbise)

Background and Aim: Ajumbise is a polyherbal formulation used in Southeast Nigeria for enhancing labour, facilitating the expulsion of retained placenta, relieving menstrual and post-delivery pains and promoting involution of the uterus. In this study, the effect of the Polyherbal formulation on body weights, relative organ weights and liver and kidney histology was evaluated.

Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups of ten rats each and were assigned daily oral administration of the extract for 28 days. While group 1 served as the control, groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered increasing doses of the extract. At the end of treatment organs were collected for histological analysis respectively. Students’s t-test at 95% level of significance was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Acute toxicity study result indicated zero mortality in all groups within the 24 hours of thestudy, even at a dose of 6000 mg/kg body weight. Body weight gain was significantly lowered in all treatment groups when compared with the control group (P<0.05). Relative liver weight did not significantly differ from that of the control except for the 800 mg/kg treated group where significant elevation was observed (P< 0.05). Relative kidney weights was significantly elevated in groups treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg (P<0.05). No significant histological changes were observed between treatment groups and control except for 800 mg/kg treated group where some inflammatory cells were observed masking the features of the portal triad. The arrangement of the hepatocytes, architecture of the portal triad comprising of the bile duct, hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery and central vein were essentially normal and had neither congestions nor necrosis. Histological presentations of the kidneys in all groups were normal and did not significantly differ from control.

Conclusion: We therefore conclude that Ajumbise polyherbal may be safe at low to moderate doses and at such doses does not pose any threat to the liver and kidney cells.