THE HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RAUWOLFIA VOMITORIA EXTRACT ON POTASSIUM BROMATE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ADULT WISTAR RATS
The histological effects of aqueous extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria on potassium bromate induced hepatotoxicity in adult wistar rats were studied. Twenty eight adult wistar rats weighing between 210 -270g were allocated into four groups of seven animals each. Group A served as the control and received 0.4ml of distilled wa ter, group B received 0.5ml of Rauwolfia vomitoria extract, group C received 0.4ml of potassium bromate while group D received 0.4ml of potassium bromate and 0.5ml of Rauwolfia vomitoria extract. The administration lasted for twenty eight days through oral route between the hours of 12-5pm. Twenty four hours after the last administration; the animals were weighed, liver tissues weighed and trimmed down for histological studies. The final body weight of group C animals were significantly lower (p<0.001) then the initial body weight, while group B and D increased significantly when compared with the control. The liver weight of group C animals were significantly higher (p<0.001) than group A and groups B and D. this result shows that no histopathological lesio ns were found in the liver tissues treated with potassium bromate.