Abstract

Abstract

Objective: This study was meant to investigate the effect of aqueous leave extract of Gnetum africanum on the microanatomy of the pancreas in adult male.

Methods: Wistar rats, eighteen adult Wistar rats weighing between 80 g-150 g allotted into three groups of six rats each was used for this study. Animals in group 1 served as the control group were fed with normal rat chew and distilled water, while group 2 and 3 served as the experimental groups treated with Gnetum africanum leaf extract, orally for 21 days. Group 2 (low dose group) animals were treated with 0.3 ml/kg body weight of the extract, while group 3 (high dose group) animals were treated with 0.5 ml/kg body weight of the extract. At the end of experiment, all animals were sacrificed under chloroform inhalation and the pancreas removed for histological observation using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stain.

Results: Histological observations from the study showed normal histological findings in the control and low dose group with no observable pathology. Meanwhile the high dose treated group showed pathological observation suggesting a prognosis of acinar cell cystadenocarcinoma.

Conclusion: From the result of the study, it may be deduced that consumption of Gnetum africanum, at moderate dosage, may have no adverse effect on the pancreas, but at high dosages, the extract may cause some pathological distortion to the microanatomy of the pancreas.

Keywords: Gnetum africanum; Wistar rat; Pancreas; Microanatomy