Original article Anatomy Journal of Africa 1 (1):50- 56 (2012)

EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF AQUEOUS ALCHORNEA

JO Adjene, MO Agbongiasede, PS Igbigbi

Correspondence: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University,
Abraka, delta state, Nigeria. joadjene@yahoo.com.

SUMMARY
Effects of chronic administration of aqueous extract of alchornea cordifolia leaf commonly used in the
treatment of diarrhoea, cough, gonorrhoea, chest pain and anemia on the kidney of adult wistar rats was
investigated. Rats of both sexes (n=20), with an average weight of 200g were randomly assigned into test
(n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Rats in the test group were given the aqueous extract of alchornea
cordifolia leaf at a single dose of 250mg/kg body weight daily for thirty days through the orogastric tube
administration while the control group received equal volume of distilled water through the same route and for
the same period. Rats were fed with grower’s mash obtained from Edo Feeds and Flour Mill Limited, Ewu, Edo
state, Nigeria. Rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation method on the thirty-first day of the experiment and
the kidney was carefully dissected out, dried, weighed, and quickly fixed in 10% formal saline for further
routine histological study. Findings indicated that the kidney in the test group (group B) showed some level of
distortion and disruption of the cytoarchitecture of the renal cortical structure with marked diffuse
glomerulonephritis and an enlarged Bowman’s space as compared to the control group. Findings also indicated
that there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in weights (g) of the test kidney as compared to the control
group. Chronic administration of aqueous extract of alchornea cordifolia leaf may therefore have an adverse
effect on the kidney of adult wistar rats. It is recommended that further studies aimed at corroborating these
observations be carried out.

Keywords: Morphology effects, Alchornea cordifolia, Kidney, Wistar rats.

INTRODUCTION
Alchornea cordifolia leaf extracts have been Alchornea cordifolia plant extract has an anti-
reportedly used in various African countries in the inflammatory activities (Osadebe and Okoye, 2003;
treatment of venereal diseases, conjunctivitis, Manga et al., 2004; Mavar –Manag et al., 2008)
dermatoses, stomach ulcers, bronchitis, cough and and causes regeneration of pancreatic B- cells after
toothache (le Grand and Wondergem, 1987; le alloxan induced diabetic in mustan rats (Eliakim-
Grand, 1987). It is also used in the treatment of Ikechukwu and Obri, 2009).
urinary tract infection, infected wound, diarrhoea, Adjene et al., 2012
piles, dental caries, chest pain, yaws, rheumatic
pain and anaemia (Dalziel, 1956; Gbile and
Adeshina, 1986; Ogungbamila and Samuelson, Since the kidney is involved in the excretion of
1990; Macfoy and Sama, 1990; Kambu, 1990; many toxic metabolic waste products, including the
Muanza et al., 1994). Extracts from the leaves of nitrogenous compounds, it would therefore be
alchornea cordifolia have been reported to inhibit worthwhile to examine the effects of alchornea
the growth of bacteria such as staphylococcus cordifolia on the kidney of adult wistar rats. The
aureus, staphylococcus albus, Eschericha coli, purpose of this experiment is to evaluate the
bacillus spp. and pseudomonas aeruginosa possible effects of alchornea cordifolia on the
(Ogunlana and Ramstad, 1975; Ebi, 2001). morphology of the kidneys of adult wistar rats.

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Received 21 June 2012; Revised 23 August 2012; Accepted 1 September 2012 Published online 15 September 2012. To cite: Adjene JO, Agbongiasede
MO, Igbigbi PS. 2012. Effects Of Chronic Administration of Aqueous Alchornea Cordifolia Leaf On The Kidney Of Adult Wistar Rats . Anatomy Journal
of Africa 1(1): 50–56.
MATERIALS AND METHODS (ethanol), cleared in xylene and embedded in
paraffin wax. Serial sections of 7 microns thick
The School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of were obtained using a rotatory microtome. The
Benin granted approval before the commencement deparaffused sections were stained routinely with
of the work. Twenty adult Wistar rats of both sexes haematoxyline and eosin (Drury et al., 1976).
with average weight of 200g were randomly Photomicrographs of the desired results were
assigned into two groups: A and B of ten rats each obtained using research photographic microscope.
in a group. Group A served as control group (n=10) The body weights of the rats in both groups were
while group B (n=10) served as the test group. The determined to the nearest gram. The mean weights
rats were obtained and maintained in the Animal of the kidney obtained from the control and test
Holding of the Department of Anatomy, School of groups were recorded and compared statistically
Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin using the unpaired sample t-test and symmetric
city, Edo State, Nigeria. The animals were caged in measured test of the Statistical Package for Social
wooden cages with raised wire floors based on Sciences (SPSS). The results were calculated using
their sex to avoid pregnancy, fed ad libitum with mean and standard error of mean (SEM)
grower’s mash obtained from Edo Feeds and Flour respectively (Adjene and Arukwe, 2009).
Mill Limited, Ewu, Edo State, Nigeria. Alchornea
cordifolia leaves where obtained within the RESULTS
university of Benin premises and taken to the
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of The findings indicated that there was a significant
Pharmacy, University of Benin for proper (p < 0.05) decrease in weights (g) of the test
identification. The leaves were washed free of kidneys as compared to the control group (Table
debris and dust particles and were air dried at 1). The photomicrograph of the kidney in the
room temperature for two weeks. The dried leaves control group (group A) showed normal
were blended into dry powder. 1000g of the histological features with a detailed cortical
alchornea cordifolia powder was extracted with 1.5 parenchyma and the renal corpuscles appearing as
litres of distilled water using soxhlet apparatus and dense rounded structure with the glomerulus
concentrated by rotary evaporator at 650C. It was surrounded by a narrow Bowman’s space (figures 1
then transferred into suitable container and freeze & 3) while the section of the tested kidney (group
dried ready for the experiment. All the preparations B) showed some level of distortion and disruption
were performed in the Department of of the cytoarchitecture of the renal cortical
Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of structure with marked diffuse glomerulonephritis
Benin, Edo state, Nigeria. and an enlarged Bowman’s space as compared to
Animals in the test group received the aqueous the control group (figures 2 & 4).
extract of alchornea cordifolia leaf at a single dose
of 250mg/kg body weight daily for thirty days DISCUSSION
through the orogastric tube administration while The finding indicated that there was a significant (P
the control animals received equal volume of < 0.05) decrease in the weight (g) of the test
distilled water through the same route and for the kidney as compared to the control group. The
same period. The rats in both groups were result obtained in this experiment is probably due
sacrificed by cervical dislocation on the thirty-one to the chronic administration of aqueous extract of
day of the experiment and the abdominal region alchornea cordifolia leaf on the kidney. It appeared
was quickly opened and the kidneys dissected out, that chronic administration of aqueous extract of
weighed and fixed in 10% formal saline for routine alchornea cordifolia is not as harmless as generally
histological techniques. The tissues were believed.
dehydrated in an ascending grade of alcohol

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TABLE 1: THE MEAN WEIGHT (g) OF THE KIDNEYS OF THE ANIMALS

Groups of Animals
Parameters Group A Group B
Control (n=10) Test (n=10)
Effects of chronic administration of aqueous
Body Weight (g) *244  9.39 *232  7.72

Right kidney Weight (g) *0.74 0.03 *0.62  0.02

Left kidney Weight (g) *0.72  0.04 *0.64  0.03

Figure 1: Control section of the Kidney showing the Glomerulus (G) and Bowman’s space (B). (H & E
x100)

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Adjene et al., 2012

Figure 2: Tested section of kidney showing diffuse glomerulonephritis (G), dilated Bowman’s space
(B) and distorted glomerulus (D). (H & E Method x100)

Figure 3: Control section of kidney showing the glomerulus (G) and Bowman’s space (B) (H & E
Method x400)

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 Effects of chronic administration of aqueous

Figure 4: Tested section of kidney showing diffuse glomerulonephritis (G), dilated Bowman’s space (B).
(H & E Method x400)

The observed changes in weight concerning The photomicrograph section of the tested
the alchornea cordifolia treated kidneys kidney showed some level of distortion and
might be due to the cytotoxic effect of disruption of the cytoarchitecture of the
alchornea cordifolia on the kidney. As renal cortical structure with marked diffuse
tissue shrinks as seen in this study, the glomerulonephritis and an enlarged
activity of the cellular transporters is Bowman’s space as compared to the control
approximately modified by the up or down section. The distortion and disruption of the
regulations as has been reported in the case cytoarchitecture of the kidney observed in
of hyponatramia or hypernatremia this experiment may have been associated
(Johanson, 1995). Ischemia or with the functional changes that could be
pharmacologic disruption of cellular detrimental to the health status of the
transporters can cause swelling of animals. The obvious signs of the marked
parenchyma of any organ. The diffuse glomerulonephritis observed in this
pharmacologic disruption of the kidney experiment may have been due to the
weights caused by alchornea cordifolia cytotoxic effects of alchornea cordifolia
extract is a cardinal feature of the results of extract on the microanatomy of the kidney.
this experiment. There are many different These findings implicated long term
causes of cell swelling or shrinkage, administration of alchornea cordifolia as a
including drug poisoning, water intoxication, possible precipitant of kidney disease by
hypoxia, and acute hyponatremia causing distortion and disruption of the
(Johanson, 1995). Under such conditions, renal cortical structures in the
there is a net shift of water from the microanatomy of the kidney. Pathological or
extracellular space to the interior of the accidental cell death is regarded as necrotic
cells (Johanson, 1995). The significant and could result from extrinsic insult to the
decrease associated with the weight of the cell as osmotic, thermal, toxic and traumatic
kidney in this experiment usually involves effects (Farber et al., 1981). The process of
intracellular swellings or shrinkage of the cellular necrosis involves disruption of
endothelia (Johanson, 1995). membranes, as well as structural and
functional integrity. Cellular necrosis is not
induced by stimuli intrinsic to the cells as in
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 Effects of chronic administration of aqueous

programmed cell death, but by an abrupt acted as toxin to the cells of the kidney thus
environmental perturbation and departure resulting in the distortion and disruptions of
from the normal physiological conditions the renal cortical structures with marked
(Martins et al., 1978). In cellular necrosis diffuse glomerulonephritis and an enlarged
the rate of progression depends on the Bowman’s space. The result of this
severity of the environmental insults. The experiment is also in line with the work
greater the severity of the insults, the more carried out by Adjene et al., (2010) where it
rapid the progression of neuronal injury (Ito was reported that chronic consumption of
et al., 1975). The principle holds true for soda pop drinks resulted in some varying
toxicological insult to the brain and other degree of distortion and disruption of the
organs (Martins et al., 1978). It may be cytoarchitecture of the renal cortical
inferred from the present study that structures, diffuse glomerulonephritis with
prolonged consumption of alchornea some congestion and tubular necrosis in the
cordifolia may have resulted in the toxic microanatomy of the treated kidney of adult
effects on the kidney. The result obtained in wistar rats as compared to their
this experiment is in consonance with the corresponding control.
work carried out by Enaibe et al., (2007)
where they reported that administration of In conclusion, our findings indicated that
camphor resulted in mild edema with chronic administration of aqueous extract of
glomerulonephritis, glomerular lobulation, alchornea cordifolia leaf resulted in a
tubular necrosis and congestion of blood significant decrease in weight, distortion
cell in the kidney of rabbit. It has been and disruptions of the cytoarchitecture of
reported that administration of damiana the renal cortical structures with marked
(Turnera diffusa) to a matured Wistar rats diffuse glomerulonephritis and an enlarged
resulted in the distortion of the renal Bowman’s space of the test kidney as
cortical structures, reduced size and number compared to the control. With these
of the renal corpuscles and some degree of results, it is probable that the functions of
cellular necrosis in the histology of the the kidney may be adversely affected. We
kidney (Enaibe et al., 2007). In this recommend that further studies aimed at
experiment, alchornea cordifolia may have corroborating these findings be carried out.

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