Histomophological Study of the Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Nauclea latifolia on Neonatal Kidney

Histomorphological study of the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia on neonatal kidney was investigated. 72 albino wistar rats consisting of 60 females and 12 males weighing between 100-273g were used for this study. This study was divided into 3 phases, each phase consisting of 4 groups (one control group and three experimental groups). LD50 was carried out to determine the doses represented as low dose (500mg/kg), middle dose (1000mg/kg) and high dose (1500mg/kg) of Nauclea latifolia leaf extract. In all the 3 phases, the control groups (1A, 2A and 3A) received 10% Tween 80. In phase 1, the experimental animals designated (1B, 1C and 1D) received, 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 1500mg/kg of Nauclea latifolia respectively for 21 days before pregnancy. In phase 2, the experimental group animals designated (2B, 2C and 2D) received, 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 1500mg/kg of Nauclea latifolia respectively for 21 days before pregnancy and 7th to 13th day of gestation. In phase 3, the experimental group animals designated (3B, 3C and 3D) received 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 1500mg/kg of Nauclea latifolia respectively from 7th to 13th day of gestation and the litters were sacrificed within 48 hrs and tissues were processed using haematoxylin and eosin (H & E). The result showed that the extract affects the cytoarchitecture of the neonatal kidney. In phase 1 and the sub-groups, there was an abnormal cellular pattern with area of inflammation in the experimental animals. Phase 2 revealed abnormal cellular patterns with numerous area of necrosis in the entire treated sub - groups while in Phase 3 there was an abnormal cellular pattern with numerous areas of necrosis and vascular degeneration in the experimental animals compared to the control groups. It is evident that Naulea latifolia at low doses, showed mild toxic effect on neonatal kidney and the effect increases tangentially as the doses increased. Gross morphologically, there was significant weight gain in the body weight of the groups compared to the control groups at p > 0.05. Thus signifies the use of this plant during pregnancy/gestation impose deleterious effect with histopathological alterations and the usage to be discouraged during pregnancy. Keywords: kidney, body weight Nauclea latifolia and albino wistar rat