Effects of rauvolfia vomitoria on the cerebellar histology, body and brain weights of albino wistar rats

Aquaisua Nyong Aquaisua, Christopher Chiedozie Mbadugha, Enobong Ikpeme Bassey, Moses Bassey Ekong, Theresa Bassey Ekanem, Monday Isaiah Akpanabiatu

Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy 2017 16(1):41-45

Background: Rauvolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of hypertension and mental disorders. The effects of the ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria were determined in this study. Materials and Methods: Eighteen male and female young albino Wistar rats weighing 100–160 g were randomly assigned to three Groups 1, 2, and 3 of 6 rats each. The control (Group 1) received 0.1 ml of 20% solution of Tween 80, while Groups 2 and 3 received 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of the root bark extract of R. vomitoria, respectively, for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed on the 15th day; the cerebellum of each rat was harvested, processed, and then stained using the hematoxylin and eosin method and immunohistochemical staining technique for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: The results showed swelling and atrophy of Purkinje cells, proliferation of reactive astrocytes and increased expression of GFAP, a significant reduction in the body weight of experimental animals, but no difference in brain weight compared with the control. Conclusion: The ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria has a deleterious effect on the cerebellum and body weight of young albino Wistar rats but does not affect brain weight.

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