Neurohistological Study of Ethanolic Root Bark and Leaf Extracts Of Rauwolfia Vomitoria on Reactive Astrocytes in the Cerebral Cortex of Adult Wistar Rats

Mokutima A. Eluwa, Ekaette P. Akpan, Olaitan R. Asuquo, Amabe O. Akpantah, Theresa B. Ekanem, Akaniyene M. Okon and Clementina F. Iniodu
Additional contact information
Mokutima A. Eluwa: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar, Nigeria
Ekaette P. Akpan: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar,Nigeria
Olaitan R. Asuquo: Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria
Amabe O. Akpantah: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar,Nigeria
Theresa B. Ekanem: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar,Nigeria
Akaniyene M. Okon: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar,Nigeria
Clementina F. Iniodu: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115 Calabar,Nigeria

International Journal of Healthcare and Medical Sciences, 2016, vol. 2, issue 2, 5-8

Abstract: Astrocytes are neuroprotective glial cells that protect and nourish neurons of the central nervous systems.  Rauwolfia vomitoria is a common medicinal plant used for the treatment of various diseases such as insanity, insomnia, hypertension, malaria etc. The comparative examination of reactive astrocytes in the cerebral cortex of adult albino wistar rats following the administration of crude ethanolic root bark and leaf extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria was studied using 25 mature Wistar rats of both sexes. The animals were divided into 5 groups, labeled A, B, C, D, and E. Group A was the control, while groups B, C, D, and E were the experimental. Oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight of the root bark extract were administered to groups B and C animals, while groups D and E animals received 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract respectively for seven days. On the 8th day, the rats were sacrificed; their brains were surgically extracted, and routinely processed for neurohistological study of Astrocytes using Hortegas lithium carbonate method for reactive astrocytes. Results showed hyperplasia of reactive astrocytes in the root bark groups, while there was hypertrophy of reactive astrocytes in the leaf extract groups when compared to the controls. Thus, the plant may have some adverse effects on neurons within the cerebral cortex.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Hyperplasia; Hypertrophy; Neurons; Rauwolfia vomitoria; Wistar rats. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.arpgweb.com/pdf-files/ijhms2(2)5-8.pdf (application/pdf)
http://www.arpgweb.com/?ic=journal&journal=13&month=02-2016&issue=2&volume=2 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:arp:ijohms:2016:p:5-8

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Healthcare and Medical Sciences is currently edited by Dr. Bonyah, Ebenezer

More articles in International Journal of Healthcare and Medical Sciences from Academic Research Publishing Group Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Punjab, Pakistan.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Managing Editor ().