TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ANNONA MURICATA LEAF EXTRACT ON SELECTED ORGANS OF ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Annona muricata (soursop) is a tropical plant widely used in traditional medical practice for the treatment of various ailments, yet comprehensive safety data on its effects on vital organs remain limited. This study investigated the biochemical and histopathological effects of A. muricata leaf extracts on the liver, kidneys, testes and ovaries of albino wistar rats. Twenty adult albino rats weighing 180-200g were procured from the animal holding of the Department of Anatomy, University of Benin, and maintained under standard conditions with unrestricted access to feed and water. The rats were divided into four groups with each group consisting of 5 rats. The control Group A received distilled water only, while Group B was administered 250mg/kg of A. muricata extract; Group C received 500mg/kg, while Group D was given 1000mg/kg of A. muricata extract orally via gavage for one month. Following treatment, the rats were euthanised and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis while organs were excised for histopathological evaluation. The result revealed no significant changes in haematological parameters, liver function tests, or reproductive hormone levels across all groups (p > 0.05). However, significantly elevated sodium and chloride levels were observed in rats administered 1000mg/kg/bw extracts of A. muricata when compared to the control (p < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation revealed normal histoarchitecture in the control rats, while rats administered with 250mg/kg/bw and 500mg/kg/bw of A. muricata exhibited hepatic steatosis with microvacuolar degeneration; however, rats administered with 1000mg/kg/bw of A. muricata maintained normal liver histology. All kidney, testis, and ovary sections demonstrated preserved normal architecture across treatment groups. Findings in this study suggest that A. muricata leaf extracts exhibit a complex dose-response relationship, with the intermediate doses causing hepatic steatosis while higher doses appear protective. The preservation of the reproductive organ integrity and absence of a significant biochemical toxicity support the traditional use of A. muricata, though careful dose optimisation and electrolyte monitoring are recommended for therapeutic applications.