HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF SPHENOCENTRUM JOLLYANUM STEM BARK AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN CADMIUM CHLORIDE-INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN WISTAR RATS

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Silavanus Olu Innih, Deborah Calmday-Ombo
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2025.55.62

Cadmium, a pervasive environmental pollutant, is known for its hepatotoxic potential due to its ability to induce oxidative stress and disrupt cellular integrity. This study evaluated the histopathological and therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (stem bark) on cadmium chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. A total of thirty-six (36) rats were randomly assigned into six groups (A–F)comprising six rats each. Group A served as control; Group B received cadmium chloride (10 mg/kg); Groups C and D were administered low (150 mg/kg) and high (300 mg/kg) doses of S. jollyanum extract, respectively; Groups E and F received cadmium chloride alongside low and high doses of S. jollyanum extract, respectively. Treatments were administered orally for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment period, liver tissues were harvested for histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results revealed that cadmium chloride exposure led to significant histopathological alterations in liver architecture, including hepatocellular necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and inflammatory infiltration. However, co-administration with S. jollyanum extract, particularly at high dose (300 mg/kg), mitigated these pathological lesions and restored hepatic architecture. This protective effect was dose-dependent and may be attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant extract. Conclusively, this study demonstrates that Sphenocentrum jollyanum stem bark extract confers hepatoprotective effects against cadmium-induced liver injury in Wistar rats, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing heavy metal-induced hepatic disorders. Further studies, including molecular assays and isolation of active phytoconstituents, are recommended to support clinical relevance.