A Study of Some Ameliorative Effects of Aqueous Extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in Lead Acetate Induced Neurotoxicity in the Cerebellum of Adult Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.), is a widely distributed perennial medicinal herb. In Nigeria, the plant is particularly known for its effective wound healing properties and detachment of the umbilicus of infants. The present study was thus aimed at investigating the effects of administration of aqueous B. pinnatum leaf extract on the histological function of the cerebellum of adult wistar rats. Fresh leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum were harvested from Herbal Centre, Ikenne, Ogun-state, Nigeria, were authenticated in the pharmaceutical department of Olabisi Onabanjo university Sagamu. Sixteen (16) adult wistar rats of both sexes weighing 180g -320g was purchased from the animal holding of the faculty of pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo university, Sagamu, Ogun-state. The animals were acclimatized for a period of three weeks in the animal holding of the Department of Anatomy, Olabisi Onabanjo University. At the end of the acclimatization period, the rats were randomly aligned into four groups (n=4 of control, treatment group; T1, T2 and T3. Control (C) rats received normal feed and water; T1 rats received 2mls of Bryophyllum pinnatum extract; T2 rats receive 0.075g\kg of lead acetate; T3 rats received 2mls of B. pinnatum extract with 75mg/kg of lead acetate. About 0.075g of lead acetate was dissolved in 20mls of distilled water to make a solution and were administered to the rat at 0.2mls per 100g of rat body weight. About 2g of Bryophylum pinnatum extract was dissolved in 20mls of distilled water and were administered to the rat at 2mls to the treatment groups. The body weight of the rats was closely monitored with aid of a digital weighing balance. The group T2 and T3 were noticed to be having severe itching of the body throughout the period of administration. The group T1 and T3 were noticed to develop cystosis / boil at some parts of their body such as chest, back and legs but the group T3 shows a form of quick healing to this cystosis growth but were more chronic in the group T1. Administration of Pb to the studied animals has led to morphological alteration in the neuronal cells in the cerebellar cortex, while the co-administration of Pb and B. pinnatum resulted in amelioration of these effects to a great extent due to its anti-oxidant activity. We recommend more investigations on the neurotoxic effects of lead on laboratory animals and human, with regular administration of B. pinnatum where lead exposure could not be avoided.