Ameliorating effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis on the histology of livers of lead-induced rats

Objective: This research study was carried out to investigate the ameliorating effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occendentalis on the histology of livers of lead-induced rats. Methodology: Twenty-five (25) male wistar rats weighing 150 - 180 g were procured and acclimatized for two weeks, after which, they were divided into five (5) groups of five (5) rats each, and were housed in cages. The groups were designated as groups A - E. Group A served as the control group and was not induced with lead (Pb), while Groups B – E were induced. Group A received distilled water only, Groups B - E received vitamin C, vitamin C + 100 mg/kg of ethanolic leaf extract T. occendentalis, vitamin C + 400 mg/kg ethanolic leaf extract of T. occendentalis and vitamin C + 800 mg/kg ethanolic leaf extract of T. occendentalis respectively for 14 days through oral route with the aid of oral gastric tube. On the 15th day, the animals were weighed and sacrificed via chloroform inhalation, and kidneys were harvested from the rats for histological study. Results: Histopathological findings showed normal liver architecture with well perfused normal hepatic architecture with central vein (CV), hepatocyte (H) and portal traid (PT) for animals in group A; moderate degeneration with moderate congestion of blood vessel (CBV) with aggregate inflammatory cell (AIC) around the congested vessel and intra hepatic inflammation (IHI) for animals in group B; mild regeneration with moderate congestion of blood vessel (CBV) with moderate intra hepatic hemorrhage (IHH) and intra hepatic inflammation (IHI) for animals in group C; moderate regeneration with mild congestion of portal vain (CPV) with portal aggregate inflammatory cell (AIC) and mild intra hepatic inflammation (IHI) for animals in group D; and moderate regeneration with mild congestion of portal vain (CPV) with portal aggregate inflammatory cell (PAIC) for animals in group E. Conclusion: Ethanolic leaf extract of T. occendentalis have ameliorating effect on the histology of Livers of lead-induced rats, and the ameliorating effect improves with increase in the dosages of the leaf extract.