Available via license: CC BY
Content may be subject to copyright.
SJMLS - 9(3) - 011
Investigating the effects of Lonchocarpus Cyanencens Aqueous Leaf Extracts on the Histology of
the Cardiovascular System in Normal Albino Wistar Rats
1 2
Onyeije Benson Peter* , Innih Silvanus Orlu
1
Department of Medical Laboratory Science Wellspring university, Benin City Nigeria ,Department of
2
Anatomy University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria
A u t h o r f o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e : b e n s o n . o n y e i j e @ w e l l s p r i n g u n i v e r s i t y. edu.ng/
bendgreat4us@gmail.com/ silvanus.innih@uniben.edu/https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sokjmls.v9i3.11
Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science 2024; 9(3): 107 - 112
SJMLS
ISSN: 2536-7153
Abstract Keywords: Lonchocarpus cyanescens” Wistar”
The shrub tree Lonchocarpus cyanescens is one histomorphology” Heart” Dosage
of the herbal remedies traditionally used in
Nigeria to promote human health. In the western Introduction
part of the nation Nigeria, it is used to treat There is a long history of using plants and plant
d i a b et e s m e l li t u s . I n v e s ti g a t i n g t h e extracts for medical purposes. As compared to
histomorphological activities of an aqueous conventional medication. This approach has less
extract of Lonchocarpus cyanescens leaf on the adve r s e e ffec t s , wh i c h h a s l e d t o i t s
cardiovascular status of normal Wistar albino encouragement recently (Ajiboye et al., 2019).
rats was the purpose of this investigation. Thirty- Plants are a source of numerous strong and potent
five rats in all were split up into seven groups of medications that are utilized medicinally in many
five rats each: Group A was designated as the countries. Researchers are very interested in
control group. Group B was given an aqueous screening the therapeutic potential of medicinal
extract of L. Cyanencens containing 200 mg/kg, plants. Secondary metabolites are the active
Group C was given 500 mg/kg, Group D was ingredients in many medications that are found in
given 1000 mg/kg, Group E was given 2000 plants. Folk medicine used medicinal plants and
mg/kg, Group F and H were given 3500 mg/kg herbs to treat a wide range of diseases and
and 5000 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. The infections. Currently, a wide range of medicinal
rats had 42 days of therapy before being plant products with biologically active ingredients
cervically dislocated while sedated with ether. are sold on the market, including medications and
The rat's heart was quickly removed, preserved cosmetics (Abu et al., 2015). Because medications
for 72 hours in 10% buffered formalin, and then produced from plants have been shown to be safe
histologically processed and stained with eosin and free of side effects, there has been a slow but
and hematoxylin. According to histological steady resurgence of interest in the use of aromatic
findings, all treated groups experienced mild and medicinal plants in both industrialized and
vascular events with intact interstitial spaces and developing nations in recent years.
my o c a r d ial bundle arrangement in the
cardiovascular system as a result of graded doses However, some phytochemicals have been
of Lonchocarpus cyanescens aqueous extracts. reported to be toxic to humans due to their ability
These extracts also activated the heart's local to cause cellular damage via oxidative stress
immune system, causing endothelial cell (Adebiyi and Abata, 2013). It has become
activation and lymphocytosis (induction necessary, therefore, to strike a balance between
fraction). A more intense action was elicited by the effectiveness of medicinal plants and their
the lower doses, peaking at 1000 mg/kg. But relative safety.
there were no harmful consequences, affirming
the safety of the extract and its potential for West African wild indigo, or Lonchocarpus
treatment of cardiovascular diseases. cyanescens, is a medicinal plant that is used
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 107
locally to treat a range of ailments when gathered plant samples were left to dry for seven
combined with other recipes. The names "Elu" in (7) days at room temperature. Using an electric
Yoruba, "anunu" in Ibo, "talaki" in Hausa, "suru" blender, the dried plant samples were ground into
in Tiv, and "ebelu" in Edo are for Lonchocarpus a powder, which was subsequently utilized to
cyanescens. The shrub can reach a height of 5 m make the extract.
and a thickness of 50 cm; it is found in fringe,
deciduous, and savannah forests (Ogungbaro, Preparation of Plant Extracts
2010). The plant is used in traditional medicine; After 100g of each powdered leaf were weighed
Lonchocarpus cyanescens's bioactivity effects using an electrical weighing balance into a
have been shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti- sterilized conical flask, 500ml of distilled water
arthritic, anti-diabetic, and ulcer-relieving. was added, the flask was shaken, the top was
According to Manoj and Aquad (2003), it also covered with aluminum foil, and it was left at
possesses antiviral, antifungal, anti-protozoal, room temperature for 48 hours. A clean, fine-
and antibacterial activity. The presence of pored cloth was then used to filter the extract.
reducing sugars, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, After that, the extracts were concentrated in a
and cardiac glycosides in plant leaves has been crucible using a water bath that was heated to 45
demonstrated (Iyoha and Onoagbe, 2016). It is °C. The weight of concentrated extract was taken
important to keep in mind that although and then stored in air-tight sample bottle in
Lonchocarpus cyanescens is well renowned for refrigerator till it is time to be used.
its exceptional therapeutic properties, there is not
enough information available regarding its Experimental animals: Thirty-five adult Wistar
safety, efficacy, and other interactions and rats were used as experimental subjects in this
contraindications. This is the justification for the study. The rats were divided into seven (7)
study, which centers on the heart. Similarly, an groups of five (5) animals each at random. They
acute toxicity assessment and biochemical data were between 180 and 200 grams in weight at the
by Iyoha et al. (2023) showed that the plant is beginning of the trial. The animals were
practically non-toxic. The nutritional and purchased and put in standard cages at the
an t idiabetic properti e s have well been University of Benin's Department of Anatomy's
documented (Amu et al., 2019). This study was Animal House, where they were cleaned and
conducted to ascertain the effects of an aqueous sanitized. The rats were allowed to acclimate for
extract of L. cyanenscens leaves on the two (2) weeks prior to the start of treatment. For
histomorphology of cardiovascular status in the course of the experiment, all animals were
normal Wistar albino rats. Nevertheless, there given food (livestock's growers marsh made by
are few or no scientific evidence to support its Top Feed limited, Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria)
inf lue n ce o n th e his tom o rph olo g y o f and water ad libitum.
cardiovascular status in rats.
Groups' dosage
Materials And Methods GROUP A Received 1 ml distilled water only
Collection of Plant Materials GROUP B were given 200 mg/kg of extract L.
Lonchocarpus cyanescens (Anunu) leaves used cyanescens
in this research work were freshly obtained from GROUP C Received 500 mg/kg of extract L.
Abavo in Ika South, L.G.A. Delta State Nigeria cyanescens
an d w er e b o t a n i c a l l y i de nt if ie d a nd GROUP D Received 1000 mg/kg of extract L.
authenticated in the Department of Plant Biology Cyanescens
and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Benin GROUP E Received 2000 mg/kg of extract L.
City, Nigeria. A herbarium specimen with Cyanescens
voucher number UBHf0291 was deposited at the GROUP F Received 3500 mg/kg of extract
herbarium of the University of Benin. L.Cyanescens
GROUP G Received 5000mg/kg of extract L.
Extraction of Plant Materials Cyanescens
After being cleaned with clean water, the
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 108
Tissue collection, processing and staining:
After being exposed to the extract for 42 days, the Photomicrography: The heart's H&E-stained
animals were slaughtered via cervical dislocation slides were viewed by a histopathologist using a
while sedated with ether. The rat's heart was Leica DM750 research microscope with a Leica
quickly removed. The heart tissues underwent a CC50 digital camera connected. Digital photos
72-hour fixation in 10% buffered formalin prior to of the tissues were taken at x400 magnifications.
histological processing and staining with
hematoxylin and eosin. Tissues were stained using Results
approved techniques (Drury et al., 1976).
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 109
The H&E reaction results showed that minor coronary and vascular congestions occurred with
increasing doses of Lonchocarpus cyanescens extract (plate 2-7). All of the groups receiving
Lonchocarpus cyanescens treatment had well-organized interstitial spaces and cardiac bundle
configurations, as seen in our micrographs.
Discussion Lonchocarpus cyanescens at different doses
Lenchocarpus cyanescens is used medicinally all shown no deleterious effect on the myocardium
over the world. Many ailments can be treated of the rats. This findings are in agreement with
medicinally with the help of the plant's stem and (Iyaha and Onoagbe, 2023) whose results
leaves. Every part of the plant has a number of indicated that 200mg/kg and 500mg/kg of
ethnomedical uses for both people and animals. extracts of L. cyanescens can maintain the
According to Agbo and Obi (2007), medicinal o xid ati v e st atu s, c a nn o t in duc e li p id
plants are believed to be a substantial source of peroxidation in normal rats and is therefore safe
new compounds with potential medical for the treatment of various ailments. Similar
applications. Nevertheless, research on the findings were also seen in the results reported by
phytochemical components of the plant extract Omonkhua and Onoagbe (2012) where the roots
also showed that the antibacterial properties of of Urena lobeta, the bark of Irvingia gabonensis
the extract leaves are enhanced by the presence and the leaf of Carica papaya did not have any
of bioactive components such as sugars, tannins, deleterious effect on oxidative status and lipid
ascorbic acid, saponins, resins, alkaloids, and peroxidation in normal rats. The dosage at
flavonoids. When comparing the animals treated 1000mg/kg, 2000mg/kg body weight of the
with Lonchocarpus cyanescens extract to the extract shown similar potency affirming the
control, histopathological analysis of the safety activity of the extract. It revealed mild
cardiovascular system showed mild to moderate interstitial and vascular congestion, no
alterations, notably at higher doses (Figures 2-7). myocardial degeneration. This implies that
All of the animals that received L. cyanescens although administration at lower dosages will be
treatment at body weights ranging from 200 to preferred, particularly on a long-term use, the
5000 mg/kg showed modest vascular and aqueous leaf extract may be safer at all tested
interstitial congestion along with undistorted doses. This is consistent with other research that
cardiac bundle fibers. found no overt adverse responses in either the
acute or sub-acute phases. Its antioxidant
In 200mg/kg body weight and 500mg/kg body qualities might potentially play a role in
weight concentration, it can be seen that there maintaining the c ardiovascular syst e m.
were mild interstitial congestions and mild According to Ahmad et al. (2019), flavonoids,
c o r o n a r y d i s t o r t i o n s u g g e s ti n g t h a t which are naturally occurring antioxidants, are
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 110
crucial for eliminating free radicals and averting Interdiscipline Toxicology; 6 (3): 145 – 151.
degenerative illnesses including cardiovascular Agbo, C.U. and Obi, I.U., 2007. Variability in
disease. Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is one of the propagationpotentials of stem cuttings of
additional chemicals found in L. cyanescens that different physiologicalages of Gongronema
has been linked to cardiovascular illness. In lati f olium Benth. World Journal of
order to prevent endothelial dysfunction, which Agricultural Sciences; 3(5): 576–581
is one of the factors that causes atherosclerosis, Ahmad, S., Maqbool, A., Srivastava, A., &
vitamin C has the ability to improve endothelial Gogoi, S. (2019). Biological Detail and
vasodilation (Airaodion et al., 2019). Therapeutic Effect of Azadirachta Indica
(Neem Tree) Products- a Review. Journal of
Mild coronary vasodilation seen in figure 5 and Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare;
figure 6 (3500mg/kg and 5000mg/kg body 6(22): 1607–1612.
weight) respectively affirms the extract Airaodion, A. I., Olatoyinbo, P. O., Ogbuagu, U.,
hypolipidemic properties and its potencies to Ogbuagu, E. O., Akinmolayan, J. D.,
prevent atherosclerosis. The histological plates A d e k a l e , O. A. , Awosanya, O. O.,
(plate 2-6) showed similar histological Agunbiade, A. P., Oloruntoba, A. P.,
appearances connoting the extract at different Obajimi, O. O., Adeniji, A. R., & Airaodion,
doses is not deleterious to the cardiovascular E. O. (2019). Comparative Assessment of
system. This findings may be in consonant with Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant
Amu et al. (2019) who noted that reduction in Potential of Azadirachta indica and
both cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL- Parquetina nigrescens Leaves. Asian Plant
Cholesterol in treated diabetic groups suggests Research Journal; 2(3): 1–14.
that the extracts of L. cyanescens possibly Ajiboye BO, Oyinloye BE, Agboinghale PE,
produced effects due to the presence of OnikanniSA, Asogwa E, Kappo PA.(2019)
phytoconstituents like tannin, saponin and other Antihyperg l y caemiaand related gene
phytoconstituents which possibly decreased e xp r e ss i on s o f a qu e ou s e x t ra c t
absorption of dietary cholesterol. ofGongronema latifolium leaf in alloxan-
induced diabetic rats. Pharmaceutical
Conclusion Biology; 57(1):604–11
Histological results according to revealed that Amu, P.A., Nwaka, A.C and Olisah, M.C. (2019)
gra d ed d o ses of a q ueo u s ex t rac ts of Comparative Effect of Ethanol Extracts of
Lonchocarpus cyanescens induced mild Lonchocarpus cyanescens (Elu) and Dialum
vascular events in the cardiovascular system, as guineense (Icheku) Leaves on the body
well as activating the local immune system of the weight, Blood glucose Level and Lipid
heart viz: lymphocytosis (induction fraction) and profile of streptozotocin-Induced diabetes in
endothelial cell activation. The lower doses male Wistar Albino Rats. Journal of Applied
induced a more intense activity with the peak Sciences;5(1):1-8, 2019
being at 1000mg/kg. However, there were no Drury, R.A., Wallington, E.A., Cancerson, R.
toxicity effects. (197 6 ). C a rlto n 's Hi stop a thol o gica l
Techniques. 4th Edition, Oxford University
Reference Press, Oxford, London, New York.
Abu, O.D., Imafidon, K.E. and Iribhogbe M.E. Iyoha, A.I. and Onoagbe, I.O. (2016). Acute
(2015). Biochemical effect of aqueous leaf toxicity of aqueous and methanolic leaf
extract of Icacina trichanta Oliv. on urea, extracts of Lonchocarpus cyanescens in
creatinine and kidney oxidative status in Wistar albino rats. Nigerian Journal of Life
CCl4-induced Wistar rats. Nigerian Journal Sciences; 6: 39 - 44.
of Life Sciences; 5 (1): 85 - 89. Iyoha1, A.I., Onoagbe, I.O. and Abu, O.D
Adebiyi, O.E. and Abata, M.O. (2013). (2023). Effects Of Aqueous And Methanolic
Phytochemical and acute toxicity of Leaf Extracts Of Lonchocarpus Cyanencens
ethanolic extract of Enantia chlorantha Leaf On Oxidative Status In Normal Albino
(o li v e) st em b ar k i n a lb i no ra ts .
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 111
Wistar Rats. Nigeria Journal of Life crepidioides leaf extract on monoamines
Sciences; 13(2): 1 - 2, oxidase activity from the rats brain.
Manoj, B. and Aquad K. (2003). Protective University of Agriculture Abeokuta thesis.
Effects of Low Sonalba L. Against (C14 – Omonkhua, A.A. and Onoagbe, I.O. (2012).
Induced Hepatic Damage in Albino Rats. Long-term effects of three hypoglycaemic
Indian Journal Expo on Biology; 4:85 – 87 plants (Irvingia gabonensis, Urena lobata
Ogungbaro, S.T. (2010). Invitro study of the and Carica papaya) on the oxidative status of
effects of ethanolic extract of Lonchocarpus normal rabbits. Biokemistri; 24 (2): 82-89.
c y a n e s c e n s a n d c r as s o c e p h a l u m
Citation: Onyeije Benson Peter, Innih Silvanus Orlu. Investigating the effects of Lonchocarpus
Cyanencens Aqueous Leaf Extracts on the Histology of the Cardiovascular System in Normal
Albino Wistar Rats. Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science; 9(3): 107 – 112.
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sokjmls.v9i3.11
Copyright: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.
SJMLS Volume 9, Number 3 September, 2024 Page 112