EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PERSEA AMERICANA ON THE HISTOLOGY OF THE KIDNEY OF ALBINO RATS.

This study investigated the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Persea americana (avocado) on the histology of the kidney of albino rats apparently healthy. A total of 25 albino rats weighing 160-200g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into five groups of five rats each. They were treated with aqueous extract of Persea Americana for a period of 28 days. Group A received normal saline (control). While groups B, C and D were treated orally with the extract daily at the doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg weight respectively for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, kidney sections were processed using light microscopic techniques and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histological examinations were supplemented by biochemical assay analysis. The kidney of rats treated with 250 mg/kg of extract showed glomerular degeneration and tubular necrosis in the cortex. The kidney of rats treated with 500 mg/kg of extract revealed mild hydrophobic change in the lumen of the tubules and tubular ballooning. The kidney treated with 750 mg/kg of extract resulted in severe hydrophobic changes within the lumen, tubular ballooning and mild inflammatory cells. The finding of the study concluded that aqueous leaf extract of Persea americana have effects on the histology of the kidney. Administration of Perseaamericana causes dose- dependent degeneration of glomeruli and tubular necrosis in the cortex, hydrophobic change in the lumen of the tubules and tubular ballooning and mild inflammatory cells. Further toxicity studies (sub-acute and chronic) of the crude extract and organic solvent portions needs to be carried out using different animal models in order to evaluate the long-term effects of the extract.