Volume 14, Issue 33, January - June, 2020

Comparative analysis of the negative impact of ethanolic root bark and leaf extracts of Rauwofia vomitoria (apocynaceae) on cerebellar glycogen in adult wistar rats

Akaninyene M. Okon¹, Mokutima A. Eluwa¹, Clementina F. Iniodu², Gabriel D. Edem^2♦, Ekaette P. Akpan¹

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar
²Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo Email: profgabe4sure@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The use of herbal medicine in Nigeria is on the increase but unknowingly to consumers, these herbal products may pose severe and devastating health hazards. This study was aimed at studying the adverse impacts posed by either the ethanolic extract of root back or leaf extract of Rauwofia vomitoria on cerebellar glycogen. In this study, 30 adult Wistar rats were used and were randomly divided into 6 groups (A, B, C, D and E; n =5). Identification of Glycogen was determined using Periodic Acid Schiff method (PAS). From this investigation, there was a marked increase in the staining intensities of the experimental groups. The staining intensity of PAS was higher in the groups C and D which were given 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg of ethanolic extract of Rauwofia vomitoria root-bark when compared to groups E and F which received 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg of ethanolic leaf extract of Rauwofia vomitoria. Findings in this study suggest a dose-dependent accumulation of glycogen in the neurons of cerebellum, especially in the Purkinje cells. This could be due to the effects of indole alkaloid constituents (reserpine) of Rauwofia vomitoria on glycogen synthesis and utilization.

Keywords: PAS, Rauwofia vomitoria, cerebellum, glycogen, root bark, leaf extract

Drug Discovery, 2020, 14(33), 9-15

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