Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the histological effect of Annona muricata aqueous leaf extract on the liver of adult wistar rats. Twenty four adult wistar rats weighing 180-205g were used for the study. They were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of six animals each. Group A served as the control and received distilled water; the experimental group B, C and D were orally administered 0.2ml, 0.4ml and 0.6ml of Annona muricata aqueous leaf extract respectively for twenty one days. Both the control and experimental groups were weighed, and sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia at the end of the period of administration. liver tissues were removed and fixed in 10% formaline for histological studies. The body weight result showed reduction in the groups C and D animals treated with 0.4ml and 0.6ml of Annona muricata ethanolic leaf extract when compared with the control while group B increased significantly relative with the control. Histopathological results showed that group B presented mild cellular infiltration and vascular congestion, Groups C was observed to have vascular congestion and pyknotic nuclei while Group D showed area of aggregates of cellular infilteration, vascular congestion and vacuolated nuclei. This study suggests that high doses of administration of Annona muricata aqueous leaf extract may cause adverse effects on the liver cells.