Cassia alata alters Liver Structure in Rat

Casia alata is a common plant in South West and its parts are freely used as herbs by the natives. Concomitantly, the prevalence of chronic liver disease is on the increase, thus the study was designed to investigate the effects of its crude extract on the rat liver structure. The methanolic extract of cassia alata was administered orally to three randomly grouped wistar rats with a weight range of 160-260 grammes for twenty one days. Each group had four animals and the fourth group served as control. The three groups received 50g/kg body weight, 100g/kg and 150 g/kg respectively of the methanolic extract. Lethargy was observed amongst the animals that had the extract. All the four groups had positive percentage mean group weight change (Group A 10.5, Group B10, Group C10.5 and Group D 29.4; Group A being the control). Microscopic anatomy of the liver of the rats revealed evidence of chronic inflammatory response that was most severe in the Group D wistar rats, the group that received the largest dose of the methanolic extract. The study was able to demonstrate that Cassia alata is capable of causing chronic liver injury in rats