July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
THE HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GUAVA LEAF AQUEOUS
EXTRACT ON KIDNEYS OF ADULT WISTAR RATS.
1
Udemezue O.O, 1Ukoha Ukoha, 1Ezejindu D N, 2Okafor J I, 1Obilor AD
1
Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra
State, Nigeria.
2
Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Authors Email:[email protected]
ABSTRACT
The Young Leaves of Guava have been used as a tonic to treat digestive conditions such as dysentery and
diarrhea in the indigenous medical system of Brazil and Mexico. This work is aimed at evaluating the effect of
guava leaf extract on the kidneys of adult wistar rats. Twenty adult wistar rats with weight range of 160 to 300g
were used for this study. They were designated into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A
served as the control and received 0.5ml of distilled water. The experimental groups B, C & D were orally
administered with 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 750mg/kg of guava leaf extract respectively for fourteen days. The
animals were anaesthetized under chloroform vapor and dissected. Kidney tissues were removed, weighed and
fixed in 10% formal saline for histological studies. The experimental groups (B, C & D) showed no abnormality
in cytoarchitecture of the kidney tissues.
Keywords: Wistar rats, Cytoarchiteture, Body weight, Kidney weight, Guava.
The effect of guava leaf extract on isolated vascular
smooth muscle and aortic rings has also been
evaluated [14, 15]
1. INTRODUCTION
Guava is large evergreen shrub or small tree that
grows up to 15m in height. It is native to and
widely distributed in Mexico and Central America
and is common throughout all warm areas of
tropical America and the West Indies. Today, the
plant is cultivated from Asia to the West coast of
Africa with varieties originally introduced over the
past 300 years from the United State [1,2]
Aqueous extracts from guava leaves have
antioxidant or radical-scavenging activity. Most of
the activity is associated with polyphenols,
however, the guava extract also contain
antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and carotenoids
[16, 17]
.
The kidneys are essential in the urinary system and
also serve homeostatic functions. They serve the
body as a natural filter of the blood and remove
wastes which are diverted to the urinary bladder.
The kidney is prone to injury due to the chronic
exposure to drugs, environmental toxicants and
other xenobiotics [18].
Phytochemical analysis of guava leaf revealed that
guava has the following components alkaloids,
anthocyanins, carotenonds, triterpenes and vitamin
C [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Guava leaf extracts decreased spasms associated
with induced diarrhea in rodents. Reduced
defecation, severity of diarrhea and intestinal fluid
secretion reductions has been demonstrated [10, 11].
Therefore, this work is aimed at investigating the
effect of guava leaf extract on the kidney of adult
wistar rats.
In an animal model, a water alcohol extract of
R.guajava depressed guinea pig atrial contractility
in a concentration – dependent manner.
2. MATERIALS AND METHOD
The negative inotropic effect of the extract was
blocked by atropine sulfate. In hypertensive rats,
intravenous administration of guava leaf aqueous
extracts produced a dose – dependent reduction in
systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rate [12,
13]
.
Breeding of Animals
Twenty adult wistar rats weighing between 100 –
300g were purchased from animal house of
department of pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Agulu Campus, and housed in the
animal house of department of Anatomy, Nnamdi
1
July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus. They were
acclimatized for a period of seven days under
standard laboratory conditions and fed with water
and diet (normal rat chow).
served as the control and received 0.5ml of distilled
water, the experimental groups B, C & D received,
different oral doses of drugs as follows: Group B
received 250mg/ kg of guava leaf extract, group C
received 500mg/kg of guava leaf extract and group
D received 750mg/kg of guava leaf extract
respectively for fourteen days. The animals were
sacrificed under the influence of chloroform,
inhalation method. Kidney tissues were removed,
weighed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for
histological studies
Collection of Plant Material
The fresh specimens of guava leaves were plugged
from Okofia in Nnewi Anambra State and
authenticated in herbarium unit of botany
department Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
They were air dried and grounded with laboratory
blender. 250g of the extract were dissolved in
200ml of distilled water and administered to the
animals.
Tissue Processing
The tissues passed through several processes of
fixation, dehydration, clearing, infiltration,
embedding, sectioning and stained using
Hacmatoxyleme and eosine method.
Experimental Design
The twenty adult Wistar rat were randomly divided
into four groups of five animals each. Group A
3. RESULTS
3.1 Morphometric Analysis of Body Weight
Table 1: Comparison of mean initial and final body weight in the groups (A, B, C & D)
(Mean + SEM given for each measurement)
Group
Initial body weight (g)
Final body weight (g)
Group A
180. 40 ± 2.40
191.10 ± 3.60
Group B
200.00 ± 4.60
215.80±2.80
Group C
220.40± 2.60
225.20±4.10
Comparison of mean initials and
final body weight in all the groups
300
250
200
Group A
150
Group B
100
Group C
Group D
50
0
Initial body weight (g)
Final body weight (g)
Figure 1: Bar chart showing the mean initial and final body weight
2
Group D
240±-10± 4.20
249 - 20± 7.10
July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
3.2 Morphometric Analysis of Organ (Kidney) Weight
Table 2: Comparison of mean relative organ (kidney) weight in all the groups (A, B, C & D)
(Mean + SEM given for each measurement)
Kidney Weight
Group A
5.10 0.210
Group B
5.25 0.320
Group C
5.38 0.290
Group D
5.42 0.400
Relative organ (kidney) weight
(mg/g)
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.2
Relative organ (kidney)
weight (mg/g)
5.1
5
4.9
Group A Group B Group C Group D
3.3 Histopathological Findings:
Micrograph 1 control (treated with 0.5ml distilled water) the glomerulus and convoluted tubules are in
place. The cortex showed no inflammation.
3
July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
Micrograph 2 (treated with 250mg/kg of guava extract) it has the same features with the control
group, showing normal kidney.
Micrograph 3 (treated with 500mg/kg of guava extract) Showing normal kidney
Micrograph 4(treated with 750mg/kg of guava extract) showing normal cytoarchitecture of the
kidney.
4
July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
4. Begum S, Hassan S.I, Siddqui B S, Shaheen F,
Ghayur M.N, GilaniA.H, (200). Triterpendids
from the leaves of psidium guajava.
Phytochemistry 61(4): 399-403.
4. DISCUSSION
The young leaves of guava have been used as a
tonic to treat digestive conditions such as
dysrentery and diarrhea in the indigenous medical
system of Brazil and Mexico. Mexico medicinal
date document the treatment of acute diarrhea,
flatulence gastric pain by using leaf water
decoction for oral administration 3 times daily. A
decoction and young leaves and shoots have been
prescribed as a febrifuge and spasmolytic. In
Bolivia and Egypt, guava leaves have been used to
treat cough and pulmonary diseases, they have also
been used to treat cough in India and as antiinflammatory and haemostatic agent in China [2, 3].
5. Latza S, Ganber D, Berger R.G (1996)
Caborhydrate ester of cinnamic aid from fruit of
physalis peruviana pisdium guajava and
vaccinium vitis-idaera. Phytochemistry 43: 481485.
6. Begum S, Hassan SI, siddiqui BS (2002). Two
new triterpensids from the fresh leanes of
Psidium guajava plant med. 68(12): 1144-1152.
7. Ghosh P, maudal A, chakraborty P, (2010)
Triterpeniods from psidium guajava with
biocidal activity Indian J. Pharm Sci 72 (4):
504-507.
In The present study, the final body weight of the
experimental groups increased significantly relative
to the control. The mean relative organ (kidney)
weight increased statistically with the control. The
histopathological findings of the experimental
groups revealed non distortion of the kidney cyto
architecture.
8. Chen KC, Chuang C.M, Lin L.Y (2010). The
polyphenolics in the aqueous extract of psidium
guajava kinetically reveal an inhibition model
on LDL glycation. Pharm Biol. 48 (1): 23-31.
The extract in this instance served as a dietary
supplement enhancing growth. This could be as a
result of the phytochemical constituents possessed
by guava leaf extract.
9. Matwally AM, Omar AA, Harraz F.M, SAohafy
S.M (2010). Phytochemical investigation and
antimicrobial activity of Psidium guajava leaves
Pharmacogn Mag 6(23);212-218.
5. CONCLUSION
10. Morales MA, Tortoriello J, Meckes M, Paz D,
Lozoya X, (1994). Calciuim antagonist effect of
quercetin and it relation with the spasmolytic
properties of psimdium guajava L. Arch Med
Res 25 (1); 17-21.
Our results suggest that oral administration of
extract of guava leafs at high and low doses did not
induce any histopathological lesion to the kidney
tissues.
11.Lutterodt GD (1992). Inhibition of microlaxinduced experimental diarrhea with narcotic
like extracts of psidium guajava leaf inrate .j .
ethnopharmacol 37 (2): 151-157.
6. REFERENCES
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psidium guajava leaves in the guinea pig
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and
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July. 2014. Vol. 4, No.3
ISSN 2307-2083
International Journal of Research In Medical and Health Sciences
© 2013-2014 IJRMHS & K.A.J. All rights reserved
http://www.ijsk.org/ijrmhs.html
14.Chiwororo W.D, Ojewol J.A, (2008). Biphasic
effect vbof guajava linn leaf aqueous wxtract on
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