Introduction: The human eye is recognized as one of the most intricate and sensitive sensory organs, making it particularly vulnerable to damage from environmental toxins, including plant-derived irritants. Aim: This study aims to investigate the acute ocular toxicity of Syngonium podophyllum extract on corneal tissue in rats. Study Design: This study adopted an experimental laboratory-based research design. Methodology: The experimental procedures were conducted at the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology Laboratory, Delta State University, Abraka, while histological processing was carried out at the Histology Unit of the Department. Prior to the commencement of the experimental work, ethical approval was obtained from the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka. A total of 12 adult Wistar rats (weighing 180-220 g) were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 served as the control group and was administered normal rat chow and water. Group 2 received 1 ml (5000 mg/kg) of the extract dissolved in DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), and observations were carried out for 15 days. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0. Results: The results obtained from this study indicate that SP administration generally increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as evidenced by significantly higher ESR levels compared to the control group. This finding suggests a potential inflammatory effect of the plant extract. Specifically, the data revealed that as the SP dosage increased, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative damage, also increased significantly. These findings therefore suggest that SP exposure induces oxidative stress in the rats’ corneal tissues, leading to cellular damage due to an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Conclusion: This study concludes that Syngonium podophyllum extract produces significant physiological, biochemical, and histopathological changes in a dose-dependent manner.
Aforkoghene et al. (Wed,) studied this question.