Histological observation of the effect of aqueous extract of sorghum bicolor leaf sheath on paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats

Introduction: Acetaminophen is a severe hepatotoxic drug.This study was undertaken to examine the protective and ameliorative effects of aqueous extract of Sorghum Bicolor stem bark on acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty five adult wistar rats weighing 150 to 200g were randomized into seven groups of five animals each.Group A (control) received 200mg/kg body weight (bw) of distilled water for 7days, Group B received 200mg/kg body weight aqueous extract of Sorghum bicolor stem bark for 7days, Group C received 300mg/kg bw paracetamol for 1 day, Group D received 300mg/kg bw paracetamol for 1 day plus aqueous extract of Sorghum bicolor stem bark (200mg/kg bw) for 7 days, Group E received 300mg/kg bw paracetamol for 1 day plus silymarin (100mg/kg bw) for 7days, Group F received 200mg/kg bw aqueous extract of Sorghum bicolor stem bark for 7 days plus paracetamol (300mg/kg bw) for 1 day and Group G received silymarin (100mg/kg bw) and paracetamol (300mg/kg bw).All solutions were administered orally.At the end of the administration, animals were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia, blood samples collected via cardiac puncture.Paraffin sections of liver were stained for histology using Hematoxylin and Eosin, and for histochemistry using Masson's trichome, Gordon & Sweets, and Periodic Acid Schiff's staining techniques.Results: Results from this study showed that there was congestion of hepatic portal triad, dilated sinusoids, and there was necrosis of hepatocytes nuclei in group C, compare with group A and group B, which showed normal liver architecture and hepatocytes, group D and G showed mild portal triad congestion, mild dilated sinusoids, presence of inflammatory cells, hepatocytes showed dysplastic changes, Group E an F showed mild portal triad congestion, mild dilated sinusoids, reduced inflammatory cells, and dysplastic changes of the hepatocytes.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that 300mg/kg bw of paracetamol was hepatotoxic, and Sorghum bicolor stem bark extract had ameliorative and protective effect on the Paracetamol-induced liver damage.