Evaluation of Toxicological Effects of Toad Parotid Gland Extract On Liver Architecture of Wistar Rat

Abstract

Bufotoxin is one of the world's strongest naturally occurring hallucinogen and it is a commom practice for people to milk these from bufo species and smoke the dried substances they excrete. Twenty four adult Wistar rats, weighing between 150–200g, were used in the study to evaluate the toxicological effects of Bufotoxins on histomorphology of liver of wistar rats. They were divided into four groups of six animals each designated as groups A, B, C and D. Group A served as Control group and was fed with diet and tap water only throughout the experimental period. Groups B, C and D were fed with standard diet and given a solution of extract of Bufotoxin (Toad Poison) at a daily dose of 5mg/kgbw, 10mg/kgbw and 15mg/kgbw respectively for two days. Twenty four hours after the administration of last dose, rats were sacrificed and the liver was dissected out from each group, observed and processed for histological study. Results showed a decrease in physical activity of rats in groups B, C and D after thirty minutes of administration of first dose. Progressive weakness and staggered movement were also observed. Hemorrhage was observed from all the orifices of the body including the conjunctiva from groups C and D twenty four hours after the last administration. The dissected liver was also hemorrhagic in groups B, C and D. Histologically, the liver architecture in group B showed mild inflammation and cellular infiltrations while that of groups C and D were massive with complete loss of liver architecture in group D. Group A appear normal with well orientated hepatocytes. This showed that Bufotoxins is capable of causing liver damage in a dose dependent manner.