Effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria on the cerebellar histology, body and brain weights of albino Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Rauvolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of hypertension and mental disorders. The effects of the ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria were determined in this study. Materials and Methods: Eighteen male and female young albino Wistar rats weighing 100–160 g were randomly assigned to three Groups 1, 2, and 3 of 6 rats each. The control (Group 1) received 0.1 ml of 20% solution of Tween 80, while Groups 2 and 3 received 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of the root bark extract of R. vomitoria, respectively, for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed on the 15[sup]th day; the cerebellum of each rat was harvested, processed, and then stained using the hematoxylin and eosin method and immunohistochemical staining technique for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: The results showed swelling and atrophy of Purkinje cells, proliferation of reactive astrocytes and increased expression of GFAP, a significant reduction in the body weight of experimental animals, but no difference in brain weight compared with the control. Conclusion: The ethanolic root bark extract of R. vomitoria has a deleterious effect on the cerebellum and body weight of young albino Wistar rats but does not affect brain weight.