Abstract

This study assessed the effect of leaf juice of Ocimum gratissimum used in the treatment of convulsion, epilepsy, malaria and stomach pain on the morphology of the kidney of Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats of both sexes were separated into 5 groups; A, B, C, D and E (n = 6 per group). The Wistar rats were subjected to different doses of aqueous extract of O. gratissimum leaves in order to determine the possible morphological changes in the kidney following the administration of the extract. The rats in group A were regarded as control and they received only distilled water throughout the period. The rats in group B, C, D and E were the treated groups and received aqueous extract of leaves of O. gratissimum daily at doses 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2 g / kg body weight orally for 15 days, respectively. The animal were sacrificed on the 16th day by cervical dislocation and the kidney excised, fixed in 10% formal saline and processed for light microscopy using H&E staining methods. Findings from rat weights showed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the body weight of the treated rats compared with the control group. The histological study revealed dilation of the renal tubules as the doses increased while there was haemorhage at the interstitium and the glomeruli of treated rats. There was also focal interstitial chronic inflammation of the tissue with congestion of the blood vessels in the treated groups. The distorted kidney morphology, reduced bowan’s space, increased luminar diameter and dilation of the renal tubules may adversely affect renal functions.

Key word: Ocimum gratissimum, kidney, morphology, bowman’s space, distorted.