The Protective Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Vitis venifera (Grape Leaf) on Spleen Induced with Paracetamol –In Adult Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera on paracetamol-induced splenic toxicity in adult male Wistar rats.
Study Design: Twenty-five adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n=5). Group A served as the control group, Group B received 100 mg/kg of Vitis vinifera extract only, Group C received 100 mg/kg of paracetamol only, Group D received 100 mg/kg of paracetamol followed by treatment with 100 mg/kg of Vitis vinifera extract, while Group E received 100 mg/kg of paracetamol together with 200 mg/kg of Vitis vinifera extract.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Department of Human Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria, over a period of four weeks.
Methodology: Twenty-five adult Wistar rats weighing between 150–190 g were acclimatized and randomly distributed into five experimental groups. Ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera was administered orally for four weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were anaesthetized using chloroform and sacrificed. The spleen tissues were harvested, fixed in 10% formalin, and processed for histological examination using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining technique. Morphometric analysis of body weight was also carried out, and data obtained were analyzed statistically with significance considered at p<0.05.
Results: Morphometric analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in body weight in the treatment groups following paracetamol administration when compared with the control group. Histological examination of the spleen in Group C revealed severe focal aggregation of inflammatory cells and severe necrosis following administration of paracetamol. However, treatment with ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera in Groups D and E demonstrated varying degrees of regeneration and restoration of splenic tissue architecture. The regenerative effect was more pronounced in Group E treated with the higher dose (200 mg/kg) of the extract, indicating a dose-dependent protective effect of the extract against paracetamol-induced splenic toxicity.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera possesses protective and restorative effects against paracetamol-induced splenic toxicity in Wistar rats. The extract demonstrated dose-dependent ameliorative properties by reducing inflammatory changes and enhancing regeneration of splenic tissues following toxic injury.