Abstract

Aquaisua N. Aquaisua, Rosemary B. Bassey*, Bassey M. Ikpeme, Enobong I. Bassey

Reports have been made that the ingestion of unripe Blighia sapida (ackee) fruits may be responsible for poisoning resulting in a substantial number of unexplained deaths. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Blighia unijugata, a sister specie of Blighia sapida on the histology of the liver and kidney. Twenty male rats were divided randomly into four groups of five rats each. Group 1, the control received daily oral dose of distilled water. Group 2, 3 and 4 were administered 424 mg/kg, 849 mg/kg and 1273 mg/kg of Blighia Unijugata respectively for 4 weeks. Phytochemical screening of Blighia Unijugata was done. Weekly body weight of the rats was taken throughout the duration of this experiment. The organs were processed for histology. The preliminary phytochemical screening of Blighia unijugata extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones. There was a statistically significant increase in the body weight of animals in control group and in the animals dosed with 849 mg/kg BU. No histopathological changes were observed in the liver and kidney when compared to control. Therefore, Blighia unijugata is not toxic to the liver and kidney of Wistar rats.