Protective Effects of Irvingia gabonensis on Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Spleen Damage in Rats: A Histological and Haematological Study

Abstract

Considerable attention from basic to clinical scientists has been given to the toxicity of drugs and other related agents, because of the  passionate sourcing for the readily available and cheap agents against organotoxicity. We evaluated the protective effects of ethanol leaf  extract of Irvingia gabonensis on arsenic trioxide-induced spleen damage in Wistar rats. In this study, rats received the plant extract at  doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Splenic damage was induced by administering 10 mg/kg body weight of arsenic trioxide for 28  days. The results revealed that arsenic trioxide significantly decreased (P < 0.05): red blood cell count, mean cell haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, platelets, granulocytes and haematocrit level. The hematological alterations induced by arsenic  trioxide suggest splenic damage, which is further confirmed by histopathological examination revealing severe follicular degeneration  and sinus dilation. However, administration of Irvingia gabonensis extract exhibited protective effects, ameliorating both the  histopathological changes in the spleen and hematological parameters, indicating its potential therapeutic value. In conclusion, the  histopathological and haematological findings of this study demonstrate the damaging effects of arsenic trioxide on the spleen. Notably,  the extract of Irvingia gabonensis exhibited protective effects, mitigating the splenic damage induced by arsenic trioxide, highlighting its  potential therapeutic benefit.