The effect of Carica Papaya seeds on the Histology of the Liver in Wistar rats

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of oral ingestion of Carica papaya seeds on the liver histology of growing Sprague Dawley rats. The study involved 40 growing rats (95.0±10.0grams). They were divided into eight groups of 5 rats each: A (control; n=5), B (n=10), C (n=10) and D (n=10). Group A1 and A2 served as the acute and chronic control respectively. Group B1, C1 and D1 served as the sub-acute test while group B2, C2 and D2 served as the chronic test. The rats were fed with varying doses of powdered Carica papaya seed (6, 8, 10grams). Group A1, B1, C1 and D1 were fed for 3 weeks while Group A2, B2, C2 and D2 were fed for 6 weeks. The results showed test group B1 presented infarction with haemorrhage and exudations. B2 presented pyknosis and eosinophilic cells with cellular degeneration. C1 presented pyknosis, parenchymal erosion and mild vacuolation, haemorrhage and embolism and C2 presented severe vacuolation and pyknosis. D1 presented palour, vacuolation (V) and arterial wall disruption and D2 presented pyknotic cells with transitional phases of karyohexis and karyolysis, parenchymal erosion and severe vacuolation. The observations suggest Carica papaya seeds are toxic to the liver and may induce hepatic damages in a dose and duration dependent manner.

Key words: Carica papaya seed, Liver, Traditional medicine, Nigeria,