The effect of aqueous ethanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf on the histology of the aorta of Wistar rats

Sixteen Wistar rats weighing 160-180g were used in this research work. The rats were divided into three groups, designated A, B, and C. Group A served as the control and consisted of four rats, whereas groups B and C consisted of six rats each and served as the experimental groups. A. cordifolia leaf extract was administered to the experimental groups B and C orally at a dose of 250mg/kg/day and 500mg/kg/day respectively. The control group received 0.5ml of normal saline. The administration lasted for fourteenth days. All the animals were given feed and water freely. The rats were sacrificed after the fourteenth day of administration of herbal extract and the aortae harvested and processed histologically using haematoxylin and eosin staining technique. Tissue sections revealed that A. cordifolia is capable of inducing elastogenesis in the aorta. This attribute of the herb may be beneficial in increasing elastic recoil of the aortic wall and may reduce blood pressure.