Abstract

In medical practice, Anacardium occidentale stem bark is used for various ailment treatments. Possible histological effects of aqueous extract of A. occidentale stem bark administration was studied on adult Wistar rat testes. The rats (n=24), weighing 164 to 210 g were randomly assigned into three treatments (n=18) and control (n=6) groups. The rats in the treated groups II, III, IV received 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg aqueous extract of A. occidentale stem bark orally via orogastric tube for twenty-one days, while the control group I received only equal volume of phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The rats were fed with growers' mash and given water liberally. Cage side examination was done daily to observe overt signs of toxicity (salivation, lacrimation, yellowing of fur e.t.c). Twenty-four hours after the expiration of the extract administration, rats were sacrificed; the testes were excised and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for routine hematoxylin and eosin histological study. The histological findings of testes sections indicated that there were no cyto-architectural distortions and no evidence of apoptotic bodies in the treated groups as compared to the control group. These findings suggest that aqueous extract ofA. occidentale does not have effect on the adult Wistar rat testis.

Key words: Anarcardium occidentale, cyto-architectural, non-toxic, adult male Wistar rat.