Nkiruka C. Azubuike; Chukwugozie N. Okwuosa; Uzoamaka C. Maduakor; Okechukwu S. Onwukwe; Anulika O. Onyemelukwe; Cornelius O. Ogu; Ikenna T. Ikele; Chioma L. Oparah & Adeniyi Akande

Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) seeds are consumed in treatment of high blood pressure, headache and prevention of heart disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of methanol extract of Brassica juncea seeds [BJME] on the heart and liver of adult Albino Wistar rats. A total of 24 albino rats of both sexes were divided into 6 groups [I – VI] of 4 rats per group. Groups I to IV received graded doses of the methanol extract by oral gavage while groups V and VI (controls) received 2 ml/kg body weight of 3 % Tween 80 and water respectively via oral gavage once daily. Treatment lasted for four weeks and the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were estimated. The animals were sacrificed and the heart and liver tissues were excised for further histological processing for light microscopy. There was significant increase in AST and ALT levels following BJME treatment when compared to the controls. ALP activity did not differ significantly among the treatment and control groups. Histopathological changes consistent with toxic injury were observed in the heart and liver tissues of BJME- treated rats. In conclusion, the results of this study show that sub-acute administration of methanol seed extract of Brassica juncea can exert cardiotoxic and hepatotoxic effects in rats.

KEY WORDS: Brassica juncea; Seeds; histopathology; Heart; Liver; Serum biochemistry.

AZUBUIKE, N. C.; OKWUOSA, C. N.; MADUAKOR, U. C.; ONWUKWE, O. S.; ONYEMELUKWE, A. O.; OGU, C. O.; IKELE, I. T.; OPARAH, C. L. & AKANDE, A. Effects of methanolic extract of Brassica juncea seeds on biochemical parameters and histological integrity of the heart and liver of albino rats. Int. J. Morphol., 37(1):237-240, 2019.