Effects of Goko Cleanser Herbal Mixture on the Microarchitecture of the Liver of Adult Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Medicinal plants have shown to posses some biological constituents that have significant effect in man. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of herbal mixture (Goko Cleanser) on the kidney of adult female Wistar rats. A total of twenty five animals weighing 160g - 280g were used. The rats were randomly selected into five groups of five (5) each. The groups were designed as group 1-5. Group 1 served as control group, group 2 took 1000mg/kg of the herbal mixture, group 3 took 1500mg/kg of the herbal mixture, group 4 took 2000mg/kg and group 5 took 4000mg/kg. The results show that Goko Cleanser herbal mixture possesses tannin, saponin and flavonoids as its phytochemical constituents. The food intake was measured daily. Result from food intake in week 1 showed that there was no significant (P>0.05) increase in the test groups when compared to the control group. In week 2, there was significant (P<0.05) decrease in group 4 and 5, while there was no significant (P>0.05) increase in group 2; and no significant (P>0.05) decrease in group 3 compared to the control group. In week 3, there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in food intake in the treated groups when compared to the control group; and there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight in groups 2, 4 and 5 while group 3 had no significant (P>0.05) decrease. Histopathological findings of the liver showed a lobular inflammation, mild necrosis and some mild haemorrhage in all the test groups when compared to the control group. Hence, the results from this study show that Goko Cleanser herbal mixture possesses dose-dependent toxic effect on the Liver.