Evaluation of Cardiac Histological Alterations Induced by Graded Doses of Ethanolic Extract of Baphia nitida (Abosi) in Adult Male Wistar Rats.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the histological effects of graded doses of ethanolic extract of Baphia nitida leaves on the heart of adult male Wistar rats following oral administration.
Study Design: Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n=5). Group A served as the control and received normal feed only, Group B received 100 mg/kg Baphia nitida only, Group C received 200 mg/kg ethanolic extract of Baphia nitida, Group D received 300 mg/kg ethanolic extract of Baphia nitida, while Group E received 400 mg/kg ethanolic extract of Baphia nitida.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Department of Human Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Methodology: Fresh leaves of Baphia nitida were harvested from Igbariam Campus and authenticated at the Herbarium Unit, Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. The leaves were air-dried at room temperature and ground into coarse powder using a laboratory mill. Eight hundred grams (800 g) of the powdered leaves were macerated in 4 litres of ethanol for 48 hours using a mechanical shaker. Administration of the extract was carried out orally for twenty-one (21) consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were anaesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed using the Ignasia method. The hearts were harvested, weighed, rinsed in normal saline, and fixed in 10% formalin for histological analysis. Data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA followed by post hoc LSD test, while body weight analysis was carried out using Student’s dependent t-test. Acute toxicity study (LD50) of the extract was also conducted using thirteen rats through oral administration.
Results: Histological examination of the heart revealed mild to moderate myocardial inflammation, mild areas of hemorrhage, mild congestion of blood vessels, and evidence of tissue regeneration in treated groups. There were also alterations in selected cardiac parameters across the treatment groups when compared with the control group. The observed histological changes were more pronounced at higher doses of the extract.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that ethanolic extract of Baphia nitida possesses relatively low acute toxicity but may induce mild dose-dependent histological alterations in cardiac tissues following prolonged administration. Although severe myocardial degeneration was not observed, continuous or excessive consumption of the extract may predispose cardiac tissues to subtle inflammatory and vascular changes.

Baphia nitida, cardiotoxicity, histopathology, biochemical analysis

1. Adeyemi, O. O., & Akindele, A. J. (2008). Antidiarrhoeal activity of the ethyl acetate extract of Baphia nitida (Papilionaceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 116(3), 407–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.12.004 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adeyemi, O. O., Yemitan, O. K., & Taiwo, A. E. (2006). Neurosedative and muscle-relaxant activities of ethyl acetate extract of Baphia nitida AFZEL. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 106(3), 312–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.035 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Akande, I. S., Fasheun, D. O., & Shekoni, O. A. (2018). Evaluation of the phytochemicals, mineral constituents and antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of Baphia nitida. UNILAG Journal of Medicine, Science and Technology. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Anyiam, K. E., Nwakanma, A. A., Elemuo, S. C., Ezeani, J. O., & Osiagor, H. C. (2025). Neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Aloe vera on mercury-induced damage in rat amygdala and hippocampus: Histological and docking study. Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Neurology, 8(1), 427–452. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajorrin/2025/v8i1158 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Arunachalam, S., Meeran, M. F. N., Azimullah, S., Sharma, C., Goyal, S. N., & Ojha, S. (2021). Nerolidol attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by modulating Nrf2/MAPK signaling pathways in doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rats. Antioxidants, 10(6), 984. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060984 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Benjamin, E. J., Muntner, P., Alonso, A., Bittencourt, M. S., Callaway, C. W., Carson, A. P., Chamberlain, A. M., Chang, A. R., Cheng, S., Das, S. R., Delling, F. N., Djousse, L., Elkind, M. S. V., Ferguson, J. F., Fornage, M., Jordan, L. C., Khan, S. S., Kissela, B. M., Knutson, K. L., ... Virani, S. S. (2019). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2019 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 139(10), e56–e528. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Chioma, D. E. (2016). Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of methanol extract of Baphia nitida. Universal Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.22270/ujpr.v1i2.R5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Dalziel, J. M. (1937). The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ezeani, J. O., Nwakanma, A. A., Elemuo, S. C., & Anyiam, K. E. (2025). Ethanolic leaf extract of Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) mitigates mercury induced Alzheimer-like symptoms on basal ganglia of albino Wistar rats. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Sciences, 10(10), 1753–1767. https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.10100000154 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Ezenwatu, E. N., & Nweke, E. O. (2025). Ameliorative effects of ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaves on testicular damage in alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 27(11), 1–12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Irvine, F. R. (1961). Woody plants of Ghana: With special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B. B., & Beeregowda, K. N. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 7(2), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2014-0009 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Maduanusi, C. O., Nweke, E. O., Ezeokafor, E. N., & Anyiam, K. E. (2025). Biochemical and histological assessment of the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Solanum torvum on mercury induced liver and stomach toxicity on adult Wistar rats. International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences, 12(3), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16785691 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Molokwu, V. C., Nweke, E. O., Ezeokafor, E. N., & Anyiam, K. E. (2025). Biochemical and histological assessment of the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Solanum torvum on mercury induced kidney and testes toxicity on adult Wistar rats. International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences, 12(3), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17101098 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Neuwinger, H. D. (1996). African ethnobotany: Poisons and drugs. Chapman & Hall. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Nweke, E. O., Ewa, O., Uche, E. M., Ibezim, E. O., Victor, C. A., Ubani, C. D., & Ude, U. T. (2025). Effect of ethanol extract of fonio millet on the hepatic health and body weight of diabetic rats. Journal of the School of Science, 7(1). 2025 ISSN: 2714-3716 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Nweke, E. O., Mohammed, K., Nweke, T. M., Onwuka, K. C., Ubani, C. D., & Okoye, O. F. (2024). Evaluation of the hepato and reno protective effects of methanol seed extract of unripe Carica papaya seed in Wistar rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sahel Journal of Life Sciences, 2(4), 15–21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Nweke, E. O., Opara, J. K., & Nweke, T. M. (2019). Protective properties of ethanolic extract of Persea americana seed on potassium aluminium sulphate induced toxicity in female Wistar rats. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, ejpmr,6(11), 76–81. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Ogbuokiri, D. K., Ezeokafor, E. N., Ugwuta, I. A., Okafor, S. C., Ejiogu, I. C., Obiesie, I. J., Afuberoh, F. C., Amasi, M. O., & Anyiam, K. E. (2025). Investigating the protective effects of Mentha piperita leaf extract on mercury-chloride induced cardiorenal toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(03), 1251–1257. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.903SEDU0095 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Okafor, I. J., Nweke, E. O., & Opara, J. K. (2019). Protective potential of Anacardium occidentale leaves against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Hepatology, 1(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.30560/mhs.v1n2p42 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Onwukaeme, D. N. (1995). Anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids of Baphia nitida Lodd. (Leguminosae) on mice and rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 46(2), 121–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(94)01221-K [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Ouattara, B. (2006). Medicinal plants and traditional therapeutic practices in Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Poorter, L., Bongers, F., Kouamé, F. N., & Hawthorne, W. D. (2004). Biodiversity of West African forests: An ecological atlas of woody plant species. CABI Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Yousef, M. I., Omar, S. A., El-Guendi, M. I., & Abdelmegid, L. A. (2010). Potential protective effects of quercetin and curcumin on paracetamol-induced histological changes, oxidative stress, biochemical alterations and haemotoxicity in rat liver. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 48(11), 3246–3261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2010.08.034 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Tribal Child Nutrition and Health in District of Sundargarh: A Public Health Review of ICDS Intervention
• Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Amongst Men Aged 40-60 Years in The Buea Health District: A Cross-Sectional Study
• Compliance with JCI Protocols: A Focus on Employee Safety
• Influence and Involvement of Teachers in Menstrual Hygiene Management of Female Secondary School Students in Kogi State, Nigeria
• A Critical Evaluation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Bihar