Astudy of Histopathological Effects of Methanolic Buds of Flowers Extract of Lavandula officinalis L. on Selected Organs of Male Mice

Abstract

Lavandula officinalis(Lavendar) flowers is widely used in traditional medicine to treat various types of ailments. The evaluation of toxic properties of Lavandula officinalis flowers is crucial when considering public health protection because exposure to plant extracts can result in undesirable effects on consumers. Hence, in this study the oral toxicity of methanolic buds of flowers extract of Lavandula officinalis was investigated in mice. The Qualitative Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of of Lavandula officinalis contained many bioactive chemical constituents including tanninis, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, glycosides, phenol, and absence of steroids. Twelve male albino mice were randomly selected and divided into four groups A, B, C and D of three animals each. Groups A, B, C and study groups were treated orally 500,1000and1500 mg/kg body weight (bd. wt). with of methanolic buds of flowers extract of Lavandula officinalis respectively, while group D control received equivalent quantity normal saline for the same period. Animals received their doses once a day daily orally, via polythene cannula for a period of 14 days. The mice were observed daily for clinical/pharmacological signs of toxicity and mortality were observed after the administration at the first, second, fourth and sixth hour and once daily for 14 days. On the 15th day, the mice were humanely sacrificed by cervical dislocation for necropsy examination. The Internal organs including liver, kidney, heart, testis were surgically removed. The gross pathological observations of the tissues were performed by histopathological examination. No toxic symptoms or mortality were observed in any animals, which lived up to 14 days after the administration of methanolic buds of flowers extract at single dose level of 500and1000 mg/kg bd. wt. The behavioral patterns of animals were observed after the administration at the first, second, fourth and sixth hour and once daily for 14 days. And the animals in both vehicle treated and extract-treated groups were normal and did not display significant changes in behavior. but in the treated group1500mg/kg bd. wt. In the one hr of 14 days rapid heartbeat and Tremors were observed after the receiving the oral administration of the extract. Histological sections of the liver, kidney, heart and testis derived from experimental mice treated with methanolic buds of flowers extract of Lavandula officinalis 500,1000,1500 mg/kg bd.wt./day for 14-days appeared abnormalities were observed in sections when compared with the control group. Histological sections of the liver derived from mice treated with the dose of 500,1000,1500 mg/kg bd.wt. /day, showed infiltration of lymphocyte and hemorrhage, infiltration of lymphocyte respectively compared to the controls.. Histological sections of the kidney derived from mice treated with the dose of 500,1000,1500 mg/kg bd. /day, showed infiltration of lymphocyte and hemorrhage, necrosis respectively compared to the control. And distruction of basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. was observed in histological sections of testis derived from mice treated with 500,1000,1500mg dose compared to the control. There were no observable microscopic lesions in the heart the mice in the all groups. This study has shown the toxicity characteristics of the methanol extract of the buds of flowers extract of Lavandula officinalis in short time treatment with the extract. Despite the reported potentially beneficial effects lavandula officinalis, its use as a medicinal plant should be with great caution and Additional future pharmacokinetics studies are suggested.