Deleterious Effects of Datura Metel Leaf Extract on the Liver and Kidney of Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

: For many centuries, the potentials of Datura metel as a traditional herb are well documented. The widely reported traditional uses include the use of the plant as narcotic and local anesthetic drug in many societies. Despite having a reputation as one of the ‘darker’ hallucinogens, it has been widely used by societies historically in both the “Old and New World”, and continues to be today. All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous proportion of tropane alkaloids (highly poisonous) and may be fatal if ingested by humans or other animals, including livestock and pets. The aim of this study was to elucidate some of the effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Datura metel on the cytoarchitecture and morphology of the kidney and liver of adult Sprague Dawley rats following 21 days administration of aqueous leaf extract of Datura metel. At the termination of administration, it was observed that the consumption of aqueous leaf extract of Datura metel has degenerative, deleterious and necrotic effects on the kidney and liver of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Furthermore, a marked statistical significant decrease in the body weight of the animals in the treatment group when compared to the control group (p<0.05).

The results obtained from this study suggests that Datura metel has compromising and deleterious effects on the cytoarchitecture and histology of the kidney and liver of adult Sprague Dawley rats, with a marked reduction in the body weight of the treated animals.