The histological effects of Annona Muricata (Soursop) on the Adrenal Gland of Adult Wistar Rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the histological effects of ethanolic extract of Annona muricata on the adrenal gland of adult wistar rats. Twenty wistar rats weighing between 180 210g were used for the study. They were divided into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A animals served as the control and received 0.3 ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C & D were orally administered 0.2 ml, 0.4 ml and 0.6 ml of ethanolic extract of Annona muricata respectively for twenty eight days. Immediately after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sacrificed under the influence of chloroform vapour inhalation method and dissected. Adrenal gland tissues were removed, weighed and fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The final body weight of groups C and D decreased significantly (P < 0.001) compared with the control. The mean relative organ weight result revealed significant increase (P<0.001) in groups C and D while B organ weight is statistically similar with the control group A. Histopathological findings showed distortion of adrenal gland tissues in groups C and D while group B was not distorted compared with the control. From these findings, Annona muricata consumed in high doses may distort cytoarchetecture of adrenal gland.

Adrenal gland, Annona muricata,Body weight, Organ weight, Cytoarchetecture