Abstract

The histological effects of oral administration of the alcoholic extract of Sorghum bicolor on albino rats were investigated. The alcoholic extract was dried and resuspended in distilled water and the following quantities were administered orally to the albino rats per kg body weight: 10, 100, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2900 mg while normal saline solution served as control. The rats were dissected after 24 h. Tissues from the heart, liver, and kidney were histologically processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and the sections subjected to histopathological examination. Results showed that albino rats fed with S. bicolor extracts in doses above 2000 mg/kg body weight showed observable changes of varying degrees of congestion in the heart, liver and kidney according to the concentration of doses injected. Lethal dose of 2900 mg/kg was observed arising from periportal inflammation and vacuolation of the hepatocytes.

Key words: Sorghum bicolor extract, lethal dose, albino rats, histopathology.