Protective Effects of Spondias mombin Leaves extract on the Cerebellar Architecture of Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Spondias mombin’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties have been reported in wounds healing, treatment of dysentery, haemorrhoids, gonorrhea, leucorrhea and infections. The cerebellum however play central roles in the coordination of muscle activities, this research work is aimed at investigating the histological changes in the cerebellum of the hyperglycemic wistar rats treated with aqueous leave extract of Spondias mombin. Methods: Twenty (20) wistar rats weighing between 75-120 g were employed, the animals were randomly selected into four (4) groups, Group A; made up of five (5) normoglycemic wistar rats treated with 2mls of distilled water (Negative control), Group B; made up of five (5) hyperglycemic wistar rats, given water only (positive control), Group C; made up of five (5) normoglycemic wistar rats treated with 475 mg/kg of Spondias mombin leaves extract and Group D; made up of five (5) hyperglycemic rats treated with 475 mg/kg of S. mombin leaves extract. Administration was done oro-gastrically and daily for period of 21 days, the animals were euthanized twenty-four (24) hours after the last administration by cervical dislocation, and the brain was excised following skull fracture, cerebellum was carefully dissected out and fixed in 10% formal saline for routine histological techniques. Results: Degeneration and loss of purkinje cells, cellular hyper -trophy associated with intercellular vacuolation in the stroma of the cerebellar cortex of the induced hyperglycemic rat that were not exposed to the S. mombin. Cerebellar cortex in hyperglycemic rats treated with S. mombin aqueous extracts showed evidence of cell division and the pyramidal cells were well defined and the integrity of the cerebellar histoarchitecture maintained in relation to the control animals. Conclusion: Treatment with S. mombin aqueous leaves extract protects the cerebellar architecture in hyper-glycemic condition and promotes the cerebellar nuclei renewal. .