THE EFFECT OF Amaranthus paniculatus LEAF DECOCTION

ABSTRACT

Amaranthus paniculatus is commonly known as blood amaranthus, red amaranths, rajgira, foxtail popularly known as food source in North America and Central America. They are cooked into porridge, crushed into flour, popped like popcorn, or turned into a treat called alegra. Amaranthus paniculatus is still farmed and offered as a health food in North and Central America even though it is no longer a staple meal. This study was to examine the effects of A. paniculatus leaf decoction on the morphology of the liver of Albino rats. Twenty (20) male and female Albino wistar rats weighing 120 - 140g were obtained and housed in already available cages under standard atmospheric condition of 23⁰C± temperature. Rats were grouped as (A, B, C, and D containing 5 rats each in 4 cages). Group A was used as the control while the other 3 groups were subjected to the test material (A. paniculatus leaf decoction). All groups were fed with pellets and tap water for the period of 2weeks so as to acclimatize to the environment. After which rats were subjected to the respective treatments: Group A - control administered distilled water, group B (2.5mL of A. paniculatus), group C (5mL of A. paniculatus) and group D (7mL of A. paniculatus plant decoction). A. paniculatus decoction was prepared by boiling 100g of the powdered leaf in 500mL of water for 25minutes, and was allowed to cool and filtered thereafter. All rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation on the 22nd day while the liver was excised and examined morphologically. In the end, the study showed that no deleterious effects were observed histologically and grossly. However, periportal lymphocytes mobilizations were observed at high doses and are thought to be dose related. However, more studies are strongly encouraged to further validate these claims.