Effects of Aqueous Extract of Persea americana (Mill.) Leaf on the Myocardium of Left Ventricle of High Salt Fed Adult Wistar Rat

Abstract

Introduction This study was designed to show that Persea americana extract possess the ability to protect the myocardium of left ventricle against injury caused by high salt diet in adult Wistar rats. Method Forty healthy Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 120–150 g were randomly assigned into 8 groups of 5 rats each (Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H). Rats in groups A, F, G and H were fed with standard laboratory pellets, while groups B, C, D and E were fed on the high-salt diet for four weeks. Concomitantly, daily administration of 50 mg kg-1, 100 mg kg-1 and 150 mg kg-1 of the Persea americana extract were given orally to groups C&F, D&G and E&H respectively while rats in groups A and B were administered distilled water. The rats were sacrificed under ketamine anesthesia (30mg/kg i.m). The left ventricle of the heart was excised, processed in paraffin wax and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Verhoeff-Van Gieson stains. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze data, followed by Student Newman-keuls (SNK) test for multiple comparison. Result Results revealed that there was statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference in body weight change across all experimental groups; which was significantly lower in high salt fed groups. It was revealed that there were morphological alterations in the myocardium of left ventricle in group B while Persea americana protected myocardium in other experimental groups. Conclusion In conclusion, high salt diet induced myocardium alterations which were significantly protected by oral administration of Persea americana extract.