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ABSTRACT

Vernonia amygdalina is a tropical African woody shrub with diverse phytochemical constituents recently linked with insecticidal properties that could replace the harmful agrochemical pesticide usage around aquatic environment. This study investigates the histopathological changes in the liver and gills of Clarias gariepinus exposed to acute toxic concentrations of V. amygdalina. C. gariepinus juveniles of varied weight (7.28 ± 0.03 g) and length (4.82 ± 0.06 cm) were exposed to graded aqueous concentrations (0.188, 0.375, 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00 g/l) of V. amygdalina. The varied concentrations of V. amygdalina precipitated varied dose-dependent histopathological distortions in the hepatic (central venous congestion and hepatocellular degeneration) and gill parenchyma (lamellar hyperplasia, clubbing and occluded inter-lamellar space) of exposed C. gariepinus. The liver (hepatocyte nuclear diameter and surface area) and gill (secondary lamellar length, width, interlamellar distance and surface area) morphometrics were strikingly altered varied concentrations of V. amygdalina. V. amygdalina seems to be toxic to fish and therefore has to be cautiously applied when used as insecticides to control unwanted organisms around the fish habitats.

Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, Ciarías gariepinus, Histopathology, Liver, Gill

INTRODUCTION

Vernonia amygdalina is a predominantly tropical African small soft woody shrub with elliptical petiolate leaf of about 6 mm width (Akah et al., 2009; Nabukenya et al, 2014). The plant is commonly called bitter leaf due to its bitter taste which can be subsided by boiling or soaking the leaves in several changes of clean water (Onabanjo and Oguntona, 2003). V amygdalina is a famous vegetable used for making soup in the tropics especially in Nigeria and has been reported to contain some nutritional needs of man and animals (Aregheoere et al, 1998; Eleyinmi et al, 2005). The popularity of the leaves and roots of V amygdalina in folkloric medicine in Nigerian communities has been recognized in the treatment of ailments like fever, stomach discomfort, kidney and heart disease. The efficacy of this plant against diseases has been proven in plethora of studies in laboratory mammals to potentially have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, antihelminthic, antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic properties (Huffman, 2003; Ebong et al, 2008; Omolola and Olatunde, 2009; Adaramoye et al. 2010; Adesanoye and Farombi, 2010; Eyo et al, 2013 a, b).

Generally, plant is a store of wide range of structurally diverse bioactive...

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