Excess Consumption Effects of Aqueous Extract of Piper Guineense Fruits on the Lungs of Adult Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the excess consumption effect of aqueous extract of Piper guineense fruits on the lungs of adult female wistar rats. Piper guineense popularly known as West African black pepper, in ancient times has been known to possess a whole lot of medicinal values and also a good contractile effect on the uterus of post-natal mothers. In this experiment, twenty virgin adult female wistar rats were grouped into four of five animals each. Group 1 was the control group, group 2 were treated with 1000mg/kg of Piper guineense extract, group 3 were treated with 1500mg/kg of the extract and the group 5 were treated with 2000mg/kg of the extract all for a period of twenty-eight days. After the last administration, the animals were sacrificed and the lungs harvested for histological processing and analysis. The results from the histological analysis of this experiment exhibited extensive oedema with coalition of some of the alveolar spaces which were increasing as the experimental doses were increased. It can be concluded from this study that excessive consumption of Piper guineense fruits could cause serious damages to the lungs. Therefore this study suggests that although Piper guineense is truly medicinal, the consumption should be moderate and well regulated so as to prevent some damages to the lungs.

Keywords: Consumption, Lungs, Piper guineense,Wistar rats.