Solanum macrocarpon Leaf Extract Effects on Cerebral Cortex Microanatomy in Isoproterenol Induced Myocardial Infarction

Solanum macrocarpon is a plant with edible fruit and its potentials as a medicinal herb have also been investigated. Its leaf extract had been suggested to have effects that could ameliorate myocardial infarction. In the current investigation, S. macrocarpon leaf aqueous extract effects on the brain tissue was observed when it is being used to ameliorate induced myocardial infarction; because its effects on the brain was also considered to be very important so as to investigate the safety of its use on brain health. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six rats each; Group A served as control and were only fed ad libitum and administered placebo. Group B rats were animals that suffered induced myocardial infarction but did not receive any therapeutic intervention. Group C received 100 mg/kg of S. macrocarpon aqueous leaf extract; Group D received 200 mg/kg body weight of S. macrocarpon leaf extract while Group E received 400 mg/kg body weight. The regimen was also to assess the effects of variations in dosages. Experiment lasted for 28 days and the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Brain tissues were excised and fixed in formal saline; then processed using the Haematoxylin and Eosin method. Specific effects of S. macrocarpon include alterations of cell morphologies and loss of cells at the higher doses. There were also evidences of alterations of the cerebral histoarchitecture and the neuropil. Results showed that the extract at all dosages had deleterious effects on the brain tissue and the gravity of effects increased with the dosage.