Histopathological Assessment of the Protective Effects of Kigelia africana Fruit and Leaf Aqueous Extracts on Hepatic, Renal, and Pancreatic Tissues in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus remains a major global health burden, and the associated multi-organ complications affecting the liver, kidney, and pancreas contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. Medicinal plants, particularly Kigelia africana, have been traditionally used in sub-Saharan Africa for the management of diabetes and related disorders. This study evaluated the histopathological effects of aqueous fruit and leaf extracts of K. africana on the liver, kidney, and pancreatic tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Animals were grouped into six groups: normal control (Group A), diabetic control (Group B), diabetic treated with glibenclamide 1000 mg/kg (Group C), diabetic treated with K. africana fruit extract 1000 mg/kg (Group D), diabetic treated with K. africana leaf extract 1000 mg/kg (Group E), and diabetic treated with combined fruit and leaf extract 1000 mg/kg (Group F). Aqueous extracts were administered orally for 28 consecutive days, and tissues were processed for haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histopathological examination. Group B (diabetic control) showed marked degeneration including hepatocyte necrosis, renal tubular and glomerular damage, and atrophy of the islets of Langerhans. Group D (fruit extract) demonstrated near-normal histological architecture in all three organs, comparable to Group C (glibenclamide). Group F (combined extract) showed partial tissue restoration. Group E (leaf extract alone) exhibited persistent degenerative changes including necrobiotic hepatocyte alterations, renal tubular degeneration, and pancreatic islet inflammation. The aqueous fruit extract of K. africana exhibited significant hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and pancreatoprotective effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats, supporting its traditional use as an antidiabetic agent. The leaf extract alone did not confer equivalent protection, indicating differential bioactivity between plant parts.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21132037