Published Paper Details:

In order to gain greater insights into the use and importance of plant medicines, a study on the prolonged consumption of Jatropha tanjorensis also commonly known as hospital too far, chaya amongst other names was carried out. Jatropha tanjorensis is native of Mexico and Central America. It is grown in the Southern part of Nigeria and its leaves are used as vegetables and plant medicines. It has been reported to possess ethnomedicinal uses which include its efficacy in the treatment of high blood pressure, anemia, hyperlipidemia, antimicrobial, antimalarial and hematological properties. Albino rabbits weighing 2.8 - 3.00kg were divided into control experimental group I: aqueous leaf extracts group and experimental group II: Methanolic leaf extracts were used. Control group rabbits were administered 3kg grower's mash feed per 300ml distilled water ad libitum for 90 days. Experimental group I rabbits were administered 3kg grower's mash per 300ml aqueous leaf extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis ad libitum for 90 days. While experimental group II rabbits were administered 3kg growers mash per 300ml methanolic leaf extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis ad libitum for 90 days. The rabbits were "sacrificed" at the end of the experiment and histopathological examinations were carried out. From observations, control group rabbits did not present any histological changes in the liver. Liver tissues of experimental group I rabbits presented hepatocytes with Micro Vesicular Steatosis (MIST), mild distortions with features of fatty degeneration in the early stages. Liver tissues of experimental group II rabbits presented grave distortions with localized infiltration of inflammatory cells indicative of a diseased tissue. The aqueous leaf extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis caused milder effects compared to the methanolic leaf extracts which directly suggests that higher toxicity levels occur with methanolic leaf extracts of the plant.