Evaluation of the Haematological Properties and Effects of Crude Rauwolfia Vomitaria

The effect of the ethanolic root extract of Rauwolfia vomitaria on the histology of the ovary of female albino wistar rats was investigated. The animals were divided into 5 groups with 5 rats in each group. Group A was the control group while the other 4 groups (B, C, D and E) were experimental groups. Group A animals were given distilled water and normal rat feed, Group B animals were given 50mg/kg of Rauwolfia vomitaria, Groups C, D and E were given 100mg/kg, 150mg/kg and 200mg/kg of Rauwolfia vomitaria respectively. Administration was done orally and it lasted for 21 days. At the end of administration, the rats were sacrificed and Ovaries from all the groups were carefully dissected out, fixed immediately in Bouin's fluid and sent to Laboratory for histopathological analysis. 2-3mm in thickness were section out, and re-fixed in neutral buffered formalin solution, processed to paraffin sections, cut at 5micron using Rotary microtome and evaluated under digital microscope. Result of histopathology showed that the ovaries from group A revealed normal cellular architecture of theca granulosa cells, vascular, follicular cells, stroma containing reticular and fusiform cells, primary and secondary follicles with distinct area oocyte, cumulus oophorus, zona pellucida, corona radiata, follicular antrum, there is no evidence of cellular abnormality seen, Ovaries from group B revealed slight area of cellular degeneration with other cellular content within normal limit as compared to control group, the group C revealed slight oocyte disappearance with other cellular pattern within normal limit as compared to control, Group D revealed moderate cellular abnormalities, theca cell degeneration, granulosa degeneration and formation of follicular atresia as compared to control group while Group E revealed severe cellular abnormalities, theca cell degeneration, granulosa degeneration and formation of follicular atresia as compared to control.