Aqueous Extract Of Spondias mombin (HOG PLUM) Could Possess Hepatocytic Potentials After Ingestion Of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) By Wistar Rats

Intake of chemicals like monosodium glutamate (MSG), mostly used as a food seasoning, enhance the prevalence of leiomyoma. Leiomyoma has no known cure but Spondias mombin leaves have been in use, locally, in its management among Igbos of South-Eastern Nigeria. This work investigated the effect of S. mombin extract on hepatocytes after ingesting MSG. Twenty-one rats used in this study were divided into three groups of seven rats each and acclimatized. Two groups had fibroid after daily ingestion of 750mg/kg body weight of MSG for 28 days. Negative control had no fibroid. Positive control had fibroid and remained untreated. Group III, with fibroid, were continuously fed with the same dose of MSG for the next 28 days in addition to daily oral treatment with 250mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Spondias mombin. Histological examinations of rat’s hepatocytes were performed on 2ndand 4thweeks, respectively, using two rats from each group for the next 28 days. Results indicated that the aqueous extract of S. mombin did not preserve the rat’s hepatocytes. Ingestion of S. mombin aqueous extract is deleterious to hepatocytes and could lead to other liver diseases. Results further indicated that continuous ingestion of MSG is destructive to hepatocytes. Care should be applied while ingesting an aqueous extract of S. mombin either as prophylaxis or as a chemotherapeutic agent. The result of this study had shown that oral intake of MSG has the potential of inducing uterine leiomyoma in experimental albino Wistar rats.