Assessment of Cedrus deodara root oil on the histopathological changes in the gastrointestinal tissues in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Cedrus deodara root oil on the histopathology of different gastrointestinal organs of Wistar rats. This oil was used traditionally as an anti-ulcer agent in the Indus Unic System and extracted from the plant root by destructive distillation method. A total of 90 rats were taken and divided into groups A, B and C, each comprising of 30 animals. The animals of group B and C were given 0.5 ml/kg and 2.5 ml/kg of C. deodara oil respectively while group A served as control and administered vehicle only. The treatment was given to the animals ones only for 24 hours. All animals were sacrificed and the organs like esophagus, stomach and ileum were taken out. Tissue processing and staining procedure was then carried out for any pathological changes in the animal tissues during microscopic examination. The results indicated that Cedurs deodara root oil at both doses 0.5ml/ kg and 2.5 ml/kg exhibited some adverse effects such as erosion of epithelium, edema on sub-mucosal and mucosal layers, congestion of blood vessels as well as presence of inflammatory cells on esophagus, stomach and ileum were seen. Moreover shortening of villi was also seen at both doses. A study conducted on mammalian toxicity previously on rats revealed that the C. deodara root oil used is not very toxic and comes under least toxic group as standardized by toxicologists. Based on the results obtained it was concluded that C. deodara root oil produced some adverse changes in the tissues of GIT when given at 0.5 ml/kg and 2.5 ml/kg doses but the effects were not lethal therapeutically at this dose LC50 16.5 ml/kg. The plant oil showed some toxicity and needs further detailed studies to assess its potential toxicity and therapeutic status before using this material as drug.