Effect of High Salt Diet and Habiscus sabdariffa (Zobo) on the Histology of the Aorta in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Effect of salt diet and hibiscus sabdoriffa (zobo) on the histology of the aorta of Wistar rats was investigated. A total of 20 adult Wistar rats weighing 162-220 g were randomly assigned into four groups (l-IV) of five animals each. Group I served as the control , group II received 8g of salt, group III received 8gm of salt with 600ml of zobo while group IV received 600ml of zobo . The salt was administered in 100g of feed for eight weeks, at the end of which blood was obtained for haematological analysis and sacrificed to obtain the aorta for histological analysis. The results obtained in this study showed a significant decrease in the body weight of rats taking high salt and zobo and an increase in body weight in rats taking normal diet and zobo compared to the control. The histological architecture of the aorta in the group taking salt and water shows a large thick wall and a moderate thickening in group taking salt and zobo. There is an increase level of AST in rats that received salt compared with Group I, III, IV and shows no significant changes in PCV and HB between the groups (l-IV). This study showed that high salt diet increased the blood pressure and volume in form of increase amount of water intake. It also caused thickening of the wall of the aorta.