Histomorphological Effect of Methanolic Extract of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Fruit on Led Light Induced Retinal Damage in Young Wistar Rats

Changes in modern life style have been implicated to cause retinal damage due to prolonged artificial light exposure. The study investigated the effects of the methanolic extract of Adansonia digitata on the histomorphology of the retina in Light Emitting Diode (LED) light induced retinal damage in 16 young wistar rat. The Wistar rats were randomly grouped into 4 groups of 4 animals each. Group A; normal control group, 1ml of normal saline was administered. Group B; negative control, were exposed to LED light. Group C; prevention group, 1300mg/kg of Adansonia digitata methanolic extract was administered via 1ml of normal saline for 1 week, followed by exposure to LED light of the intensity (2740 ± 140) lux for 8hr. Group D; therapeutic group, were exposed to LED light of the intensity (2740 ± 140) lux for 8hr, and then followed by the administration of 1300 mg/kg of ADME via 1ml of normal saline for 1 week. All animals were sacrificed on day 15. Part of the results showed that the histology of the retinas in the animals in group B were shrink as seen in the outer nuclear layer, retinal pigmented epithelium and the rod and cone layer. The rats in group C and D showed that ADME preserved partly the outer nuclear layer and rod and cone layer. The study concluded that Adansonia digitata methanolic extract possess antioxidant and healing effects capable of protecting and treating partly the retina from LED light induced retinal light damage.

Key Words: histomorphology of the retina, retinal damage, LED Light, Adansonia digitata extract, antioxidant, oxidation.