Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Extract Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of High Salt Load on Some Serum Electrolytes, Organ Weight and Cytoarchitecture

In this study, the effects of Viscum album (mistletoe) extract on some serum electrolytes, organ weight and cytoarchitecture were carried out in high loaded rats. 24 male albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 took normal rat pellets + drinking water. Group 2 took same as group 1 + mistletoe extract (150mg/kg body weight, orally once daily). Group 3 took high salt (8%NaCl) diet + 1% NaCl drinking water. Group 4 took same as group 3 + mistletoe extract (150mg/kg body weight, orally once daily). After 6 weeks of feeding, it was observed that salt fed group (group 3) had a loss in body weight of 1.13% at the end of the experiment, whereas the other groups gained weight. Animals in group 3 also had significantly reduced mean heart weight (0.55 ± 0.03g) and kidney weight (0.45 ± 0.03g) compared with the control (P<0.05) and extract fed groups (P<0.01). Na (144.33 ± 0.42mEq/L), and Cl (105.00 ± 4.40mEq/L) concentrations in salt fed group were significantly (P<0.01) higher than in control and extract fed groups, while K (3.96 ± 0.04mEq/L), HCO3 (24.66 ± 0.21mEq/L) and Ca (3.00 ± 0.02mMol/L) levels in group 3 were lower than in control and extract fed groups. Photomicrograph of the group 3 rats revealed excoriated vascular endothelium and thickening of the tunica media, while the extract fed group had almost similar cytoarchitecture as the control group. Histology of the heart of group 3 showed hypertrophied myofibrils and myoplasm with numerous nuclei. A damage of the nephrons and sparse renal interstitium was also observed in the group 3 animals. In conclusion, high salt load increases serum Na+ and Cl, and decreases K, HCO3, and Ca. It also causes reduction in body, heart and kidney weight with accompanied damage to the tissues of the heart, kidney and blood vessels. These adverse effects of salt load were ameliorated following chronic feeding on mistletoe extract.