Histological comparison of natural lung injury in Rattus norvegicus induced by a natural herb (Nerium oleander) and a known carcinogen (thioacetamide)

Plant extracts have extensively been studied to look for the treatment of various diseases but their poisoning effects have also been reported. The current study was undertaken with the objective of comparing acute toxic effect of Thioacetamide (TAA), a proven toxicant and Nerium oleander (N. oleander), a herb reported to have multiple therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidative effects using histological parameters. Animals in group A were treated with 10 ml/kg of aqueous decoction of leaves of the plant while 300mg/kg of TAA was administered in group B and control (Con.) did not receive any treatment (n=3). Histological alterations in the lungs were then studied after 6 hours of respective treatment. There was an onset of more or less similar destruction of the tissue in both the experimental groups. Disruption of bronchus mucosal folds and alveolar cells along with significant nodule like accumulation of macrophages and mononuclear cells around arteriole were noticed. These results indicated that use of ethno-medicines, like N. oleander caused similar histological alterations in lungs as that of known carcinogen TAA. Thus, application of N. oleander may pose a serious risk for health.