Original Scientific Article
Cardiotoxicity study of the aqueous extract of corn silk in rats
Adeolu Adedapo * ,
Omotayo Babarinsa ,
Ademola Oyagbemi ,
Aduragbenro Adedapo ,
Temidayo Omobowale

Mac Vet Rev 2016; 39 (1): 43 - 49

10.1515/macvetrev-2015-0065

Received: 20 July 2015

Received in revised form: 05 November 2015

Accepted: 10 November 2015

Available Online First: 20 November 2015

Published on: 15 March 2016

Correspondence: Adeolu Adedapo, aa.adedapo@ui.edu.ng
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Abstract

In the ear of corn there are silky strands which run its length and these strands are known as corn silks. Folk remedies show that the corn silks have been used as an oral antidiabetic agent in China for many years and as herbal tea in other world nations for the amelioration of urinary tract infection. The extract is being assessed for safety in this study using histopathological changes, as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG). Graded doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of aqueous CS extract were administered to rats for seven days. The fourth group which served as control received 3 ml/kg dose of distilled water. On the eighth day, ECG was evaluated in ketamine/xylazine-induced anaesthesia in rats to determine changes in the heart rate, P-wave duration, P-R interval, R-amplitude, QRS duration, QT interval and QTc. Hearts from the experimental animals were collected for histopathological changes. The results showed that there was a significant change in the heart rate (groups B and C), P-wave duration (group D), QT interval (groups B, C and D) and QTc (groups B, C and D) when compared to the control group. Histology also indicated that sections of the heart showed fatty infiltration of inflamed heart and areas of moderate inflammation of the atrium and ventricle. It could therefore be concluded from this study that though folklore indicated that corn silk (CS) is of high medicinal value, one must be careful in using this product as medicinal agent especially in patients with compromised heart conditions.

Keywords: corn silks, ECG, histopathology, cardiotoxicity, rats

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Copyright

© 2015 Adedapo A. This is an open-access article publishedunder the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License whichpermits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 39, Issue 1, Pages 43-49, p-ISSN 1409-7621, e-ISSN 1857-7415, DOI: 10.1515/macvetrev-2015-0065, 2016

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.