Pathological effects of Helleborus Orientalis used in Turkish traditional medicine, in rats

elleborus orientalis Lam., a member of the family Ranunculaceae, is one of the medical plants, which is naturally grown in Turkey flora. Roots of Helleborus orientalis are used for the treatment of farm animals by implanting subcutaneously in the public. This study was planned to investigate the histopathological changes in liver, heart and skin of rats that were applied plant raw material (PRM), water extract (WE) and methanol extracts (ME) of Helleborus orientalis subcutaneously. Foci of abscess were determined in the subcutaneous tissue of all 3 experimental groups at the end of 10-day experimental period. During the histopathological examination of the liver, parenchymatous degenerations were observed in the hepatocytes of PRM and WE group rats, and caseous necrosis were determined in the liver of all rats in ME group. Hyaline degenerations were observed in myocard cells of the rats in PRM and WE groups. Furthermore hyaline degenerations and edema occurred locally in the myocard of all animals in ME group. Vacuolar zones were found in certain myocard cells. The results of the present study indicate that long-term use of Helleborus orientalis might be harmful due to its pathological effects on some tissue.

Pathological effects of Helleborus Orientalis used in Turkish traditional medicine, in rats

Helleborus orientalis Lam., a member of the family Ranunculaceae, is one of the medical plants, which is naturally grown in Turkey flora. Roots of Helleborus orientalis are used for the treatment of farm animals by implanting subcutaneously in the public. This study was planned to investigate the histopathological changes in liver, heart and skin of rats that were applied plant raw material (PRM), water extract (WE) and methanol extracts (ME) of Helleborus orientalis subcutaneously. Foci of abscess were determined in the subcutaneous tissue of all 3 experimental groups at the end of 10-day experimental period. During the histopathological examination of the liver, parenchymatous degenerations were observed in the hepatocytes of PRM and WE group rats, and caseous necrosis were determined in the liver of all rats in ME group. Hyaline degenerations were observed in myocard cells of the rats in PRM and WE groups. Furthermore hyaline degenerations and edema occurred locally in the myocard of all animals in ME group. Vacuolar zones were found in certain myocard cells. The results of the present study indicate that long-term use of Helleborus orientalis might be harmful due to its pathological effects on some tissue.

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