Toxicological Effects of Ricinus communis Seed Oil on Hepatic and Ovarian Architecture of Female Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Broodstock

Abstract

This study focuses to evaluate the toxicological effects of phytochemical constituents of seed oil extract
of Ricinus communis on Nile tilapia. Phytochemical constituents of oil extracted from the seed of
mature Ricinus communis plants were screened. Sexually mature female Nile tilapia were oral gavage
the seed oil at sub-lethal doses of 1,000mg/kg, 1250mg/kg and 1,500mg/kg body weight and observed
for 72 hours post-treatment. Each treatment group was replicated three times. Histological microtome
sectioning and staining was carried out to aid microscopic examination of hepatic and ovarian tissues.
Increase in the number of rodlet cells and distortion of the vein walls in the fish hepatic tissues were
observed with increase in the sublethal concentrations of the seed oil extract, while mild to severe
necrosis and granulation of the interstitial tissues were observed in the ovarian tissues as the
concentration of the seed oil extract increased from 1000 to 1,500mg/kg. Changes in the liver’s
histology revealed mild sub-lethal toxicity effect of R. communis seed oil at moderate level of
inclusions. Severe alterations in the ovarian architecture probably denote the antifertility potency of R.
communis seed oil linked to the presence of steroids