title: Screening of "Kargasok tea". IV: Studies of pathological effects in BALB/C mice and Wistar rats.
abstract: Forty-eight BALB/C mice (30 males, 18 females) and 18 male Wistar rats were given Kargasok tea in their drinking water. Zero, 15, 25, 50, 75 or 100% concentrations were administered to mice for 2 or 8 w while the rats were given 0, 15 or 50% concentrations of the beverage for 12 w. Neither the mice nor rat's organ/body weight ratios were significantly affected by treatment. Rats receiving 15 or 50% concentrations of the tea had nephropathy and non-suppurative necrosis of the duodenum, pancreas and intestine. No significant microscopic lesions were found in any treated mice even when given 100% concentration of the tea. These findings suggest species variation in susceptibility to toxicity from the tea. The tea may be a cause of renal failure, diabetes mellitus and malabsorption syndrome and may not be safe for human or animal consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kwanashie
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Olurinola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013045:Species Specificity; D013662:Tea / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013662:Tea