Traditionally, the use of Xylopia aethiopica fruit for therapeutic purposes is on the increase without any consideration of its safety and toxicity. This study was therefore aimed at investigating its effect on the histopathology of selected organs from Wistar rats. The fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were air-dried and extracted by Soxhlet extractor using ethanol as a solvent. Thirty wistar rats of both sexes were divided into five groups of six rats each. Animals in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were treated with 130, 259, 389 and 518 mg/kg body weight of X. aethiopica fruit extract respectively, while those in group 5 received normal animal feeds and water only. The administration was done once daily for 28 days via oral route. At the end of the treatment, animals were sacrificed under ether anaesthesia in a desiccator after an overnight fast. Organs (liver, kidney, stomach, heart, testis, uterus, and ovary) were harvested and preserved using 10% formal saline solution for further analysis. Histological examination was later performed on them. The extract was observed to induce damage on the selected organs especially at high doses thereby authenticating its perceived toxicity.
 

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