Edible camphor-induced histopathological changes in hippocampus and cerebral cortex following oral administration into rats

Introduction:  Raw edible camphor (EC), and as component of herbal infusions  are widely used to treat pile, back pain, erectile dysfunction, and as  an aphrodisiac especially in preparation  for sexual intercourse by men. It has been traced in umbilical cord, blood,  fetal, adipose,  and other tissues including brain, where it bioaccumulates.  Methods:  The study, therefore, investigated the possible histopathological changes  in brain, heart, and  spleen that may result following EC administration in rats. Thirty animals were used for the study and  were divided into six groups  of five rats each. Group  I animals served as normal control, Group  II animals served as vehicle control and were orally administered 6 mL/kg corn oil daily for 7 days, while Groups  III-VI animals  were orally administered 1, 2,  4, and  6 g/kg  EC for 7 days daily.  Results  and Conclusions:  Following the administrations of various doses  of EC, the histopathological changes  seen in the cerebral  cortex of the brain include mild submeningeal spongiosis, mild diffuse spongiosis of the parenchyma,  a very mild diffuse gliosis, and  presences  of gitter cells, while in hippocampus,  there were mild diffuse  gliosis and disruption of the progression  of the hippocampal  horns, as well as foci of spongiosis around the hippocampal  horns, and  neuronal cells have open  faced  nuclei. No effect was  seen in heart and spleen except 4 g/kg  of EC that revealed  moderate diffuse congestion in spleen only. In conclusion, EC may not have any toxic effects on the cardiac  and  splenic cells, but had  toxic effects on the brain hippocampus  and cerebral  cortex, and  may lead to brain cell damage.