ArticleJournal of molecular histology2026
A histomorphological analysis of the effects of Ghanaian alcoholic bitters and natural cocoa powder on the liver and kidney tissues in Sprague Dawley rats.
Article in Journal of molecular histology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundGhanaian alcoholic bitters are widely consumed for their perceived health benefits. However, the liver and kidneys are susceptible to damage as a result of alcohol intake. There is however, limited research on the effects of Ghanaian herbal alcoholic bitters on the liver and kidney, and whether cocoa supplementation offers any protection.
aimTo assess the effects of Ghanaian alcoholic bitters on the liver and kidneys of rats and to determine the protective role of natural cocoa powder. MATERIALS AND
methodsTwenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, Alcoholic Bitters, Natural Cocoa Powder, and Alcoholic Bitters + Natural Cocoa Powder. The intervention lasted 63 days, after which liver and kidney tissues were harvested and processed for histological analysis. Slides were examined using light microscopy, and histopathological changes were scored using a modified staging and grading system.
resultsThe Natural Cocoa Powder showed the most severe hepatic steatosis while the Alcoholic Bitters exhibited marked hepatocyte ballooning, confluent necrosis, Mallory-Denk bodies, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Co-administration of cocoa powder with bitters mitigates the liver changes to some extent. In kidney tissues, moderate interstitial and glomerular hemorrhages were observed, suggesting acute kidney injury.
conclusionNatural cocoa powder demonstrated a partial protective effect against alcoholic bitters-induced liver injury. Prolonged exposure to alcoholic bitters, with or without cocoa, led to adverse kidney changes, and cocoa co-administration did not significantly mitigate these effects. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms behind cocoa-induced liver and kidney alterations and to validate these findings.
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