Asian Journal of Advances in Medical Science

The intestine is essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and immune homeostasis, and its histological integrity is important for normal gastrointestinal function. This study investigated the effect of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) extract on the intestinal histology of adult albino rats. Twenty adult albino rats weighing 100–130 g were acclimatised for two weeks and allocated into four groups. Group A served as the control and received normal feed and water, whereas Groups B, C and D received low (0.5 ml), medium (1.5 ml) and high (3 ml) doses of tiger nut extract, respectively, by oral gavage for two weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia. Intestinal tissues were harvested, fixed in 10% formol saline and processed for routine histological examination using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Microscopic evaluation showed normal intestinal architecture in Groups A, B and C, with preserved mucosal organisation, well-defined villi and intact muscularis externa. In contrast, Group D showed mild histopathological alterations, including thinning of the muscularis layer and mild inflammatory cell infiltration. These findings indicate a dose-dependent response of intestinal tissue to tiger nut extract. Low and medium doses did not compromise intestinal architecture, whereas the high dose was associated with mild structural and inflammatory changes. Regulated intake and further evaluation of longer exposure periods are recommended.