ASSESSMENT OF NEPHROTOXIC EFFECTS OF Strophanthus hispidus STEM BARK EXTRACTS (AQUEOUS AND ETHANOL) IN NORMAL RATS

Abstract

The nephrotoxic effects of Strophanthus hispidus stem bark extracts (aqueous and ethanol) in normal rats were assessed. Male rats (wistar strain) numbering 45 were randomly selected into nine groups of five rats each. Four groups were given 100, 200, 500, and 800 mg/kg body weight aqueous extract, while another four groups received similar doses of the ethanolic extract. One group served as untreated normal control. After 28days of daily administration of the extracts and water, the animals were sacrificed. Urea, creatinine and some electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-, & HCO3-) were assessed. Both extracts produced significant increases (P?0.05) in urea concentration at 800 mg/kg when compared with the control group. At the same dose, significant increases (P?0.05) were observed in creatinine concentration for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts treated groups while the ethanolic groups at 500 mg/kg body weight also showed significant increases (P?0.05) in creatinine. Similarly, K+ significantly increased at 800 mg/kg for both extracts while Na+ produced a significant increase at the same dose for the aqueous extract treated groups. However, a significant increase in Na+ was observed in the ethanol treated groups at the doses of 500 and 800 mg/kg. Interestingly, no significant effects (P?0.05) were observed in the levels of Cl-, & HCO3- at all the doses of aqueous extract administration. The ethanol extract treated groups however showed a significant increase (P?0.05) in Cl- content and a significant decrease (P?0.05) in HCO3- content at the highest dose administered when compared with the control. The findings from this study suggest that higher doses of S. hispidus are inimical to kidney function. It also indicates that ethanol extract may be more deleterious to the nephrons than aqueous extract.