Effects of n-butanol fraction of Gongronema latifolium leave extract on some kidney function and histological parameters in CCl4-induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats.

Okpala J.C.,Ifedilichukwu H.N.

doi:10.24297/jbt.v2i2.1713

Abstract

Effects of n-butanol fraction of Gongronema latifolium leave extract on some kidney function and histological parameters in (CCl4) carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats were assessed. Fifty-four (54) Wistar albino rats were divided into treatment and LD50 groups. The treatment group was further divided into seven groups of 6 animals each by the randomized random design method, each were allowed food and water ad libidium. Group A (normal control) was given feed and water, Group B (vehicle control) was injected with olive oil intraperitoneally, while the rest groups (C, D, E, F and G) were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CCl4 (148 mg/kg) at 1:1 (v/v) solution in olive oil and all the animals were fasted for 36 hours. This was repeated once every week for a period of four (4) weeks. At the end of 28 days of treatment, there was significant (p<0.05) reduction in weight change of CCl4-induced control rats when compared with the normal control and induced treated groups. Kidney function studies showed that there was significant (p<0.05) increase in creatinine and urea levels of CCl4-induced control group when compared with the normal control and induced treated groups but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the normal control and induced treated groups. Also, the kidney homogenate revealed significant (p<0.05) decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in CCl4-induced control rats when compared with the normal control rats but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the normal control and induced treated groups. However, malondialdehyde concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in CCl4-induced control rats when compared with the normal control and induced treated rats. These findings suggested that n-butanol fraction of methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium may have anti-nephrotoxic and antioxidative effects against CCl4-induced kidney damage in rats.

Highlights

Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae), is a perennial climber forest leafy vegetable with woody hollow glaborous stems below and characterized by greenish yellow flowers (Okafor, 1989)
Studies were carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents of G. latifolium and to evaluate the anti-nephrotoxic activities of n-butanol fraction of methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium against oxidative damage induced by CCl4 in Wistar albino rats
The result showed that the packed cell volume (PCV) level of induced control group was significantly (P0.05) difference between the PCV level of the normal control animals and all the induced treated animals

Summary

Introduction

Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae), is a perennial climber forest leafy vegetable with woody hollow glaborous stems below and characterized by greenish yellow flowers (Okafor, 1989) It is widespread in tropical Africa such as Senegal, Chad and DR Congo as well as grows in the forest of south eastern and western Nigeria where it is widely used for medicinal and nutritional purposes (Ugochukwu et al, 2003). Many other plants have been reported to possess anti-hepatotoxic properties, the scientific authentication of most of them such as G. latifolium which is used traditionally to treat several diseases is unavailable (Ajibola and Satake, 1992).The qualitative phytochemicals screening of the methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium revealed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, saponin, flavonoids, tannins, and the absence of free anthraquinone. Studies were carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents of G. latifolium and to evaluate the anti-nephrotoxic activities of n-butanol fraction of methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium against oxidative damage induced by CCl4 in Wistar albino rats

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