Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Effects of Garcinia kola Heckel Stem Bark Extract and Triterpenoid Fraction Against Sodium Arsenite-Induced Toxicity in Rat Models

Abstract

Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae) has been widely used in ethnomedicine practice as a therapy against numerous disorders. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of orally administered G. kola stem bark ethanolic extract (EEGK) and triterpenoid fraction (TFGK) against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity using rat models for 14 days. Assays for plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, urea, and creatinine, liver, kidney, and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities were carried out using spectrophotometric methods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical method was used to identify the bioactive compounds present in TFGK and EEGK. Hematological parameters were assayed using autoanalyzer. Data showed that TFGK reduced liver function markers viz. ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin, while EEGK reduced kidney function markers viz. plasma creatinine and urea. Furthermore, EEGK elevated plasma, liver and kidney SOD, GPx, and GSH while TFGK modulated hematological markers. Findings from this study showed that TFGK substantially protected against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity while EEGK protected against sodium arsenite-induced nephrotoxicity.