Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment of Kidney Function Indices in Male Albino Wistar Rats Administered Ethanol Stem Extract of Dennettia tripetala (Pepper fruit)

Nwankpa P, Ekweogu CN, Egwurugwu JN, Chukwuemeka OG, Etteh CC, Ugwuezumba PC and Emengagha FC

This study was carried out to assess some kidney function indices in Wistar rats administered ethanol stem extract of Denettia tripetala. The parameters assessed were creatinine, urea, and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate). Thirty-two albino Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of eight rats each were used in this study. Group 1 was the control group, group II received an oral dose of 100 mg/kg, ethanol stem extract of Denettia tripetala daily, group III received an oral dose of 200 mg/kg ethanol stem extract of Dennettia tripetala daily while group IV received an oral dose of 300 mg/kg ethanol stem extract of Dennettia tripetala daily. After 21 days of treatment the rats were sacrificed and standard analytical methods were used to assay the biochemical parameters. The result of creatinine (mol/L) showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in the treatment groups (9.18 ± 1.22, 12.42 ± 0.87, 14.56 ± 1.46) compared to the control (4.21 ± 0.65) while urea (mol/L) showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in group III and IV (2.76 ± 1.12, 1.61 ± 0.92) compared to the control (6.34 ± 0.25). The electrolytes (Na+ and Cl-) showed significant (P<0.05) increase in the treatment groups compared to the control while K+ (mmol/L) was not significant (p>0.05) compared to the control. However, bicarbonate (mmol/L) showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in group II and group III compared to the control. The result of this study has shown that administration of ethanol stem extract of Dennettia tripetala may induce toxicity to the kidney which may hamper renal function.