Renal Protective Properties of Aqueous Extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken Leaf against Petrol Vapour – Induced Toxicity on Male Albino Rats
Friday O. Uhegbu *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
Caleb J. Nwaogwugwu
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
Chibuzo H. Onwuegbuchulam
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
Chinwe Edith Oriaku
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
Okechukwu C. Atasie
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
Kelechi U. Akatobi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, P.M.B. 2000, Uturu, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the renal protective properties of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum from Nigeria against petrol vapour – induced toxicity on the kidney of male albino rats. Fifty apparently healthy male albino rats aged 8 weeks and weighing between 165 g –185 g were randomly divided into five groups of ten animals each. Group 1 served as control and were not treated with the plant extract or exposed to gasoline vapour. Group 2 served as negative control and were exposed to the gasoline vapour but not treated with the plant extract. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with the plant extract at 20 mg/kg body weight, 40 mg/kg body weight, 60 mg/kg body weight respectively and exposed to the gasoline vapour for 5 hrs daily for 21 days. Results show that mean body weight of treated animals increased significantly (p≤ 0.05) compared to negative control. Haematological parameters; PCV, Hb, Total bilirubin, WBC and RBC increased, while renal function biomarkers Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- also increased in the treated animals compared to the negative control respectively. The effect of the plant extract is dose dependent. The results show that the plants extract has renal protective potential on the experimental animals.
Keywords: Toxicity, kidney, body fluids, metabolic waste, homeostatic, medicinal plants