Effect of Vitellaria paradoxa Stem Bark Ingestion on Kidney Functions in Wistar Rats

摘要

Background: Vitellaria paradoxa is used in the treatment of different diseases in several parts of Nigeria without regard for its safety. Aim: This study was aimed at investigating the effect of ingestion of Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark extract on the kidney functions in Wistar rats. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: The oral acute toxicity (LD₅₀) of the extract was determined in 30 Wistar rats divided into six of five per group. Group 1 was the control and received distilled water. Different doses of 5, 50, 300, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg were administered once to the study groups (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) respectively. A sub-chronic toxicity study was carried out in 30 Wistar rats, divided into six of 5 rats per group. Group 1 served as control and was given distilled water and standard rat pellets. The remaining 5 groups were administered different doses of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively daily for 30 days. Urea (Ur), Creatinine (Cr), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl?), and Bicarbonate (HCO-₃) were assayed using standard techniques. Body weights of the rats were taken twice weekly. Results: No mortality or signs of toxicity were recorded in the rats after 24 hours and up to 14 days post-oral treatment, an indication that LD50 of the extract is greater than 5000 mg/kg. In sub-chronic toxicity study, the results did not show treatment-related abnormalities in all the parameters. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the values of the control and test groups with the exception of urea which was significantly lower (p0.05) between the control and the test groups. Histology results revealed normocytic normochromic cells. Conclusion: From our findings, ingestion of Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark extract produced no harmful effect on kidney function in Wistar rats.