| Summary: | Objective: The plant Terminalia ivorensis is used in traditional medicine as a diuretic and in the management of renal failure. We reported previously that the ethanol stem bark extract of the plant protects against gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic damage in rats. To further elucidate the mechanism of its renoprotective activity, we studied the effects of the extract on Potassium dichromate–induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The present study assessed the effectiveness of the ethanol stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis - against renal oxidative injury evoked by potassium dichromate. Methods: Adult Sprague Dawley rats pre-treated with (100–1000 mg/kg p.o. bwt) of Terminalia ivorensis extract for 5 days were challenged with a single dose of Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg Sc) in the neck region on the 4th day. On the sixth day, renal function and markers of oxidative injury were assessed. Results: Terminalia ivorensis (300–1000 mg/kg p.o) pre-treatment dose dependently prevented decreases in urine output in rats challenged with a nephrotoxic dose of Potassium Dichromate. The extract also protected the rats against Potassium dichromate-induced rise in serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Furthermore, it dose dependently prevented Potassium dichromate-induced decrease in renal glutathione (GSH) levels whereas tissue oxidative enzymes Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were protected from damage. Markers of lipid peroxidation such as level of renal Malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) also decreased dose dependently when compare with Potassium dichromate treated groups. The extract also protected the histomorphology of the kidney against Potassium dichromate induced damage. Conclusion: The ethanol stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis protects kidney against Potassium dichromate-induced renal damage.
|
|---|
