RENAL STATUS OF FEMALE AND MALE WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO HIPPOCRATEA AFRICANA ROOT BARK EXTRACT

Jessie Idongesit Ndem*, Emmanuel Uka Anthony Fidelis Uwah and Aniekan Imo Peter

ABSTRACT

The electrolyte concentrations of female and male Wistar rats exposed to Hippocratea africana root bark extract used traditionally for the treatment of malaria was studied to assess the integrity of the kidney. Forty-eight albino Wistar rats weighing between 163-227grams consisting 24 females and 24 males were randomly distributed into 4 groups of six animals each on sex basis. Group I served as normal control and were given 1ml of distilled water. Groups II, III and IV were administered 100, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight respectively of the extract by oral intubation for 14 days. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), chloride (Cl-), inorganic phosphorus and bicarbonate (HC032-) concentrations were assayed using standard procedures. Histopathology examinations of the kidney organs were also carried out using standard methods. The female 100 and 200mg/kg extract treatment groups recorded increase in Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- and HC032-. Only inorganic phosphorus ion recorded decrease concentration compared with the control. 300mg/kg body weight treatment group recorded however recorded significant (P<0.05) increase in K+, Ca2+, Cl-, and HC032- compared with the control with exception of Na+ which recorded significant (P<0.05 and P<0.01) decrease. The male test groups showed significant (P<0.05 and P<0.01) decrease in Na+ that increased with increasing concentration. There were non dose dependent significant (P<0.05 and P<0.01) increase in Ca2+, Cl-, inorganic phosphorus and HC03- compared with control. K+ showed significant (P<0.05 and P< 0.01) increase for 200 and 300mg/kg treatment groups while 100 treatment groups recorded non significant (P>0.05) decrease. Histopathological examination of the kidney of all the test groups was normal as there were no evidence of extract induced pathology seen in the tissues. The results show that the homeostasis system was slightly distorted. The effect was more pronounced in the males. Despite its promising antiplasmodial property, its chronic usage is not advised.

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