Abstract

EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF ANTHOCLEISTA GRANDIFLORA ON SERUM TOTAL PROTEIN AND KIDNEY HISTOLOGY OF ALBINO RATS.

Onwusonye J.C.*, Obijuru N.T., Kalu M.U., Nleonu E.C. and Odu D.A.

Abstract

Anthocleista grandiflora is commonly used traditionally as herbal medicine and has been documented to have a broad range of therapeutic effects. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on Serum Total Protein and Kidney Histology of Albino rats. A total of twenty (20) albino rats of both sexes were used for this study. The animals were divided into five (5) groups; A - E, with each group containing four (4) rats. Animals in group A were administered with distilled water and they served as control. Animals in group B – E were administered with different doses of the extract of Anthocleista grandiflora at dosage levels of 150mg/kg b.w., 300 mg/kg b.w, 450 mg/kg b.w and 600mg/kg b.w respectively. After twenty-one (21) consecutive days of treatment, all the rats were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected in sample bottles for the evaluation of serum total protein levels while the kidney samples were carefully excised and fixed in 4% formaldehyde for histological investigation. Biochemical results showed that at all the extract dose levels studied, the difference in serum total protein levels were not significant ( P>0.05) when compared with the control. From histological examinations, animals in group A were observed to have normal kidney cytoarchitectural features while those in groups B-E all showed moderate inflammatory response. It was therefore concluded that the aqueous leaf extracts of Anthocleista grandiflora is safe for medicinal application especially at moderate dose levels. The continued use of the extract is therefore not discouraged.

Keywords: Anthocleista grandiflora, total protein, kidney histology.