Oviosun Augustine¹*, Anyanwu Godson Emeka², Oviosun Ezinne Chidinma³, Uchewa Onwe Obinna⁴, Obikili Emmanuel² and Mayaki Esther Oluwatoyin¹

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria
²Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
³Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Oviosun Augustine, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria.

Received: May 26, 2023; Published: June 27, 2022

Abstract

Background: Drug induced nephrotoxicity is a major public health challenge that is increasing across the globe. Ficus exasperata commonly known as sand paper leaf is used in traditional medicine for treatment of many diseases; hence this study is designed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata on Gentamicin mediated nephrotoxicity.

Materials and method: Thirty (30) adult male wistar rats, weighing 160g-200g were used for this study. The rats were divided into six (6) groups of five (5) rats each (n = 5). The rats in group (A) served as control groups and received normal saline for 14 days. Rats in Group B were administered intraperitoneally with 100mg/kg of Gentamicin for fourteen (14) days. Group C and D were administered daily with aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively) for fourteen (14) days. Group E and F were treated with extract orally for 7 days and administered with Gentamicin and extract for next seven (7) days. On day 15th, the rats were weighed and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The kidney was harvested for histological investigation. Blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis to ascertain serum creatinine, urea level and serum protein level. Data generated from this study were analyzed using SPSS, P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: There was significantly high level of serum creatinine and blood nitrogen urea level in group B when compared to the normal control group, this indicates a great level of kidney damage as a result of gentamicin. There was significant reduction in creatinine, urea and protein level in all the groups treated with the ficus exasperata when compared to gentamicin only treated group. Histological sections of the kidney revealed tubular necrosis in the gentamicin only treated group. However, in all the groups treated with ficus exasperata extract the microanatomy of the kidney showed a normal kidney histology with no sign of tubular necrosis or inflammation of the glomeruli.

Conclusion: This study indicates that aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata leaf extract protects the kidney against Gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. The protective potentials of ficus exasperata extract may be attributed to high concentration of alkaloids and flavonoids

Keywords: Ficus exasperata; Gentamicin; Nephrotoxicity; Serum Creatinine; Blood Nitrogen Urea Level

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Citation

Citation: Oviosun Augustine., et al. “Nephroprotective Properties of Aqueous Extract of Ficus exasperata on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity".Acta Scientific Anatomy 2.4 (2023): 12-18.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2023 Oviosun Augustine., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.