Renoprotective Effects of Orally Administered Aqueous Extract of Tridax Procumbens on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

The renoprotective effects of orally administered aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens was investigated in Wistar rats of mixed sexes, aged between 2 to 4 months. The animals were divided into five groups of four animals each according to body weights. Group I received, water only (baseline control), groups II to V received subcutaneous gentamicin (80mg/kg body weight) for eight days and on days 4-8 groups III, IV, and V received vitamin C (500mg/kg body wt.), 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg body wt of T. procumbens extract respectively, 30 minutes prior to the subcutaneous injection of gentamicin (80mg/kg body wt.). On Day 9 of the study, blood samples were collected from all the animals and serum urea and creatinine levels estimated; the animals were then sacrificed and the kidneys harvested and processed for histological examination. Results of the biochemical analysis revealed that aqueous extract of T. procumbens at a dose of 400mg/kg body wt. caused a significant reduction in serum urea and creatinine levels (p< 0.05) when compared with the negative control group. Histological examination also revealed that the extract was able to protect the kidneys of the rats against kidney injury induced by gentamicin. The aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens shows promise as an adjuvant therapy alongside with aminoglycosides as it is able to protect the kidney against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity.