Haemato-biochemical effects of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis stem bark on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

Abstract

The haemato-biochemical effects of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis were tested against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each. All rats were treated orally for 8 days. Rats in group 1 served as control group and received distilled water at 2 mL kg-1/day, group 2 received distilled water at 2 mL kg-1 and received gentamicin 100 mg kg-1 intramuscularly for the last 5 days, groups 3 and 4 received the aqueous extract of K. senegalensis stem bark orally at 500 and 250 mg kg-1, respectively and on the last 5 days they received gentamicin at 100 mg kg-1 intramuscularly. Groups 5 and 6 received the aqueous extract of K. senegalensis alone at 500 and 250 mg kg-1, respectively. Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, Haemoglobin (Hb), Haematocrit (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) were determined. Measurement of urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin were investigated. The kidney tissues were microscopically examined. Intramuscular administration of gentamicin to rats resulted in significant elevation of serum urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin with massive tubular necrosis and degeneration of renal cortical tubules. Oral administration of Khaya senegalensis at 250 and 500 mg kg-1 to rats significantly ameliorated the increase in serum urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin and similarly ameliorate the damage in the kidney tubules. This study suggested nephroprotective effect of Khaya senegalensis aqueous extract which may be due to antioxidant properties of the extract together with the phytochemical constituents of K. senegalensis. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information.