Abstract

The protective effects of ethanol leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan in alcohol induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats were investigated. Thirty six albino rats were assigned into six (6) experimental groups (A,B,C,D,E,F) with six rats in each group. Group A (Normal control) was administered normal saline only. Group B (standard control) was administered 5mg/kg body weight of standard drug (Silymarin); group C (positive control) was administered 3.7g/kg body weight of 99.7% ethanol while rats in groups D,E and F (test groups) were administered graded doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg body weights of ethanol leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan respectively. Rats in standard control and test groups were administered 3.7g/kg body weight of 99.7% ethanol, once a day, 3 hours after administration of standard drug and ethanol leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan respectively. The administration lasted for 14 days through oral intubation. The result of our investigation showed that creatinine, uric acid and urea were significantly (P<0.05) increased in positive control group compared to the levels observed in the normal and standard control groups. However, groups administered ethanol leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan at the doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg body weight all showed a significant (P<0.05) reversal in the trends of these parameters to concentrations comparable to those observed in the positive and normal control groups. The findings of this study suggest that ethanol leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan may have potentials that could be exploited for development of chemotherapies against renal toxicity.

Keywords: Cajanus Cajan; Alcohol; Nephrotoxicity; Kidneys; Albino rats; Creatinine; Uric acid; Urea