Nephroprotective effects of the aqueous root extract of Harungana madagascariensis (L.) In acute and repeated dose acetaminophen renal injured rats

Abstract

Summary: In African traditional medicine, decoctions from different parts of Harungana madagascariensis (L.) are highly valued in the treatment of various human diseases including drug related renal disease. In the current study, effects of pretreatments with single daily oral 100 – 500 mg/kg/day of the root aqueous extract of Harungana madagascariensis were investigated in acute and repeated dose acetaminophen nephrotoxic rats for 24 hours and 14 days, respectively, using renal function parameters – serum urea (UR), uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CR). Effects of the extract pretreatments on the hematological and renal histological profile in acetaminophen nephrotoxic rats were also evaluated. Results showed that treatment with intraperitoneal acetaminophen for 24 hours and 14 days induced significant (p 0.05) increase in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), in the repeated acetaminophen model. Thus, the overall results showed that Harungana extract protects against acetaminophen nephrotoxicity. Industrial relevance: The industrial relevance of the study cannot be overemphasized since minor and major toxicities induced by acute and chronic drug treatment could be very important for human health. Also, the discovery and ultimate development of suspected lead compounds could constitute a major scientific breakthrough in the understanding of the exact etiopathogenesis and therapeutics of acetaminophen nephropathies.