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Kidneys exposure to toxins can cause injuries, leading to their functional impairments. Traditionally, plants have been used for the treatment of renal disorders and numerous medicinal plants have been tested for their nephroprotective effects, in such cases as gentamicin (GM) and cisplatin (Cisp)-induced nephrotoxicity. This study assessed the ability of Acalypha wilkesiana’s extract to counteract its toxic effect based on the biochemical, histological and proinflammatory cytokines components in rats. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups (n=4 each) and administered the following treatments: a) normal control (1 mL/kg body weight normal saline from days 1-10); b) nephrotoxin (GM 120 mg/kg, days 2-7; or Cisp 7 mg/kg on day 3); c) standard drug (120 mg/kg Silymarin plus GM or Cisp, days 1-10); and, d) extract groups (100 or 250 mg/kg, days 1-10 plus GM). Blood samples were collected and subjected to hematological and biochemical evaluations while kidney tissue samples were examined for histopathological alterations, pro- and antioxidants, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: Treatment of the rats pre-exposed to GM or Cisp with the extract decreased the serum creatinine, urea and MDA levels. The GST and GPx levels were also restored in rats. Glomerular atrophy with tubular epithelial necrosis induced by either nephrotoxin was restored to near normal. The expression of COX-2 following the administration of either nephrotoxin was reversed after treatment with the extract. Conclusion: The A. wilkesiana extract exhibited significant nephroprotective property, which could potentially be regarded as a promising alternative to the management of renal diseases.%%%%This article is published in Iranian Journal of Toxicology and also available at : http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijt.14.4.658.1%%%%KNUST

Interest in medicinal plant research and usage has risen due to many reported side effects of synthetic drugs and their relatively higher cost. Ocimum americanum (family Lamiaceae) is a commonly used spice in Ghana with the aqueous extracts of leaves, flowers and stem been rich in saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of the aqueous extracts of O. americanum parts on gentamicin- and cisplatin-induced toxicity in rats. In a ten-day experiment, nephrotoxicity was induced with gentamicin (GM; 100 mg/kg b.wt. for 8 days) and cisplatin (Cisp; 6 mg/kg b.wt. for 1 day) after pre-treatment with 250 mg/kg b.wt. of the leaves, stem, and flower extracts of O. americanum and standard drug, silymarin (100 mg/kg b.wt.) for 10 days. The nephroprotective activity was evaluated by assaying the activity of serum kidney function parameter, kidney oxidative stress parameters, kidney inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB and IL-1) and histopathology. The activities of kidney function parameters of animals were significantly increased following Cisp and GM treatment with resultant alteration is kidney microarchitecture, over-expressions of NF-κB and IL1 and kidney oxidative stress markers. Extract pre-treatment restored kidney function to near-normal, downregulating the expressions of IL-1 and NF-κB and improved levels of reduced GSH contents, GPx and SOD activities. However, leaves extract showed the best protection against GM while all extracts showed improved protection (> 50%) against Cisp. Extract of Ocimum americanum exhibit nephroprotective activity and could be developed as a potent kidney protector.

Liver diseases have continued to be a major health problem in the world’s population with drug-induced liver damage as one of the causes. Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth is an ornamental plant and almost all parts of this plant are of medicinal importance. It exhibits strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and wound healing activities. This study was conducted to assess the hepatoprotective effects of hydroethanolic extract of Tecoma stans (TSE) against acetaminophen- and CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) and acetaminophen (500 mg/kg b.wt) was used to induce hepatotoxicity in the animals. Animals were treated with TSE (dose: 100 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg b.wt) and standard drug, silymarin (100 mg/kg), for 7 days. Biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin (total and indirect), serum proteins (total protein, album and globulin), total cholesterol and triglycerides, creatinine and urea were evaluated. Also, liver histology and oxidative stress assessment were conducted. Significant increases in the major indicators of liver toxicity were observed in the paracetamol and CCl4 only group when compared to the normal. Levels of these biochemical parameters were reduced after the administration TSE (250 mg/kg) and the silymarin (100 mg/kg). The biochemical assessment was supported by histological observations. TSE has shown to possess significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties in the current study.

Introduction: Liver fibrosis is one of the most common clinical manifestations of hepatic diseases. However, though many synthetic drugs exist for the treatment and prevention of liver diseases, liver injuries still persist. The present study, therefore, sought to investigate the subacute protective effects of Acalphya wilkesiana against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity in animals. Methodology: Liver injury was induced in experimental animals by administering CCl4 (1:1 v/v in olive oil, intraperitoneally (i.p.), twice weekly for 8 weeks) after pre-treatment with extract of A. wilkesiana (AWE). AWE (250 mg/kg) and Silymarin (120 mg/kg) were administered orally (daily for 8 weeks). The hepatoprotective effect was studied by assaying the activity of liver enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alpha-fetoprotein. The effect of the treatments on liver prooxidants (e.g. malondialdehyde [MDA]) and antioxidants (e.g. superoxide dismutase [SOD], reduced glutathione [GSH], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and glutathione transferase [GST]), as well as inflammatory cytokines (e.g. interleukin [IL]-17, IL-23, nuclear factor kappa beta [NF-kB], and cycloxygenase-1 [COX-1]) and the histology of the liver were also examined. Results: The activity of liver function biomarkers changed significantly upon CCl4 administration; increases in ALT, total and direct bilirubin, and some fibrosis indices (e.g. alpha-fetoprotein and APRI [p

Tecoma stans (yellow bell) is a popular ornamental plant mostly found in the tropical regions. It is reported to have significant pharmacological activity and has gained attention by natives of various cultures. This study focused on the phytoconstituents screening, antioxidant activity, and heavy metal analysis as well as the acute and subchronic toxicity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract (TSE) using standard methods. The presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, coumarins, and terpenoids in the raw leaf of the plant was observed while the hydroethanolic extract contained coumarins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids. The DPPH percentage scavenging activity of the crude extract was 64.32% while the fractions, ethyl acetate (55.26%), methanol (60.72%), and hydro (36.97%.), gave varying activities. The UV-Vis and FT-IR indicated the presence of alcohols, phenols, alkanes, alkenes, carbonyls (general), aliphatic amines, aromatics, ketones, ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, alkyl halides, saturated aliphatic acids, 1° and 2° amines, amides, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The heavy metal analysis showed a high level of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in the raw leaf. The median acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract was determined to be T. stans could therefore be considered safe in moderate doses.