Effect of aqueous ethanol extract of Dialium guineense leaf on diclofenac-induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal injuries in Wistar rats.

Drug-induced liver and kidney injuries are threats to public health worldwide, but there are claims that medicinal plants may provide remedy. Protective effect of Dialium guineense leaf extract (DGE) against diclofenac (DF)-induced oxidative injuries to the liver and kidney was evaluated in rats. Extract was prepared by maceration of pulverized sample in a mixture of water and ethanol, filtration, and evaporation to dryness. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups with six rats per group. Group I rats received normal saline, group II rats received 10 mg/kg DF by intramuscular route for 7 days while group III rats were treated with 250 mg/kg DGE orally for 28 days and given DF as group II rats. At the end of treatment, blood was collected from each rat and the serum was separated and used for spectrophotometric estimations of biomarkers of hepatorenal injuries. Liver and kidneys were excised from euthanized rats, homogenized in phosphate buffer and the supernatants used for assays of biomarkers of oxidative injuries. There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in levels of ALT, AST, GGT, MDA, creatinine, and urea, and significant (p < 0.01) decrease in SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, and G6Pase of DF-intoxicated rats when compared with normal control. Pretreatment of DF-intoxicated rats with DGE significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the levels of ALT, AST, GGT, MDA, creatinine, and urea, and significantly (p < 0.01) elevated the levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, and G6Pase compared with DF control. These findings showed that DGE may protect against DF-induced oxidative stress and hepatorenal injuries in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]