THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF FICUS EXASPERATA EXTREACT ON GENTAMICIN INDUCED KIDNEY DAMAGE

Oviosun, Augustine, Anyanwu Godson Emeka, Oviosun Ezinne Chidinma*, Obikili Nebeuwa Emmanuel, Ehehba Santos Ehizokhale, Egwuatu Ifeanyi Anthony

ABSTRACT

Background/Introduction: Drug induced kidney toxicity is on the increase globally and account for high mortality rate resulting from kidney failure. This study was designed to ascertain the therapeutic properties of ficus exasperata on gentamicin mediated renal damage of adult male wistar rats. Methods and Materials: Twenty five (25) wistar rats weighing (140-230g) were randomly divided into five groups of five rats each. Group I received distilled water, group II was administered with gentamicin intraperitoneally for 14 days. Rats in group III was administered daily with aqueous extract of ficus exasperata (100 mg/kg) for 14 days. Rats in group V and VI were administered with 50mg/kg of gentamicin for 7 days and aqueous extract of ficus exasperata (100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg respectively) for next 7 days. The animals were weighed and sacrificed a day after the last administration, the kidney was isolated and fixed for histological examination. Blood samples was collected for biochemical analysis of Serum Urea and Creatinine Level. Data obtained from this study were analyzed using SPSS with one way ANOVA and P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: There was significant loss in body weight of wistar rats in group B administered with gentamicin when compared to normal control (group A) and groups administered with the extract. There was significant increase in the serum creatinine and urea levels in group administered with only gentamicin, this was however attenuated by administration of ficus exasperata. The microanatomy of the kidney administered with gentamicin was characterized by mild focal tubulointerstitial lymphocytic inflammation and destruction of renal tubules, the normal control and the group administered with ficus exasperata showed a normal histology of the kidney with normal glomeruli (arrows) surrounded by renal tubules and a well distinct basal membrane. Conclusion: Our findings indicates that Ficus exasperata reduces the amount of gentamicin that builds up in kidney tissue and mitigates the negative impact that gentamicin has on renal tubular function.. This suggest that ficus exasperata contain therapeutic properties against gentamicin induced kidney toxicity, which may be due to it’s anti-oxidative proprieties.

Keywords: Gentamicin, Ficus exasperata, Nephrotoxicity, Serum creatinine and Urea levels.