Volume 14, Issue 33, January - June, 2020

Ethanol extract of Myristica fragrans (houtt) exhibits hepato-renal protective effects against lead-induced toxicity in Wistar rats

Olubayode Bamidele^♦, Olajide Adebayo, Lawrence Dayo Adedayo, Olugbenga Samuel. Michael, Alaba Olumide Ojo, Dennis Seyi Arokoyo

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, P.M.B. 284, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria. E-mail: femi_bayo_is@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Background: Lead is known to be a toxic substance which affects the liver, kidney and the brain by inducing oxidative stress owing to elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and lipid peroxides. There is an increased interest among scientific investigators to use medicinal plants with antioxidant activity for protection against metal toxicity, especially lead toxicity. Therefore, the effect of ethanol extract of myristica fragrans (EEMF) on lead induced hepato-renal toxicity in rat was studied. Methodology: Thirty Wistar rats weighing 200-270g were distributed randomly into five groups. Group I( healthy control) was given normal saline (10ml/kg) for five weeks. Group II (Lead control) was given Lead acetate at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight for three weeks. Group III (Lead and Myristica fragrans co-treatment) received Lead acetate and Myristica fragrans extract at doses of 50mg/kg body weight and 150mg/kg body weight respectively. Group IV (Myristica fragrans pre-treatment) received Myristica fragrans extract at a dose of 150mg/kg body weight for two weeks followed by Lead acetate at a dose of 50mg/kg body weight for three weeks. Group V (Myristica fragrans post-treatment) was given Lead acetate (50mg/kg) for the first three weeks followed by Myristica fragrans (150mg/kg) for two weeks. Both Lead acetate and Myristica frangrans extract were administered orally. The levels of the liver enzymes in the serum and markers to assay for kidney functions were measured. Results: The results showed that Lead significantly decreased body weight, liver antioxidant glutathione, total protein and increased alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea and creatinine when compared with the healthy control group p ≤ 0.05. EEMF showed significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the levels of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea and creatinine while it significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) levels of glutathione and total protein when compared to the lead control group. There was a significant weight gain in the rats treated with Myristica fragrans (nutmeg). Conclusion: The data suggests that Myristica fragrans has protective effect against lead induced hepatorenal toxicity in Wistar rats.

Keywords: Myristica fragrans, Lead acetate, Hepatotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity, Liver enzymes, Kidney function markers, Wistar rat

Drug Discovery, 2020, 14(33), 170-179

PDF