Calotropis procera leaf extract ameliorates oxidant induced hepatic and renal damage: potential relevance in the management of liver and kidney diseases Ogunmoyole Temidayo1,*, Folashade Toluwani Ajani2, John Ifeoluwa Ajayi2, Olalekan Elijah Odesanmi3, Jimoh Tajudeen O.4 1Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ekiti State, University, P.M.B., 5363, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 2Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 3Department of Biochemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda *Corresponding author e-mail: temidayo.ogunmoyole@eksu.edu.ng
Online published on 29 June, 2023. Abstract The use of extract from Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) leaves in the management of diseases across tropical and temperate Asia is well known. But there is dearth of empirical information on its medicinal potentials in the management of multiorgan diseases involving the heart, kidney and liver. Hence, this study sought to investigate the underlying health promoting benefits associated with the leaf extract of C. procera in acute CCl4 -induced organs’ damage in rats. Experimental animals were divided into five groups and treated with varied doses of the extract and silymarin as applicable except for groups I and II animals that were given water and CCl4 in that respective order without the extract for fourteen days. Activity of glutathione peroxidase and catalase as well as serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP and total bilirubin were evaluated. Similarly, urea, creatinine and cytokines levels with emphasis on histopathological changes in tissues considered in this study were also determined. Our findings revealed that oral administration of C. procera leaf extract markedly restored the serum ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, urea and creatinine in CCl4-exposed animals. Moreover, C. procera restored glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities with concomitant inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Selected anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as lactate dehydrogenase were upregulated by treatment with C. procera leaf extract. Preliminary screening for phytochemicals showed a cocktail of bioactive principles with established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study revealed the promising prospect of C. procera which could be harnessed for the formulation of phyto-drug for the management of heart, renal and hepatic related diseases. Top Keywords Heart, Carbon tetrachloride, Antioxidant. Top |