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Asian Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2011 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 7 | Page No.: 540-547
DOI: 10.17311/ajbs.2011.540.547
Comparative Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Gongronema latifolium on Serum Kidney and Liver Biomarkers of Normal Male Rats
C.O. Nwangwu Spencer, J. Josiah Sunday , E. Abubakar Teslimat, O. Ajeigbe Kazeem, O. Osakwe Eguagie and A. Akintola Akinola

Abstract: In the south eastern part of Nigeria the use of Gongronema latifolium leaves as part of food and herbal medicine has been on the increase. This study was undertaken to compare the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae) leaves on some kidney and liver biomarkers of normal male rats. The animals were distributed into two sets of two groups. Each set had its control administered normal saline while the other groups in the two sets were administered 200 mg kg-1 of ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts. The extracts were administered in normal saline for three weeks. The serum Total Protein (TP), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Albumin (ALB) and Bilirubin levels were evaluated after every seven days. Kidney biomarkers were also evaluated in the same vein by determining the level of serum urea, creatinine, sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl¯) in serum. The aqueous extract showed little or no effect on the liver and kidney biomarkers. The hepatotoxic nature of the ethanolic extract was shown by the significant increases in levels of ALT, AST, Bilirubin and ALP which was buttressed by the significant reduction in TP and ALB. The Urea and Creatinine levels increased significantly with prolonged administration. This pattern was also observed with Cl¯ and Na+ which increased from the 14th day suggestive of kidney impairment. In view of these results, it was suggestive that the ethanolic extract from Gongronema latifolium leaves had hepatotxic and nephrotoxic potentials.

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How to cite this article
C.O. Nwangwu Spencer, J. Josiah Sunday , E. Abubakar Teslimat, O. Ajeigbe Kazeem, O. Osakwe Eguagie and A. Akintola Akinola, 2011. Comparative Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Gongronema latifolium on Serum Kidney and Liver Biomarkers of Normal Male Rats. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 540-547.

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