ABSTRACT

The dry leaf of Aichornea cordifolia (AC) is used, in traditional medicine in the S Nigeria, for the preparation of blood tonic, remedies for urinary, respiratory, liver and gas intestinal disorders. This study investigated the protective property of AC leaf against kidney damage in animals with a view to exploring its use for the treatment of nephrototoxicity in humans. Methanol/methylen extract of Aichornea corcfifolia was used to study the nephroprotective activity in CC14-induced. Animals in Group 1 served as normal control, Group 2 served as vehicle control, Groups 3 served as negative control that was administered CCl4 only+olive oil, group 4 was administered Cd4 only+olive oil + 100 mg kgG' b.wt. of Aichornea cordfolia, group 5 was administered CC14 only+olive oil + 200 mg kgG1b.wt. of Aichornea cordfolia and group 6 was administered CCL only+olive oil + 400 mg kgG' b.wt. of Aichornea cordifolia, served as test groups. The results of phytochemical and proximate indicates richness in saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids with value 5.59±0.22%, while proximate such as Dry matter, Moisture content, Crude protein, Crude fibre, Carbohydrate, Energy Value was quantified. The kidney damage was observed in the animals with significant increase in urea, creatinine, Nat, K, and Cl-following the in traperitoneal administration of Cd4. The methanol/methylene extract caused significant decrease (p<O.05) in the activities of these enzymes and electrolytes in the treated animals relative to positive control that received CC14 but were not treated. The extract showed potentials to mopping-up of free radicals generated by CC14. The extract reduced lipid peroxidation in concentration dependent manner. The findings suggests that the extract have the capacity to improving kidney functions and kidney regeneration at high concentration. The extracts are safe for consumption, abundant proximate, antioxidants could offer reasonable protections against oxidative stress and Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins were detected in the phytochemical screening. Our findings suggest Aichornea cord ?folia Methanol/methylene leaf extract as promising nephroprotective herb and give credence to the folkloric use of this plant for the treatment of kidney problems.