Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Persea americana Seed on Potassium Aluminium Sulphate Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Aim: This study evaluates the effect of Persea americana on potassium aluminium sulphate induced toxicity in the kidney of female wistar rat.

Methodology: Twenty five (25) female wistar rats weighing between 150-200 g were randomly divided into five (5) groups of five rats each. The groups were designated as groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Group 1 served as the control, group 2 received 2.3 ml of potassium aluminium sulphate only, group 3 received 0.8 ml of P. americana only, Group 4 received 2.3 ml of potassium aluminium sulphate only for 7 days and treated with 0.2 ml of P. americana while group 5 received 2.3 ml of potassium aluminium sulphate only for 7 days and treated with 0.8 ml of P. americana. The administration was given via oral route and lasted for a period of 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed, the kidneys harvested for histological examination and blood sample collected for creatinine and urea analysis. Their morphological differences were observed under a light microscope.

Results: The histological changes revealed coagulated necrosis of glomeruli and renal tubules and fatty changes in group 2. Treatment with P. americana restored the renal architecture to normal. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in mean serum levels of urea in groups 2, 4 and 5 when compared to group 1 and a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the mean serum levels of urea in groups 1, 3 and 4 when compared to group 2. Furthermore, there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean serum levels of creatinine in groups 2, 4 and 5 when compared to group 1 and a significant decreases (P<0.05) in the mean serum levels of creatinine in groups 1 and 3 when compared to group 2.

Conclusion: The results indicated a nephrotoxic effect of postassium aluminum sulphate with P. americana exerting a protective effect against it.