AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF GARCINIA KOLA AGAINST INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES CAUSED BY SODIUM FLORIDE-INDUCED TOXICITIES IN THE LIVER AND KIDNEY OF MALE WISTAR RATS

Environmental exposure to sodium fluoride (NaF), though beneficial in preventing dental caries at low concentrations, has been linked to severe toxic effects in vital organs, particularly the liver and kidneys, through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. These toxic effects highlight the urgent need for natural therapeutic agents that can mitigate fluoride-induced damage. Garcinia kola (bitter kola), a medicinal plant indigenous to West Africa, contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, biflavonoids (kolaviron), tannins, and alkaloids, which have demonstrated strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical constituents and biochemical effects of Garcinia kola extracts, with emphasis on their ameliorative role against NaF-induced toxicity. Phytochemical analyses confirmed the presence of key secondary metabolites with therapeutic potential, including alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, and saponins, in varying concentrations depending on the extraction solvent. Biochemical assays revealed that NaF exposure significantly disrupted serum protein levels, albumin concentration, nitric oxide production, bilirubin metabolism, and liver enzyme activities, indicating hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Treatment with Garcinia kola extracts markedly alleviated these toxic effects, restoring biochemical parameters closer to normal levels. The findings suggest that Garcinia kola possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties capable of mitigating NaF-induced organ damage. Therefore, Garcinia kola represents a promising, locally available, and affordable therapeutic agent for protecting against fluoride-related pathologies in regions where exposure is inevitable