EVALUATION OF NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF VITEX SIMPLICIFOLIA EXTRACT ON CADMIUM CHLORIDE-INDUCED KIDNEY DAMAGE IN ALBINO RATS

Nephrotoxicity has been documented by several studies as the most common and clinically serious adverse effect of cadmium chloride exposure. This study was undertaken to evaluate the nephroprotective effects of Vitex simplicifolia extract on cadmium chloride induced kidney damage in albino rats. A total of 25 male Wister albino rats were used for the study, with group 1 taken as the baseline (no intoxication and treatment), groups 2-5 were intoxicated with 5 mg/kg b.w of CdCl2 via oral route. Thereafter, the rats were treated as follows, .group 2 was given only the vehicle, group 3 was treated with 200 mg/kg b.w of extract, group 4 was given 400 mg/kg b.w of extract while group 5 was administered a standard drug, ascorbic acid (20 mg/kg b.w.). The treatment and intoxication were done simultaneously for 21 days, after which the rats were fasted overnight before collecting blood samples used for determination of kidney markers. The result of urea concentration of the group 2 (untreated) was a significant (p < 0.05) higher when compared to group 1 (baseline). Interestingly, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease on urea concentration was recorded in groups 3 and 4 treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w of the extract, respectively. Similar observation was made in groups 5 administered ascorbic acid as against group 2 (5 mg/kg b.w of CdCl2 only) Also, intoxication of CdCl2 provoked a significant (p < 0.05) increase on creatinine concentration in group 2 when compared to group 1. This abnormality was restored by treatment with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of the extract and ascorbic acid However, there was a significant (p > 0.05) increase in pH and the concentrations of potassium, total biocarbonate, chlorine and albumin globulin ratio in the treated groups when compared to the untreated group. The marked increase in the concentration of sodium ion in group 2, was also restored in the extract treated groups, with groups 3 and 4 having sodium ion concentration of 5.64 ±0.65 and 5.90 ± 0.37 respectively against 5.90 ±0.37 recorded in the untreated group. The results of this study suggest that Vitex Simplicifolia can be used to serve as a nephroprotective plant.