Evaluating the Nephroprotective and Hepato-protective Effects of Hypoestes rosea in Acetaminophen-Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

Abstract

The leaves of Hypoestes rosea are in use as traditional medicine in the Niger Delta areas in Nigeria and the Western part of Cameroun for the management of different ailments in children, such as anaemia, malaria, fever and other ailments. Regardless of its uses, scanty studies evaluating its organ protective effects exist. Therefore, this research study evaluates the nephroprotective and hepato-protective effects of Hypoestes rosea in acetaminophen-induced toxicity in Albino rats. The objectives of this research study are to evaluate the protective effect of Hypoestes rosea on the kidney and the liver of albino rats. Acetaminophen, which is frequently used as an analgesic and antipyretic drug at high doses, can be harmful to vital organs of the body, affecting the liver and kidneys. In this study, effects of an aqueous extract of Hypoestes rosea (AEHr) on liver function parameters and kidney function parameters of acetaminophen induced-toxicity in albino rats were evaluated using acute (15 days) and sub-chronic (30 days) duration of study and study group comprising of prophylactic (pre-treatment) and therapeutic (post-treatment) phases with six experimental groups in each phase. A total of 112 adult apparently healthy Albino rats weighing (180-220g) were used for this study, divided into six experimental groups of extract control (EC), negative control (NC), positive control (PC), AEHr100mg/kg b w., AEHr 200mg/kg b w., and AEHr 300mg/kg b w. groups each of six rats. At the end of the research study period, blood samples were collected through jugular puncture for liver and kidney function parameters. Results showed that acetaminophen-induced toxicity in albino rats caused toxicity to the kidney and toxicity to the liver, as evidenced by the raised levels of potassium, urea, creatinine and low bicarbonate from the renal function parameters and also as evidenced by significant elevation of bilirubin and liver enzymes with a significantly low total protein and albumin levels from the liver function parameters when compared with other experimental groups. Conversely, AEHr at different concentrations in a dose-dependent pattern at the different treatment phases and different duration periods were able to repair the injury to the kidney and liver caused by acetaminophen induction to normal. Consequently, the findings of this research propose that Hypoestes rosea contains active ingredients accountable for the nephroprotective and hepato-protective abilities in rats and can be recommended for more studies using higher mammals.