Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-3, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

The effect of on the Urea and Creatinine levels of male albino wistar rats

Wopara, Iheanyichukwu1, Modo Emmanuel U.1 & Mounmbegna Philippe, E.1 Department of Biochemistry, Madonna University, Nigeria, Elele campus.

Abstract: To further understand the increased frequency in the use of spices such as Xylopia aethiopica as herbal treatment in Africa, this research was carried out to evaluate the possible effect of X. aethiopica on male albino wistar rats. A total of 50 adult rats (125g-150g) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 rats per group using normal saline as control group. Four of the five groups were administered (oral) with hot aqueous mixture of X. aethiopica 15ml/kg, 20ml/kg, 25ml/kg and 30ml/kg body weight respectively. At the end of the experimental period (6 weeks) the blood samples were collected for urea and creatinine tests. The study revealed Figure 1: Xylopia aethiopica plasma level of Creatinine and Urea statistically showed no significant (p>0.05) differences Xylopia aethiopica is an aromatic tree which between control and treatment, but it was observed grows up to 15–30 m high and about 60–70 cm in to generally reduce creatinine and urea levels as diameter [5]. It is native to the lowland rainforest compared against the control. This goes a long and moist fringe forest in the savanna zones of way to confirm that the use of this is useful in Africa, but largely found in West, Central and managing possible kidney problems but as with Southern Africa. These trees are widely distributed every other herb, should be used with caution to in the humid forest zones especially along rivers in prevent excessive lowering of urea and creatinine the drier area of the region [5]. Xylopia is a Greek levels. word (‗xylon pikron‘) for ‗bitter wood‘, while aethiopica refers to its Ethiopian origin (Ethiopia). Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, creatinine, urea, Its common names include; African pepper, kidney, antioxidant Guinea pepper, spice tree, negro pepper, West African pepper and Senegal pepper [6]. An 1. Introduction attractive spicy flavor is obtained after Negro There has been a growing need for alternative pepper is smoked during the drying process. medicine and herbal medicine seems to be taking Xylopia aethiopica leaves are simple and oblong. the center stage [1]. According to [2] he Its flowers are bisexual, solitary or in 3-5 flowered acknowledged that have been used fasicles or in strange, sinuous, branched spikes, or medicinally since time memorial. The World cymes, up to 5.5 by 0.4 cm and creamy-green. Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about Fruits of Xylopia aethiopica look like small, 80% of the world's population relies on these twisted bean-pods which are dark brown, unconventional‖ plant-based medicines as their cylindrical, 2.5 to 5 cm long and 4 to 6 mm thick. primary medical intervention especially in the Each pod houses about 5 to 8 kidney-shaped seeds developing as well as in the developed countries grains of approximately 5 mm length [5]. where modern medicines are largely used [3]. This Scientific evaluation of ethnopharmacological 1.1 Botanical classification information from medicinal plants has helped in Xylopia Aethiopica belongs to the following the development of accessible, affordable and high category; safety herbal therapies [4]. Kingdom: Plantae Order:

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-3, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Family: were housed in a well ventilated animal house, at Genus: Xylopia normal room temperature and had free access to Specie: Xylopia aethiopica water and growers mash by Bendel feed and flour The plant (X. aethiopica) contains anonaceine, an mill limited, Ewu, Edo state. alkaloid, and rutin, volatile aromatic oil and a fixed oil. The plant contains also high amounts of 2.3 Animal treatment copper, manganese, and zinc. Key constituents are diterpenic and xylopic acid. The essential oil has The rats were weighed and randomly divided into been well characterized with linalool, beta- trans- three batches with one batch having 5 groups, each ocimene, alpha- farnesene, alpha-pinene, beta- group containing 10 rats. The rats in each of the pinen, myrtenol, beta- phallandrene and 3- groups where given the following treatment, four ethylphenol as the major volatile constituents [7]. of the five groups were administered (oral) with It has been shown to be useful in the treatment or hot aqueous mixture of X. aethiopica 15ml/kg, management of several ailments such as sickle 20ml/kg, 25ml/kg and 30ml/kg body weight cell, asthma, rheumatism. Little work has been respectively. done on a possible management of kidney dysfunction, hence this work to see the effect on creatinine and urea levels in male albino wistar 3. Result rats. The result of the effect on the parameters analyzed after administration of X,aetopica in rats are 2. Materials And Method represented in the table below, Materials used were thus; Table 1: The effect of the extract on creatinine and urea levels in male albino wistar rats  Blood samples from individual patient,  Heparinized Capillary tubes and plasticin, Groups Creatinine Urea  Chloroform (µmol/l) (mg/dl)  ALT KIT Control 171.50± 9.88cde 10.88 ±0.69cde  AST Group 1 139.50 ±1.89cde 10.10 ± 0.20cde  ALP kit Group 2 193.00 ±7.14ab 8.13± 0.30ab  Cholesterol kit Group 3 162.50 ±5.31abc 6.55±0.49abc  Triglyceride kit Group 4 173.50 ±9.03abd 8.43± 0.14abd  Creatinine kit Data represented in Mean ± SEM  Urea kit Mean with the same Superscript (a,b,c,d,e) are 2.1 Sample preparation significantly different while mean with different superscript(a,b,c,d,e) are not significantly different. The plant Xylopia aethopica was purchased from Elele daily market in Emohua L.G.A of rivers 4. Discussion state. The spice was dried and grounded to powered form (crude sample) 500mg of the crude Medicinal plants and herbs are fast becoming an sample was macerated with 1250ml hot distilled alternative to modern conventional medicine. X. water serial dilution of 3 concentration was made. aethiopica has shown much promise in the 1 into 2, 1 into 4, 1 into 6. while the undiluted management and treatment of certain ailments or becomes the stock. diseases such as the effective management of sickle cell disease [8], it is also added in the diets 2.2 Animals of post partum women as an aid to the contraction of the uterus and promotes lactation [9]. Biochemically, the essential oils of X. aethiopica The rats used as subjects of the study were gotten plants possess antioxidant activity found from the animal house of the Department of significant in scavenging superoxide anion radical Biochemistry University of Port Harcourt [10]. [11] reported that the extracts of X. (UNIPORT). Fifty albino rats of 3months of age aethiopica decreased the plasma levels of glucose and weighed between 125g -150g at the beginning in treated rats. They reported also that the of the experiment. The rats were housed in ten in application of X. aethiopica extract in the one cage of 5 grouped labeled 1 to 5 in the animal treatment of platelets disorder and cardiovascular facility of university of Port Harcourt. The animals diseases may have significant effects in were left to acclimatize for one week. The rats

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-3, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in moderating such condition. [12] reported that 6. REFERENCES intake of X. aethiopica reduced the composition of lipids and produced a favorable lipid profile in the [1] Ogbonnia, S. O., Mbaka, G. O., Anyika, E. N., serum and PMF (post Mitochondrial Fractions) of Emordi, J. E., and Nwakakwa, N. An evaluation of visceral organs in experimental acute and subchronic toxicities of a Nigerian hypercholesterolemia. Little work therefore has polyherbal tea remedy. Pak J Nutr, 2011, 10:1022- been done on the effect of X. aethiopica on renal 8. function parameters such as creatinine and urea, hence this work. [2] Chang, I. M. Toxicity of herbal drugs, International Forum on Research and Development The kidneys are organs that serve several essential for Procedures involving Risk Assessment of regulatory roles in most animals, including Toxic Chemicals. In Korean Soc. Toxicol (Chang vertebrates and some invertebrates [13]. They are IM, ParkCW eds), 1987, pp: 243-257. essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of [3] Rickert, K., Martinez, R. R., and Martinez, T. electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, T. Pharmacist knowledge of common herbal and regulation of blood pressure (via maintaining preparations. Proc West Pharmacol Soc, 1999, salt and water balance) [14]. They serve the body 42:1-2. as a natural filter of the blood, and remove wastes which are diverted to the urinary bladder. In [4] Alam, M. B., Hossain, M. S., Chowdhury, N. producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such S., Mazumder, M. E. H., and Haque, M. E. In vitro as urea and ammonium, and they are also and in vivo antioxidant and toxicity evaluation of responsible for the reabsorption of water, glucose, different fractions of Oxalis corniculata linn. J and amino acids. The kidneys also produce Pharmacol Toxicol, 2011, 6:337-48. hormones including calcitriol, erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin [15]. [5] Orwa, C., Mutua, A., Kindt, R., Jamnadass, R., and Simons, A. Agroforestree Database:a tree Creatinine and urea level observed to reveal reference and selection guide. version 4.0 similar results indicates the level of significance of (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/), the assay as regards kidney function test. Analysis 2009. of the results (creatinine and urea) shows no significant (p>0.05) difference between control [6] Jirovetz, L., Buchbauer, G., and Ngassoum, M. and other groups with exception to group 1 which Investigation of the essential oils from the dried indicated significant (p<0.05) reduction on fruits of Xylopia aethiopica (West African creatinine and group 3 which also showed "Peppertree") and Xylopia parviflora from significant (p<0.05) reduction on urea levels Cameroun. Ernährung/Nutrition, 1997, 21: 324- respectively as shown in table above. But 325. generally, there was an overall reduction in creatinine and urea levels as compared against the [7] Tairu, A. O., Hofmann, T., and Schieberle, P. control. This was in tandem with the work of [16] Characterization of the key aroma compounds in who also observed a general reduction in the levels dried fruits of the West African Peppertree Xylopia of creatinine and urea in male albino wistar rats aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich (Annonaceae) using exposed to Carbon tetrachloride toxicity. The aroma extract dilution analysis. J. Agric. Food possible mechanism for this could be due to the Chem. 47, 1999, 3285-3287. excess abundance of antioxidants [10]. [8] Uwakwe, A. A., and Nwaoguikpe, R.N. In vitro antisicking effect of X.aethiopica and M. 5. Conclusion myristica. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, In conclusion, Xylopia aethiopica (uda) has been 2008, 2(6):119-124. shown to have numerous medicinal advantages, and in this paper, it has been shown to reduce [9] Achinewu, S. C., Anena, M. I. and Obamanu, creatinine and urea levels. This means it can be F. G. Studies on Spices of food value in the south said to have possible nephro protective Eastern States of Nigeria. Antioxidant Properties. capabilities. But like any other medicinal plant Journal of African Medical Plants, 1995 18:135- usage, caution is advised to prevent excessive 139. lowering of creatinine and urea levels.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Peer Reviewed – International Journal Vol-5, Issue-3, 2019 (IJIR) ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

[10] Karioti, A., Hadjipavlou-litina, D., Mensah, [13] Bruce, M. C. Human Embryology and M. L., Fleischer, T. C., and Skaltsa, H. Developmental Biology (3rd ed.), 2004, Saint Composition and antioxidant activity of the Louis: Mosby. ISBN 0-323-03649-X essential oils of Xylopia aethiopica (Dun) A. Rich. (Annonaceae) leaves, stem bark, root bark, and [14] Bard, J., Vize, P. D., and Woolf, A. S. The fresh and dried fruits, growing in Ghana. Journal Kidney from normal Development to Congenital of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 2004, 52 Disease. Boston Academic Press, 2003, 154- 158. (26):8094-8098. [15] Walter, K. M., Lawrence, C. S., and Stuart, F. [11] Nnodim, J., Emejuju, A., Amaechi, A. and Physiology of Transcription in Cells, 2004, 385: Nwosu, N. E. C. Influence of X.aethiopica fruits 1657- 1676. on some hematological profile. Journal of Medical Science, 2011, 4(2):191-196 [16] Adewale, O. B., and Orhue, N. E. J. Protective eff ect of Xylopia aethiopica fruits extracts on carbon tetrachloride induced [12] Nwozo, S. O., Orojobi, B. F., and Adaramoye, nephrotoxicity in rats. Journal of Experimental and O. A. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant potentials of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 5(2): 105-109 X.aethiopica seed extract in hypercholesterolemic rats. Journal of Medicinal Foods, 2011, 14(1- 2):114-119.

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