MAINTENANCE OF RENAL INTEGRITY OF RATS (<i>Rattus novergicus</i>) TREATED WITH ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CASHEW STEM BARK (<i>Anacardium occidentale</i>)

OMOTOSO O.D.¹, ADEEYO O.A.², YUSUF U.A.³, DARE J.B.⁴, OLANIYAN O.T.^5
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
²Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
³Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Bingham University Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
⁵Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Bingham University Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Received : 28-11-2013     Accepted : 18-12-2013     Published : 30-12-2013
Volume : 1     Issue : 2       Pages : 31 - 33
World Res J Med Sci 1.2 (2013):31-33

<i>Backgrounds:</i> Cashew stem-bark has been used as cicatrizing antihypertensive, hypoglycaemic and antitumor properties. Its protective activity in simultaneous and post-treatment in relation to organ damage has been demonstrated. Also, Anacardium Occidentale antimutagenicity property has been demonstrated against factors causing mutation. Phytochemical test revealed that, the extract of Anacardium Occidentale contain some active constituents such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and saponin that were said to have antioxidant properties against superoxide and free oxygen radical that may alter structure of the cells and also cause cells damage and death. The aim of this investigation was to examine some of the metabolic activities of ethanolic extract of Anacardium Occidentale on the renal function of adult wistar rats. <i>Methods:</i> Twenty-four (24) wistar rats of both sexes weighing between 180-220 g were randomly divided into three (3) groups of eight (8) animals each. Group A reserved as the control, Group B was treated with 10 mg/kg of the extract and Group C was treated with 20 mg/kg of the extract orally daily for 4 weeks of experimental periods. Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 24 hours after the last administration of the extract. Urine sample was collected 24 hours before animals were sacrificed, which was used for urinalysis. Blood sample was also collected following abdominal incision from descending abdominal aortal for creatinine analysis. <i>Result:</i> There was a significant (p< 0.05) decreased in the blood creatinine level in the rats treated with 20 mg/kg of the extract (1.010±0.37394*) when compared with the control rats (1.32±0.318228). Urine creatinine level was higher in the animal treated with both 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of the extract (22.3±1.81030, 28.6±1.3238) respectively. Renal clearance was also significantly increased in the treated rats (0.00406±0.000590, 0.01338±0.00443) when compared with the control rats (0.1194±0.02911642). <i>Conclusion:</i> The increase in the renal clearance of the treated rats was due to the decreased in the blood creatinine activities level and an increase in the urine creatinine will serve as a protective effect on the kidney and thus improves renal function.