ABSTRACT
In African folk medicine, the parts of Chromolaena odorata have been used for various ailments including dysentery, malaria, toothache, diarrhoea, fever, skin diseases and diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of the aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata on the kidneys of rats damaged with arsenic acid. The specific objectives of this study is to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of chromolaena odorata on the body and organ weight, electrolytes, urea and creatinine level of rats treated with arsenic acid, to investigate the effect of chromolaena odorata on oxidative stress markers in adult Wistar rats treated with arsenic acid and to investigate the effect of Chromolaena odorata on the histology of the kidney of rats treated with arsenic acid. Thirty (30) Wistar rats were obtained from and housed in the Department of Human Anatomy Animal House, University of Benin and acclimatized for two weeks before starting the experiment. Stems with leaves and flowers of Chromolaena odorata was air-dried, finely powdered, soaked in distilled water, filtered, concentrated at 45°C to create a paste, and then refrigerated for storage as an extract. The rats were randomly assigned into a Control group (A) and five treatment groups (B, C, D, E, F) containing 5 rats each. Group B was administered with 4mg/kg of Arsenic only. Rats in Group C were given 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata only. Group D was administered 1000mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata only. Group E was given 400mg/kg body weight of Chromolaena odorata aqueous extract and 4mg/kg of Arsenic acid and Group F was given 1000mg/kg body weight of Chromolaena odorata aqueous extract and 4mg/kg of Arsenic acid. The experiment lasted for 30 days and the weight of the rats were taken weekly to determine the weight change. At the end of the experiment, the rats were anesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed. Blood samples were collected and the kidneys harvested and fixed in formalin for histological analysis. The result acquired showed that arsenic acid caused tubular necrosis to the kidney. The experiment showed that aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata caused no significant increase or decrease in body weight and in organ weight in a rat treated with arsenic acid. This experiment also showed that aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata caused increase in the level of urea, increased level of creatinine in high dose of extract and decreased levels of electrolytes across the groups when compared to group A. The experiment also showed that low dose of aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata had the highest MDA level, lowest level of SOD, Catalase, total protein and a relatively low level of GSH suggesting a potential deficiency in oxidation protection. Histological examination of the kidneys treated with arsenic acid and low and high doses of the extract showed certain level of amelioration with the lower dose having a more potent effect. There was also increased blood flow in the kidneys administered with the extract. It is recommended to undertake further investigations in order to substantiate and reinforce the credibility of these discovered findings.
