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ABSTRACT
Picralima nitida, a tropical plant indigenous to West Africa, has been revered for its medicinal properties. The study aimed to investigate the toxicological effects of Picralima nitida stem bark ethanolic extract on renal function in normal Sprague-Dawley rats. The stem bark samples were collected, dried, finely powdered and extracted with ethanol. Rats were divided into control and test groups, receiving varying doses of the extract (150mg/kg to 5000mg/kg) for 28 days. Serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels were measured, and kidney tissues were examined histologically. No significant differences were observed in creatinine, urea, and total protein levels between control and treated groups. However, significant non-toxic differences were observed in uric acid and albumin levels. Kidney weight varied across groups, with the 5000mg/kg group showing a significant increase compared to the control group. Histopathological analysis revealed cortical nephritis at low doses, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltrates, vascular congestion, and zonal necrosis, which decreased with increasing extract concentration. The ethanolic extract of Picralima nitida stem bark did not exhibit nephrotoxicity in normal Sprague-Dawley rats, suggesting its safety for renal function at controlled doses. These findings support its traditional medicinal use and warrant further studies to evaluate long-term safety and effects on other organs.
