Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Piper guineense (Uziza) on the Kidneys of Paraquat-Induced Adult Male Wistar Rats

Background: Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of an ethanolic leaf extract of piper guineense on the kidneys of paraquat-induced adult Wistar rats.

Methods: In this study, rats were divided into six groups. The control group (group A) received distilled water, and 20mg/kg of Paraquat was induced in groups B, C, D, E, and F; group C received 200mg/kg, group E received 80mg/kg, and group F received 100mg/kg of ethanolic leaf extract of Piper guineense, respectively. The animals were treated for 28 consecutive days. After the urea and serum creatinine collection, kidney histopathology was investigated.

Results: PQ increased relative organ weight, urea, and serum creatinine levels, but it significantly decreased body weight across groups B and D. In the groups treated with piper guineense, urea and creatinine decreased compared with the PQ group, and body weight levels increased. Severe intra-renal inflammation and haemorrhage, necrotic debris around the hemorrhagic area, was seen histopathologically. The effects were ameliorated in Groups E and F, which received variable doses of the ethanolic leaf extracts of P. guineense.

Conclusion: The obtained findings revealed that P. guineense leaf extract, used as a preventive compound, was able to reduce kidney dysfunction and tissue damage caused by PQ toxicity in the kidney.