<i>Psidium guajava</i> leaves elicit mild protection on the liver and kidneys of rats exposed to ciprofloxacin

Abstract

Ciprofloxacin is a well-known antibiotic used for treating a broad spectrum of  diseases of bacterial origin. Although it is well tolerated, results from some studies point to the fact that ciprofloxacin has the potential to be hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. Psidium guajava is consumed all over the world. In Nigeria, its leaves are employed as medicine for the treatment of several diseases including malaria, fever and nausea. In this study, we investigated the effect of the aqueous extract of P. guajava leaves on the liver and kidneys of rats exposed to ciprofloxacin. Twenty five male albino rats of Wistar strain were randomized into five groups of five rats each. Group A was control. Groups B-E were administered ciprofloxacin, but groups C-E were administered the aqueous extract of P.guajava leaves in addition and in increasing doses respectively. Our findings showed that ciprofloxacin distorted the levels of liver marker enzymes as well as metabolites that show renal function even though the protein profile of the serum was not altered significantly. Also, the aqueous extract of P. guajava restored the levels of these metabolites to normal. From these results, it can be concluded that P. guajava leaves offered some level of protection to the liver and kidneys of rats exposed to ciprofloxacin.

Keywords: Psidium guajava, ciprofloxacin, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity