Biochemical influence of <i>Annona muricata</i> on the basal renal profile of healthy adult Wistar rats

Abstract

Numerous ethnopharmacological benefits have been attributed to Annona muricata, including, wound healing, anti-arthritic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-hypertensive, hepatoprotective and antineoplastic effects. This study is a baseline investigation of the influence of A. muricata on renal profile of healthy adult Wistar rats. A total of 144 adult male Wistar rats of average weight (100 - 150 g) were randomly divided into six groups (1-6): Group 1 served as control (0 mg/kg), Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were orally treated doses of methanol extracts of the leaf, stem-bark, fruit-pulp or root-bark of A. muricata (each) at 100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively, for a total of twenty-eight days consecutively. At the end of the experimental period, biochemical assays were done, including, plasma electrolytes and plasma urea/creatinine. The results of rats treated with different parts of A. muricata exhibited various changes. The changes observed in plasma electrolytes and non-protein nitrogen compounds did not give information of any significant deleterious effects for the rats treated with leaf and fruit-pulp extracts, as there were relative decreases in plasma urea and creatinine levels at the highest administered dose (800 mg/kg) following an initial increase (600 mg/kg). Conversely, the plasma urea and creatinine levels of rats treated with stem-bark and root-bark extracts significantly increased at 800 mg/kg, when compared with control. The fruit-pulp caused a significantly increased plasma urea/creatinine, while the root-bark extract led to a decrease, both at 800 mg/kg. The study indicates that A. Muricata possess relatively safe toxicity influence on renal functions.