Cymbopogon citratus: A Modulator of TNF-α and IL-10 in NSAID-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Adult Wistar Rats

Pharmaceuticals typically induce toxicity in the liver and kidney, which are primary control mechanisms for maintaining bodily homeostasis and are more vulnerable to xenobiotics. Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian lemon grass) is used in traditional medicine globally for a variety of medicinal purposes. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of a methanolic leaf extract of C. citratus against NSAID-induced hepatorenal toxicity in adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica). Twenty rats weighing 180–220g were randomly assigned to four groups of five rats each. The unexposed control rats (Group 1) were administered distilled water, while the NSAID-exposed rats (Group 2-4) received Diclofenac at 5mg/kg/BW. While rats in Group 2 were untreated, rats in Groups 3 and 4 were treated with methanolic leaf extracts of C. citratus at 100mg/kg/BW and 200mg/kg/BW, respectively. Treatment with the methanolic extract of C. citratus modulates TNF-α and IL-10 expression (P<0.05) and ameliorates cellular alterations in the kidneys and liver of treated rats compared to the untreated group. This study established the efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus as a hepatorenal protector by considerably ameliorating the adverse effects of diclofenac-induced hepatorenal toxicity.