Toxicological Evaluation of Co-Administration of Odogwu Bitters and Goko Cleanser Herbal Drinks on the Kidney of Adult Male Wistar Rats

The consumption of herbal drinks is on the rise among Nigerians, especially within younger and artisan communities. This study investigates the potential histopathological impacts on kidney function when Odogwu Bitters and Goko Cleanser herbal drinks are co-administered to adult male Wistar rats. Forty male adult Wistar rats were used in the study, organized into ten groups with four rats each. Group A served as the control, while groups B, C, and D received 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ml of Odogwu Bitters, respectively. Groups E, F, and G received 0.2, 0.5, and 0.9 ml of Goko Cleanser, respectively. Groups H, I, and J received varying doses of both Odogwu Bitters and Goko Cleanser. The experiment was conducted over six weeks. At the end of the six-week period, blood samples were drawn for kidney function analysis, and the kidneys were collected for histological examination. The histological analysis indicated that co-administration of Odogwu Bitters and Goko Cleanser did not cause noticeable structural damage to the kidneys of adult male Wistar rats within the study period. However, biochemical analysis revealed that increasing doses of the herbal drinks led to significant changes in serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels (p = .001 for each parameter). This suggests that while no structural damage was observed in kidney tissue, the biochemical markers indicate potential renal effects at higher doses. The findings highlight the importance of cautious consumption of these herbal drinks to avoid potential kidney-related issues.