Effects of aqueous leaf extract of <i>Hibiscus rosa sinensis</i> on cadmium-induced kidney damage in adult Wistar rats

Cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity involves oxidative stress, inflammatory response, etc. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is among the plants that is used to treat arthritis, kidney problems etc. This research aimed in evaluating the effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis on cadmium-induced kidney damage of adult wistar rats. Adult Rats (n=30), with an average weight of 167g were randomly assigned into 5 test (n=5) and control (n=5) groups. Rats in groups B-F were given 10mg/kg of Cadmium, extract of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, 10mg/kg of Cadmium + 200mg/kg of extract and 10mg/kg of Cadmium + 400mg/kg of extract daily for twenty-eight days respectively, through the orogastric tube, group A received food and water. Rats were sacrificed and the Kidneys were harvested for histological and renal function analysis. Findings indicated that the kidney showed changes of the renal cortical structure in the cadmium treated group and showed no changes in the extract treated group as compared to the control group. There was a significant decrease in weights of the kidney treated with cadmium and significant increase on the urea, creatinine and malondialdehyde levels of the cadmium treated group and significant decrease on the total protein, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels of the cadmium treated group and no significant difference on the groups treated with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as compared to the control group. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has a strong protective effect in the restoration of renal tubules and that it could be a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for treating cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity.