Nephroprotective and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of ethanol extracts, ethyl acetate and N-butanol fractions of Pentaclethra macrophylla leaf extract on paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rat

Abstract Background The use of systemic research methodology to evaluate medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes is becoming more popular due to the unfavorable side effects of synthetic agents (drugs) on bodily systems. This study investigates the nephroprotective and hypolipidemic effect of ethanol extract, ethyl acetate, and n -butanol fractions of Pentaclethra macrophylla leaves in Wistar rats for 56 days. Sixty (60) male Wistar rats (150–200 g) were randomly selected and divided into four major groups (A, B, C, and D) of 15 rats each. Groups A, B, C, and D represented the control group, ethanol extract group, ethyl acetate fraction group, and n -butanol fraction group, respectively. Kidney markers and lipid parameters were evaluated using auto biochemical analyzer (Mindray XL-200). Liver and kidney were collected for histology after the animals were firs euthanatized with chloroform. Results The results revealed a significant reduction ( p < 0.05) in renal parameters; creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid levels in the treatment groups when compared with the control. There was also a corresponding favourable histology outcome in the examined kidney sections. The decline in the levels of renal parameters and the healthy histological features of the sectioned rat kidneys ranging from normal tissues to moderate degeneration in some high doses showed the ameliorative and protective properties of P. macrophylla leaf extract. The CHOL, LDL and VLDL values were significantly decreased in the ethyl acetate and n -butanol fractions except for the HDL cholesterol which was significantly elevated across the groups when compared with the control. The observed decrease in cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein levels and a significant increase in the high-density lipoprotein levels of the treatment groups is beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conclusion According to the findings of this study, P. macrophylla leaf extracts, particularly the ethyl acetate and N -butanol fractions, may be employed as nephroprotective and hypolipidemic agents. Additional research is advised to identify and characterize the precise bioactive compounds that give P. macrophylla leaf extract its nephroprotective and hypolipidemic properties.