Renal Protective Function of Annona Muricata Leaf Extract in Male Wistar Rats

The aims of this study is to determine the renal protective function of annona muricata leaf extract in male Wistar rats. A total of 78 adult male rats obtained from the laboratory animal production unit of the Department of Physiology, Abia State University, Uturu were used for the different segments of the study. Eighteen of the rats were used for acute toxicity/lethal dose evaluation of the extract while the remaining sixty (60) were used for the testosterone-induced hyperplasia study. Prostate hyperplasia was induced in the rats via daily sub-cutaneous administration of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Sixty rats used for this segment of the study were assigned to 6 groups of 10 rats and treated as follows: Group 1, Normal control, no treatment. Group 2 Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg) only and was the BPH control. Group 3,Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Finesteride (3 mg/kg body weight).Group 4, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (300 mg/kg body weight). Group 5, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg body weight).Group 6, Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg bw) only. At the end of treatment, animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected into EDTA and plain bottles for determination of renal function parameters (urea, creatinine, sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate). All renal function parameters were determined using the respective commercial test kits. Data obtained were subjected to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 20.0, IBM SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for data analysis. Level of significance was calculated by One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Data were analyzed using Duncan Multiple Range Test and complemented with Student’s t test for post-hoc test for comparisons of the means of the various doses and fractions. P- values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significantly different between the test and control groups as well as among test groups for measured value. Conclusively, result of the renal function parameters across different treatment groups. Compared to the normal control group, the BPH control (Testosterone only) group exhibits significant alterations in several renal parameters. Specifically, levels of urea (29.05±2.45 mg/dl) and creatinine (1.54±0.21 mg/dl) are notably elevated, indicating impaired renal function due to BPH induction by testosterone. Treatment with Finesteride (3 mg/kg) + Testosterone and various doses of annona muricata Leaf extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg) + Testosterone generally show improvements in these parameters compared to the BPH control group. These treatments reduce urea and creatinine levels closer to those of the normal control group (urea: 20.35±0.86 mg/dl, creatinine: 0.79±0.04 mg/dl). Furthermore, electrolyte levels (Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-) in the BPH control group also show deviations from the normal control. Treatments with Finesteride and annona muricata Leaf extract tend to normalize these electrolyte levels.