Annona muricata Mitigates Kidney Damage in Rats following Chronic Exposure to Bromate

Kidney disease ranks among the leading causes of death globally, steering research towards finding safe, natural, andaffordable regimens for its cure. Annona muricata leaves have been used in traditional medicine and contain a myriadof antioxidants, which contribute to their pharmacological properties. This study investigated the effect of Annonamuricata methanol leaf extract on potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced renal toxicity in male Wistar albino rats.Forty-two male albino rats, divided into seven groups of six rats each, were used. Group 1(Control) receivednormal saline, group 2 received only 125 mg/kg body wt. KBrO3, while groups 3 and 4 received 150 and 300 mg /kgbody wt. extract only respectively. Groups 5, 6 and 7 received 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg wt. extract along with KBrO3,respectively. All treatments were administered orally for ninety days. Using standard methods, serum urea andcreatinine, tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxidedismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were assayed. Kidney histopathology and haematologyanalysis. The extract significantly (P<0.05) lowered urea, creatinine and MDA levels while GSH level, and activitiesof GPX, CAT, and SOD. Although there were no significant changes in white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells(RBCs) and platelets (PLTs), histopathological analysis revealed fairly normal glomeruli and tubules, with mildinterstitial congestion. The results from this study suggest that Annona muricata methanol leaf extract effectivelyrestored kidney function by improving antioxidant enzyme activity and can serve as a source of natural products fordrug design.