HEPATORENAL PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF RUTIN IN ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN WISTAR RAT

<p>Aluminuim is a metal that disrupt the pro-oxidant and antioxidant balance in tissuess leading to biochemical dyfunction. The present study evaluated the protective effect of rutin on aluminium chloride (AlCl<sub>3</sub>)-induced hepatorenal toxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group 1-control, Group 2 received AlCl<sub>3</sub> (100 mg/kg b.wt), Group 3 received AlCl<sub>3 </sub>(100 mg/kg b.wt) plus rutin (50 mg/kg b.wt), Group 4 recieved rutin (50 mg/kg b.wt). Body weight changes, liver and kidney functions, antioxidant capacities, and histopathology of the liver and kidney were measured at the end of twenty-one days experimental period. Results obtained indicated that AlCl<sub>3 </sub>caused significant weight loss in the rats. The toxicant also disrupted the liver and kidney functions characterised by significant depletion of antioxidant level, distortion of histoarchitecture, and elevation of serum parameters. Treatment with rutin however ameliorated the observed imbalances in the body weight, biochemical indices and also improved the histological alterations induced by AlCl<sub>3</sub> in the liver and the kidney of the rats. We conclude in this study that rutin has protective influences on the hepatorenal structure and functions and could serve as a useful nutraceutical to manage liver and kidney damage in humans.</p>