Nephroprotective Effect of Cissampelos owariensis Extract on Renal Histomorphology of Wistar Rats during Exposure to Carbon Tetrachloride- induced Nephropathy

To assess nephroprotective potency of methanolic extract of C. owariensis on renal histomorphology of Wistar rats during exposure to nephropathic activity of CCl4. Twenty eight (28) albino Wistar rats divided into four groups which include normal control group administered with vehicles -distilled water (1 ml/kg b.w.) and olive oil (3 ml/kg b.w.), experimental control group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week, first treatment group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week + methanolic extract of C. owariensis (100 mg/kg b.w.) daily and second treatment group administered with CCl4 (3 ml/kg b.w.) twice a week + methanolic extract of C. owariensis (300 mg/kg b.w.) daily for twenty eight (28) days. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of C. owariensis was carried out using GC-MS. The body weight of study animals was measure at days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of study. Then, kidney tissue of study animals was collected, weighed and processed for histopathological study. Tissue sections were stained using H & E, examined under microscope, photomicrographs were generated and observable histopathological changes were quantified using image-J software. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of C. owariensis showed abundance of phenolic compounds which may in turn confer antioxidant property on the extract. Results of this study also showed that treatment with extract helped to reduce body and tissue weight loss that follows exposure to CCl4. Also, treatment with the extract helped to reduce significantly (p < 0.05) renal histopathological changes following exposure to CCl4. The methanolic extract of C. owariensis contains abundant phenolic compounds which confer antioxidant property that in turn mediate the nephroprotective potency of the extract against nephropathic effect of CCl4.