Effect of Aqueous Extract of the Aerial Parts of Leonurus cardiaca On Cisplatin-induced Hepato-renal Damage in Wistar Albino Rats

This study investigated the effect of aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca on cisplatin-induced hepato-renal damage in male Wistar albino rats. Sixty male wistar albino rats weighing between 180 and 220g were used for this study. The rats were grouped into 12 groups, five rats per group. Group 1 served as normal control, group 2 received 5mg/kg weight of cisplatin, serving as negative control while group 3 received 5mg/kg b.w of cisplatin and treated with 25mg/kg weight of hydrochlorothiazide and served as positive control. Group 4-12 rats were cisplatin-induced cardiovascular damage treated with Leonurus cardiaca extract at 166, 250, and 500mg/kg for 7, 14, and 21 days. Biochemical assays were determined using standard methods and procedures. The Na+, Cl-, HCO3-, creatinine, and urea levels of kidney homogenate of group 7 treated rats with the extract at 250mg/kg b.w for 7 days were 123.05±0.01mmol/l, 1.07±0.01mmol/l, 27.27±0.01mmol/l, 13.63±0.01mmol/l, 0.68±0.02mmol/l, and 1.14±0.01mmol/l respectively and were significantly increased when compared to the negative and normal control groups. Similar increases occurred for 14 and 21 days treatments. The kidney homogenate Na+, Cl-, HCO3, creatinine, and urea of group 7 treated rats with the extract at 500mg/kg b.w for 7 days were 158.05±0.01mmol/l, 3.03±0.01mmol/l, 31.13±0.01mmol/l, 19.46±0.01mmol/l, 2.06±0.00mmol/l, and 2.03±0.01mmol/l respectively. Values were significantly increased (p<0.05) in comparison to the normal and negative control groups. Similar increases were observed for 14 and 21 days treatments. The plasma ALT, ALP, and AST activities were 187.35±0.00U/L, 98.03±0.01U/L, 185.64±40.81U/L respectively, were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in comparison to negative control treated with the extract at 250mg/kg b.w for 14 days. The plasma ALT, ALP, and AST activities of group 10 rats treated with the extract at 500mg/kg b.w for 7 days were 164.24±0.01U/L, 87.02±0.01U/L, and 183.74±0.01U/L respectively and were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in comparison to negative control. The hepato-renal curative potential of Leonurus cardiaca could be attributed in part to its ability in enhancing liver and kidney regeneration.