ABSTRACT

Hibiscus (HS) is one of the most widely used nutraceuticals. it is used traditionally to combat various illnesses due to its high flavonoid contents. The present study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa finn calyx on cadmium induced liver and kidney injury. Twenty five male Wistar rats were divided at random into five groups containing 5 rats per groups. Group I received normal feed and water, Group II received Cadmium only (50mg/kg), group III received Cadmium(50mg/kg) + Silymarin (100mg/kg), Group IV received Cadmium (50mg/kg) ± exstract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (250 mg/kg); group V received Cadmium (50mg/kg) + extract of Hibiscus Sabdarifft. (500 mg/kg). The extract was administered orally by gavage once daily for a period of 21 days and while cadmium was administered once. At the end of the treatment period, four animals from each group were randomly selected and sacrificed. The result obtained from this study showed that Cadmium caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (3.53±0.42) when compared to other treated groups (1.96+0.05, 2.06±0.04, 1.85±0.12, 1.02±0.06). Oxidative stress caused by cadmium in living systems leading to various clinical interpretations has been well documented. Administration of cadmium leads to decrease in the level of SOD (10.69±1.36) and Catalase (10.92+0.30) in kidney of the rat. Low dose of aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (250 mg/kg) was able to restore SOD (12.95±1.38) and Catalase (13.89±0.33) near normal value. Result for liver function assay showed a significant increase in AST(32.78±l .41). ALT (30.87+0. , i), ALP (62.02±2.33) and BIL (0.84±0.07) in the serum of rats administered cadmium only; high dose of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sandarijjb (500 mg/kg) was able to restore AST (25.79±3.29), ALT (19.66±1.00), ALP (52.86±3.38) and BIL (0.42±0.03) near normal value. Total protein concentration was significantly higher in the silymarin (100mg/kg) (5.44±0.25) and extract treated group (250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) respectively (5.73±0.02, 5.55±0.05) when compare'd to the group administered cadmium (50mg/kg) only (4.72+0.02). Creatinine concentration was significantly increased in the rat administered cadmium only (0.98±0.03) when compared to the rats that received silymarin (0.88±0.02) and the extract (0.9 1±0.03,0.85±0.04). The concentration of urea was significantly reduced in the cadmium treated group (27.09±2.60) compared to the rats that received silymarin (32.27±1.64) and the varying dose of the extract (3 1.65±2.49, 30.80±0.50) From the result of this study, the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdar?ffa linn calyx showed robust ameliorative effect on cadmium induced toxicity which can be labelled to the rich antioxidant content of the extract.