DOI:
VOLUME 1 – MAY ISSUE 1
G.K.A. Adepoju*, M.N. Ekor and A. Oladepo
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at investigating the ability of Hibiscus sabdarifa (HS) to protect against gentamicin-induced nephro-toxicity, Gentamicin is widely used in the treatment of many gram-negative infections because of its availability and affordability; its nephrotoxic effect, however, represents a serious clinical problem limiting its use at the usually recommended doses. Gentamicin was administered to Wistar rats at a dose or 100 mg/kg body weight per day subcutaneously for five (5) consecutive days to induce acute nephro-toxicity. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for blood urea, serum creatinine, urinary sodium and potassium as well as oxidative enzymes. Results showed that gentamicin induced acute renal failure as indicated by the significant elevation in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations. The methanolic extract of HS adequately protected against the gentamicin-nephrotoxicity. The study provides a leeway to increase the therapeutic indices of the aminogyoosides. The availability and affordability of HS in developing countries will serve as a public health strategy to protect against the nephrotoxic effect of this drug and can be used as an adjunct to gentamicin therapy in these cnuntries where malnutrition has been implicated as a risk factor to gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Keywords:
Nephrotoxicity, Hbiscus sabdariffa, infections, aminoglycosides, therapeutic index, creatinine.
