Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the protective, ameliorative and preventive effects of aqueous Date fruit extract on paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in wistar rats. A total of 30 male albino wistar rats were used for this study. Rats were randomly divided into five groups containing 6 animals each. Treatments were given daily for fourteen days. The animals in the control group (Group I) did not receive any treatment, while those in group 2 received paracetamol (2 g/kg/day). Group 3 were pretreated with aqueous date fruit extract (400 mg/kg/day) for a week before paracetamol administration. Rats in group 4 received paracetamol (2 g/kg/day) for a week before treatment with aqueous date palm extract (400 mg/kg). Group 5 was administered paracetamol (2 g/kg/day) in concurrent with 400 mg/kg aqueous date fruit extract. Exposure of rats with a nephrotoxic dose of paracetamol disturbed the kidney function tests; blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SC) levels increased significantly (P>0.05). The protective use of aqueous date fruit extract on paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity resulted in a significant improvement in most evaluated parameters.

Key words: Date fruit, paracetamol, wistar rats, kidney.