Comparative Sub-acute Toxicity Study of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-induced Wistar Rats Treated with Ethanol Extracts of Artocarpus heterophyllus Stembark, Leaf, And Pulp
Nwako, C.A.
*
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Ene A.C
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Nwaogu L.A
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Nzebude C.P
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study investigated the comparative in vivo sub-acute toxicity and biochemical effects of ethanol extracts of A. heterophyllus (stembark, leaf, and pulp) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-induced Wistar albino rats.
Methodology: A total of fifty-five male rats were randomly assigned to eleven groups (n = 5), comprising normal control, negative control (BPH-induced with 5.0 mg/kg testosterone propionate), standard control (finasteride 0.5 mg/kg), and eight treatment groups administered 250 or 500 mg/kg of the plant extracts orally for 21 days. Biochemical assessments were conducted to evaluate hepatic and renal function indices.
Results: The BPH-induced rats exhibited significant increases (p < 0.05) in serum ALT (22.67 ± 0.62 U/L), AST (23.97 ± 2.28 U/L), ALP (179.50 ± 6.96 U/L), total bilirubin (24.40 ± 0.93 µmol/L), urea (30.43 ± 1.98 mg/dL), and creatinine (7.27 ± 1.01 mg/dL) compared with the normal control group, indicating hepatic and renal dysfunction. Treatment with A. heterophyllus extracts, particularly the stembark at 500 mg/kg, significantly reversed these biochemical alterations, restoring ALT (15.16 ± 0.22 U/L), AST (12.88 ± 0.15 U/L), ALP (129.30 ± 0.94 U/L), bilirubin (15.31 ± 9.32 µmol/L), and urea (23.77 ± 0.26 mg/dL) values toward normal levels. Electrolyte concentrations (Na⁺: 171.90 ± 2.85 mmol/L; K⁺: 5.60 ± 0.35 mmol/L; Cl⁻: 59.25 ± 2.95 mmol/L) remained within physiological ranges across all treatment groups.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that A. heterophyllus extracts exhibit notable hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, thereby highlighting the therapeutic promise and safety of A. heterophyllus, particularly its stembark extract, as a natural agent for mitigating BPH-associated hepatic and renal dysfunctions.
Keywords: Artocarpus heterophyllus, BPH, liver, kidney