ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are globally recognized for their role in maintaining health. Chemical compounds found in these plants have demonstrated anti-tumor and anti-apoptotic effects in animal studies, suggesting their potential in fighting cancer. The Ficus species are being recognized for their potential anticancer properties, particularly Ficus exasperata (FE). Research has shown positive cytotoxicity results, indicating that FE could be a valuable source for creating new anticancer treatments. It has also been reported to possess a strong antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic properties. Renal oxidative stress induced in male Wistar rats by 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) was studied with the aim of assessing the ameliorative ability of methanol leaf and stem bark extract of Ficus exasperata as a single and in combined entities. A total of thirty-five (35) rats were used for the study and divided into seven (7) groups of five (5) rats each. The first group served as the control, groups 2 and 3 served as the leaf and stem bark extract groups respectively, groups 4 was the DMH control , groups 5 and 6 were the leaf and stem bark extract treated groups respectively, while group 7 was the combined extract group. The study revealed that exposure to DMH and the administration of the extract did not significantly alter SOD activity in experimental rats compared to the control group (p > 0.05). It was also found that administration of the extract did not also significantly alter the activity of SOD relative to the normal control (p > 0.05). However, catalase activity in the kidneys of experimental rats decreased significantly after DMH exposure (p < 0.05). In the same vein, administering the stem bark extract significantly reduced the activity of catalase in the kidney of the rats relative the normal control (p < 0.05). The leaf extract also reduced the activity of catalase in the kidney of the rats relative to the normal control but not with a significance (p > 0.05). Therapeutic exposure of the rats previously administered DMH in single and combined entity led to a significant increase in renal catalase activity compared to the DMH control xi group although the combine state out-performed the single forms (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the administration of DMH resulted in a decrease in renal glutathione peroxidase activity compared to the normal control, although the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Similar result was obtained from the group administered the stem bark extract. Conversely, the combined administration of the extract significantly elevated renal glutathione peroxidase activity compared to the DMH control (p > 0.05). In addition, rats exposed to DMH exhibited an increase in MDA concentration compared to the normal control, but the difference was not significant (p < 0.05). The administration of leaf extract across all groups reduced MDA concentration relative to the DMH control although the reduction was also not significant (p > 0.05). Hematology study showed that the administration of DMH led to a reduced the concentration of RBC and HGB, while the concentration of PLT and PCT was elevated relative to the normal control although it was not with a significance (p > 0.05). However, the administration of the extract elevated the concentration of the RBC and HGB relative to the DMH control, however, not with a significance (p > 0.05). In a combined therapy, the extract elevated the concentration of PLT and PCT relative to the normal control, though not significant (p > 0.05). Thisstudy shows that DMH causes oxidative stress in kidney cells and combination of methanol leaf and stem bark extract of F. exasperata can reduce the impact of DMH on the kidneys.
