Nephroprotective Effect of Phoenix reclinata Total Crude Root Extract on Tenofovir Induced Kidney Damage in Wistar Albino Rats

Tenofovir (TDF), used in combination with other antiretroviral agents, is an effective therapy for HIV infection. However, prolonged use of this drug is limited by a life threatening nephrotoxicity. Phoenix reclinata is a common palm species native to tropical Africa and is commonly recommended by traditional herbalists as a remedy for kidney disease. However, scientific evidence for its nephroprotective effects is nonexistent. In this study, we investigated the nephroprotective effect of Phoenix reclinata total crude extract on TDF induced kidney damage using Wistar albino rats. Six groups of Wistar albino rats (N=8) were utilized to test the total crude root extract of Phoenix reclinata. Three groups received 600 mg/kg of tenofovir with concurrent administration of plant extract at; 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg by gavage tube. The negative control group received only tenofovir, the positive control received tenofovir and calcitol with the normal control receiving only distilled water. After 21 days blood was collected by cardiac puncture for serum urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and chlorine assays. In addition, kidney tissue sections were taken for histopathological analysis.

Our results revealed that oral administration of TDF resulted in significant elevation (p< 0.05) of serum creatinine (57.33±6.61 µmol/L), urea (7.33±0.82 mmol/L), sodium (157.2±5.07 mmol/L), potassium (14.29±2.96 mmol/L) and chlorine (107.9±6.16 mmol/L). Histopathological findings observed included severe proximal tubular necrosis, glomerular and renal tubular degeneration tending to necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration and intertubular hemorrhages. These effects were significantly reversed with the administration of the extract in a dose dependent manner. The effects observed in the 800 mg/kg of extract were comparable to those of the calcitriol group. Our study demonstrated for the first time the protective effect of Phoenix reclinata on TDF induced nephrotoxicity. Future studies on structural elucidation of the bioactive compounds responsible for the nephroprotective effective and these utilizing pure extracts are recommended.