Title:Ameliorative Potential of Cymbopogon citratus Decoctions on Gasoline Vapour-Induced Nephrotoxicity
VOLUME: 7 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Christopher E. Ekpenyong and Nsuhoridem S. Akpan
Affiliation:Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo
Keywords:Hydrocarbon, renal toxicity, oxidative stress, attenuation, lemongrass, rat.
Abstract:Background: Gasoline is a mixture of several hydrocarbons and additives and is associated
with numerous adverse health effects including renal function impairment. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Cymbopogon citratus on gasoline vapour-induced renal function
impairment.
Methods: Seventy-two mature female Wistar albino rats were divided in-to six groups (n = 12 per
group). Group (G1) was the control group; G2 was exposed to gasoline vapour alone; G3, G4, and G5
were exposed to gasoline vapour and co-administered 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 1500 mg/kg
C. citratus, respectively; and G6 was exposed to gasoline vapour and co-administered 200 mg/kg vitamin
C. After 35 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed, and blood was obtained for biochemical
analysis. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated by measuring serum levels of the renal biochemical
parameters creatinine (Cr), urea (Ur), glucose (Glu), uric acid (UA), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+),
bicarbonate (HCO3-), and chloride (Cl-). Gasoline vapour-induced nephrotoxicity was confirmed by
histopathological examination of the kidney sections.
Results: Results showed significant (p<0.05) increases in the levels of serum renal biochemical and
hismorphological profile in animals exposed to gasoline alone (G2) compared to the levels in control
animals (G1). However, when Cymbopogon citratus decoction was co-administered, these increases
in renal parameters were dose-dependently reversed. Similar changes were observed in vitamin Ctreated
animals.
Conclusion: The results suggest the ameliorative effect of Cymbopogon citratus on gasoline vapourinduced
nephrotoxicity. The ameliorative effect was evident through improvement of the biochemical
and histopathological markers of nephrotoxicity. The changes observed in malonaldehyde suggest
that the ameliorative effect of Cymbopogon citratus might be attributable to the antioxidant activity of
its bioactive constituents.
