Abstract

Okoko Tebekeme and Awhin Ejiro Prosper

The effect of Garcinia kola extract on cisplatin-induced renal insufficiency in rats was studied. A total of fifteen rats were used for the study and were split into three groups of five rats per group. Rats in group I were normal controls. Renal insufficiency was induced in rats of groups II and III by a single intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.). After three days, rats in group III received a daily dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. of the extract orally for another seven days. Renal insufficiency was later assessed by serum urea, serum creatinine and urine protein levels. The results showed that the levels of the measured parameters which were elevated as a result of the cisplatin administration were brought to near normal levels by the G. kola seed extract. This indicates that G. kola possessed significant potentials of ameliorating mild kidney insufficiency induced by the anticancer drug, cisplatin.