Abstract

Oyewole, O. I.* and Massaquoi, H. O

The effect of ethanolic extract of leaf and root of RAUWOLFIA VOMITORIA on kidney and liver functions in rats was investigated. Rats were given daily oral administration of ethanolic extracts of either root or leaf of R. VOMITORIA at two different concentrations (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg body weight) for a period of 14 days. Some biochemical parameters in the serum, liver and kidney of the rats were measured and compared with control. There were no significant difference (P<0.05) in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, Na+ and K+ in rats treated with the extracts compared with the control. The levels of the enzymes in the liver and kidney of rats that received the extracts were not also significantly different (P<0.05) from the control group. Measurement of organ, body weight ratio did not show any indication of kidney or liver enlargement. These results showed that the extract did not cause derangement of cellular activities in the tissues of the animals. We therefore suggest that administration of ethanolic extract of root and leaf of R. VOMITORIA has no untoward effect on liver and kidney functions in rats.