Ameliorative Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Chrysophyllum Albidum Stem Bark on Crude Oil-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Background and Objective: Exposure to crude oil has been linked to serious kidney damage because it contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that disrupt kidney function and cause oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative potential of ethanol extract of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark in Bonny Light crude oil-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five (25) rats (180-200 g) were randomly assigned into 5 groups: Control, crude oil (4 mL/kg); crude oil (4 mL/kg) + silymarin (140 mg/kg); and crude oil (4 mL/kg) + Chrysophyllum albidum extract (200 and 400 mg/kg). Treatments were continued for 21 days. Animals body weights were recorded at the start and end of the experiment. Rats were euthanized, blood and renal tissue were collected for biochemical analysis, including antioxidant enzymes, renal function tests, and lipid peroxidation. Measurements assessed kidney damage and oxidative stress. Results: Bonny Light crude oil (4 mL/kg) body weight resulted in a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and MDA levels, which is indicative of kidney damage. However, there was a significant decrease in potassium (K+), SOD, CAT, and GPx enzymes in the kidney tissue when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings revealed that the ethanol extract of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark possesses potent antioxidant and nephroprotective properties by enhancing the kidney's antioxidant capacity, reducing the nephrotoxicity caused by Bonny Light crude oil in Wistar rats, and boosted the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The reduction in urea, creatinine, sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and MDA levels led to improvements in renal function.