Protective Effect of Jackfruit (artocarpus Heterophyllus) on Mercury Chloride Induced-Nephrotoxicity in Adult Wistar Rats

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals such as Mercury chloride, poses significant environmental and health concerns. Anthropogenic activities have significantly elevated heavy metal concentrations, leading to toxicity across various ecosystems. Some Herbal products have been investigated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties offering promising therapeutic benefits. Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit), a fruit used traditionally for various medicinal purposes may provide a potential treatment option for mercury chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. This study investigates the effect of Artocarpus heterophyllus on Mercury chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) Adult Wistar rats weighing between 142g and 182g were randomly separated into five (5) groups with five (5) rats per group. Group A served as control, Group B was administered 3mg/kg of Mercury chloride daily for 28 days, Group C received 1000mg/kg of Jackfruit extract daily for 28 days, Group D received 1000mg/kg of Jackruit extract 30mins before the administration of 3mg/kg of mercury chloride and Group E received Vitamin E 30mins before the administration of 3mg/kg of mercury chloride. Body weight, organ weight, Kidney electrolytes, urea, creatinine were assayed for, Histological changes in the kidney was also assayed. Data were subjected to analysis using Graph-pad prism version 9. Data were presented as mean ± SEM with significance set at P