Effects of Amaranthus viridis (Inine) Ethanol Leaf Extract on Renal Function and Tissue Homogenate Antioxidant Status in Albino Rats Exposed to Potassium Bromate (KBRO3)
Ude, Justice Chinecherem *
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ujah, Innocent Izuchukwu
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Aloh, Godwin Sunday
Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Ani, Onuabuchi Nnenna
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Obi, Chidera Sandra
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Science and technology, Federal Polytechnic Ohodo, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Potassium bromate (KBrO₃) is an oxidizing agent capable of inducing oxidative stress and renal dysfunction. This study evaluated the effects of an ethanol extract of Amaranthus viridis on renal biochemical indices and liver tissue antioxidant status in potassium bromate-exposed male Wistar rats. Thirty rats were assigned to six groups comprising a normal control, a KBrO₃-treated group (50 mg/kg), three groups receiving A. viridis extract at 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg together with KBrO₃, and a vitamin C group (100 mg/kg) together with KBrO₃. Treatments were administered orally for 14 days. Renal function indices, including urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate, were assessed, while glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde were determined in liver tissue homogenates. Potassium bromate exposure was associated with increased urea, creatinine, sodium, chloride, and malondialdehyde levels and reductions in antioxidant indices compared with the control. Administration of A. viridis extract was associated with improvements in several renal biochemical indices and antioxidant parameters, with the higher doses generally producing values closer to those of the control group. Vitamin C also showed protective effects. These findings indicate that A. viridis ethanol extract may attenuate biochemical alterations associated with potassium bromate-induced oxidative stress under the experimental conditions used. Further studies are required to characterize the active constituents and establish the mechanisms and wider relevance of these observations.
Keywords: Amaranthus viridis, potassium bromate, Wistar rats, renal function, urea, creatinine, electrolyte balance, oxidative stress, liver tissue homogenate, malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes