Volume 18, number 3
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Continuous Intake of High Doses of Piper guineense (Ashanti pepper) Aqueous Seed Extract Impairs Renal Function in Wistar Rats

Somke Pamela Madueke, Princewill Ikechukwu Ugwu , Chinaza Amarachi Uguru , Adaobi Pearl Okeke, Okechukwu Maduabuchi Omire-Oluedo, Sandra Ugonne Ugwu , Vivian Ifeyinwa Nwannadi and Daniel Chukwu Nwachukwu

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

Corresponding Author E-mail: princewill.ugwu@unn.edu.ng

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2942

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Piper guineense seed is a well known spice consumed in many parts of West Africa as a result of its nutritional and medicinal properties. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five per group. The phytochemical analyses was done; different concentration of aqueous seed extract of Piper guineense was administered for 21 days to three experimental groups, Group 2 (25 mg/kg), Group 3 (50 mg/kg), Group 4 (100 mg/kg), while group 1 were given only rat feed and water. RESULTS: The investigation revealed that in low and medium dose groups, creatinine (62.3±7.3 to 51.1±4.5 and 51.1±8.1 respectively) and urea (6.6±1.3 to 5.2±0.8 and 4.8±1.0) levels decreased significantly while in high dose group, creatinine (62.3±7.3 to 66.9±11.0) and urea (6.6±1.3 to 7.0±0.8) increased significantly. There was a dose dependent increase in the serum electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chlorine and bicarbonate). Only bicarbonate (19.1±0.8 to 24.3±1.3) and chloride (102.4±3.8 to 107.0±1.6) had significant increase in their values. The histological study showed that at a low (25mg/kg) and medium dose (50mg/kg) of aqueous seed extract of Piper guineense the normal cyto-architecture of the kidney was maintained while in high dose group (100mg/kg) normal cyto-architecture of the kidney was distorted. CONCLUSION: The result obtained suggests that Piper guineense seed may not be harmful at a moderate dose; but high doses could be toxic. Caution should be taken on the quantity of Piper guineense seed consumed.

KEYWORDS: Aqueous; Kidney; Piper Guineense; Rats

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Madueke S. P, Ugwu P. I, Uguru C. A, Okeke A. P, Omire-Oluedo O. M, Ugwu S. U, Nwannadi V. I, Nwachukwu D. C. Continuous Intake of High Doses of Piper guineense (Ashanti pepper) Aqueous Seed Extract Impairs Renal Function in Wistar Rats. Biosci Biotech Res Asia 2021;18(3).
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Madueke S. P, Ugwu P. I, Uguru C. A, Okeke A. P, Omire-Oluedo O. M, Ugwu S. U, Nwannadi V. I, Nwachukwu D. C. Continuous Intake of High Doses of Piper guineense (Ashanti pepper) Aqueous Seed Extract Impairs Renal Function in Wistar Rats. Biosci Biotech Res Asia 2021;18(3). Available from: https://bit.ly/3FM4R0Z

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