Cymbopogon citratus Leaf Extract Mitigates Hepatorenal Injury in Carbon Tetrachloride and Rifampicin-Exposed Rats

Abstract

The rising trend in the global burden of liver and kidney diseases calls for concern. The present study therefore investigates the medicinal potentials of C. citratus in rat model of hepatorenal toxicity. Forty male albino rats were randomly grouped and exposed to carbon tetrachloride (3 ml/kg bw.) and rifampicin (250 mg/kg bw.) toxicity and post-treated with C. citratus leaf extract and silymarin (100 mg/kg bw) as standard drug according to experimental design. Specific biomarkers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), urea, uric acid, total bilirubin, total protein (TP) as well as lipid profile were determined. Exposure to toxicants caused a marked decrease in antioxidant enzymes and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with concomitant increase in triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, urea and uric acid were markedly increased in animals exposed to toxicants without post treatment with the extract. Post-administration of C. citratus leaf extract caused a decrease in AST, ALT and ALP, TC, TG and LDL-c while there was significant increase in the level of HDL and antioxidant enzyme relative to the untreated group. Effect of C. citratus was comparable to the reference drug, silymarin (100 mg/kg) at the same dose. The study showed the medicinal potentials of C. citratus as revealed in both biochemical and histopathogical parameters. Hence, it is a choice candidate that can be exploited in the treatment of liver and kidney diseases.