Renal tolerance study of the ethyl acetate fraction of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redhead (Rubiaceae) extract in rabbit

The effect of the ethyl acetate fraction, from the hydro-alcohol extract of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redhead (Rubiaceae), was evaluated on the tissue and biochemical markers of kidney in Rabbits. Five groups of 6 rabbits each, were injected intraperitoneally, twice a week for four weeks, with this fraction, dosed from 25 to 100 μg/kg body weight, for Groups 2 to 5 while Group 1, received 1 ml of Mac Ewen physiological fluid. Blood sampling carried out to evaluate urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium and potassium changes, showed only slight changes of uric acid and potassium concentrations (p< 0.05) but these changes were within the limits of their normal values in rabbit. Histopathological studies conducted, the sixth week, on the kidneys of two rabbits of each group revealed undamaged tissues. These results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of Morinda morindoides, used in this study, may be well tolerated by the kidney.