| ARTICLES | Am. J. Inn. Res. Appl Sci. Volume 1, Issue 10, Pages 379-383 (December 2015)

Research Article   EFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MUCUNA PRURIENS LEAVES ON LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION MARKERS IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS   | Muhammad Y. B| Adam, A.A.| Jamil D. U | Lukman O.A | and  | Opke J. M |. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences. 2015; 1(10):379-383.    | PDF FULL TEXT |                        |Received | 07 October 2015|          |Accepted | 01 December 2015|         |Published | 22 December 2015|

Abstract Background: All parts of Mucuna pruriens have been known to possess valuable medicinal properties. This calls for the need to carry out phytochemical and toxicological studies on some of this plant extracts. Objective: The effect of aqueous extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves on liver enzymes; Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and on Kidney functions; urea and creatinine were studied. Method: Sixteen Wistar albino rats were grouped into four (A, B, C and D) each contains four rats. Graded doses (300,600 and 1200mg/kg of body weight) of the aqueous leaves extract were administered to the rats (i.e. groups A, B and C respectively) and distilled water was given to the control (group D). Results: The activity of ALT, AST and ALP and the concentration of Urea and Creatinine at 300 and 600mg/kg body weight were significantly lower (P< 0.05) compared to the control. However, decrease observed in the activity of AST and ALP at concentration of 1200mg/kg was not up to that found at 300 and 600mg/kg concentrations. The median lethal dose (LD50) was found to be 2450mg/kg body weight. The phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates and tannins. Conclusion: The outcome of this research suggests the safety of Mucuna pruriens extract being used traditionally to improve anaemic condition. Key words: Mucuna pruriens, phytohemicals, median lethal dose (LD50), Liver enzymes, Urea and Creatinine.