Evaluation of Methanolic Extract of Bambara Nut on Renal Indices of Wistar Rats

Background: Bambara nut is a common household food in Nigeria especially among the Igbos of the South Eastern part of the country.

Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the effect of Bambara nut on renal indices of Wistar rats.

Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced in Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powder using a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized for seven days during which they were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. They were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each. Rats in group A were administered distilled water while those in groups B, C and D were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of Bambara nut extract 12 hourly for twenty-eight days via oral route of administration. At the end of the treatment, animals were sacrificed under diethyl ether as anaesthesia and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Renal indices were determined using standard methods.

Results: Investigation revealed that Bambara nut had no significant effect on the concentrations of urea, creatinine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Bicarbonate at different administered doses when compared with those in control animals.

Conclusion: The results of this present study revealed that Bambara nut did not compromise the integrity of the kidney and thus not nephrotoxic.