NEPHROPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS FRUIT PULP AGAINST MERCURIC CHLORIDE-INDUCED RENAL INJURY IN WISTAR RATS: PHYTOCHEMICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, AND HISTOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author:Edobor Obayuwana, Osaretin Flourish Omolola, Joseph Raymond Enoghase’, Erayetan Yusuf Olamide
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2026.41.46

Objective: Artocarpus heterophyllus fruit pulp extract were tested for protective effects against Mercuric Chloride- induced nephrotoxicity experimentally induced in Wistar rats, using phytochemical screening, biochemical parameters and histological studies. Methods: A total of twenty five adult male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups each containing five rats; Group A(control), group B which received Mercuric Chloride(3mg/kg), group C received A heterophyllus (1000 mg/kg), extract+Mercuric Chloride group D received vitamin E (200mg/kg) plus Mercuric Chloride and group E which received A. heterophyllus only. All groups received their respective treatments for four weeks. Phytochemical screening and quantitative phytochemical analysis of Artocarpus heterophyllus fruit pulp were done. Body weight gain, Kidney weight, kidney index, serum urea, serum creatinine and serum electrolytes were carried out. Histological study of kidney tissues using HE stain were performed. Graphpad Prism version 9 was used for data analysis and level of significance was set at p < 0.05 Results: Phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of high amounts of phenols (29 ± 0.48 mg/100 g) and saponins (19 ± 1.1%), while flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids were present in moderate quantities. Injection of Mercuric Chloride significantly reduced body weight gain, caused nephromegaly, increased serum urea and creatinine levels, and resulted in marked histopathological damage in kidneys characterized by tubular necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with aqueous extract of A. heterophyllus fruit pulp and vitamin E effectively reversed body weight loss, restored biochemical parameters, and ameliorated histopathological architecture of kidneys induced by Mercuric Chloride (ANOVA, p < 0.05 ) Oral administration of A. heterophyllus extract alone did not alter body weight gain, renal functions caused no significant histopathological changes in kidneys. Conclusions: Pretreatment with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of A. heterophyllus offered significant nephroprotection against Mercuric Chloride-induced nephrotoxicity which can be attributed to the synergistic antioxidant effect of its phytoconstituents.