Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae) leaf extract

Background: Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (family Lamiaceae), a medicinal herb in West and Central Africa, is ethnomedically employed as an antidote for poison and for the treatment of different diseases and ailments. Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of S.  monostachyus leaf extract against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. Methodology: Hepato-renoprotective effects of S. monostachyus ethanol leaf extract was evaluated against paracetamol- induced liver and kidney injuries in rats. The liver protective property of the ethanol leaf extract (75-225 mg/kg) was investigated by the assessment of liver function parameters, liver antioxidant enzymes and histopathology, while the renoprotective property was evaluated by the assessment of some kidney function parameters, kidney antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. Silymarin (100mg/kg) was used as positive control. Results : The leaf extract exerted significant (p<0.05 – 0.001) dose-dependent decreases in elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP), total cholesterol, direct and total bilirubin as well as increases in serum levels of total protein, albumin and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and GSH. Histopathological study of the liver sections of extract and silymarin-treated rats revealed reductions in the pathological features compared to the paracetamol- treated animals. Leaf extract pre-treatment also resulted in significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decreases in increased levels of serum creatinine and urea without affecting the electrolytes levels. Histopathology of the kidney sections of extract and silymarin- treated rats showed decreases in the pathological features compared to the control group. The chemical pathological results in both liver and kidney agreed with histopathological observations indicating pronouced hepatoprotective and renoprotective effect of the leaf extract of S. monostachyus. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the leaf extract of S. monostachyus has the potentials to protect the liver and kidney against injury which may be due to its antioxidant activity of its constituents and this can be employed in the management of liver and kidney diseases. Keywords: Solenostemon monostachyus, medicinal plant, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antioxidant