Effects of aqueous extract of Solanum macrocarpum Linn. fruit on serum creatinine, urea and some electrolytes in rats pre-fed 1% cholesterol and groundnut oil
Studies were conducted on the effect of the aqueous fruit extract of Solanum macrocarpum Linn. in hypercholesterolaemic rats. The plant material was Soxhlet-extracted with distilled water and the extract was concentrated in vacuo with a yield of 15.34 % /w. The extract was stored in a specimen bottle at room temperature until when required. The kidney function parameters- w serum creatinine, urea and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphates) were determined. The results showed that with increase in extract dose, the creatinine level increased significantly (p0.05). The effect of the aqueous extract on the electrolytes showed that both sodium and phosphate dose-dependently increased and the increase was significant (p0.05). The change in calcium with increase in extract dose was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The increase in sodium ion could be due to the high level of Sodium in the plant or as a result of loss of body fluid. Elevated levels of creatinine observed in this study may be due to impaired kidney function