Effects of honey supplementation on renal dysfunction and metabolic acidosis in rats with high-fat diet-induced chronic kidney disease.

Background Metabolic diseases are associated with impaired renal function which accelerates chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 16-week honey supplementation on renal function, metabolic acidosis and renal abnormalities in Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods Wistar rats were fed a HFD and sucrose (30%) solution and randomly grouped and treated. Group 1 was fed rat chow and treated with drinking water while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed a HFD and treated with drinking water, 1, 2 and 3 g/kg body weight (BW) of honey, respectively, once daily for 16 weeks. After the rats were sacrificed, the serum samples were obtained and used for the analysis of total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonates and chloride ions. Histopathological examinations of the kidneys were performed. Results The serum creatinine and anion gap levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher while the levels of serum total calcium and ionized fraction were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in HFD-fed control rats than in chow-fed rats. The kidney of HFD-fed control rats was characterized by tubular necrosis, glomerular atrophy, hemorrhage and severe focal aggregate inflammatory (FAIC) cells. Honey treatment (1, 2 or 3 g/kg BW) prevented elevations in serum creatinine while it restored serum levels of total calcium and ionized calcium towards those in rats fed chow only. All the three doses of honey also significantly (p < 0.01) reduced anion gap and ameliorated renal lesions. Honey treatment (2 g/kg BW) significantly (p < 0.05) increased bicarbonate and chloride ion in HFD-fed rats compared with HFD-fed control rats. Conclusions Sixteen-week honey supplementation ameliorates renal dysfunction, metabolic acidosis and renal morphological abnormalities in HFD-fed Wistar rats.

Antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extract from the Icacina senegalensis root bark.

BACKGROUND: The Icacina senegalensis root bark is traditionally used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in Nigeria. To date, no scientific study has substantiated or refuted this claim. METHODS: The antidiarrheal and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol root bark extract were investigated in rats and against some selected diarrhea-causing microorganisms. RESULTS: The extract significantly decreased the frequency of castor oil-induced diarrhea, and inhibited the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid accumulation in the castor oil-induced enteropooling method. The distance travelled by the charcoal meal was also decreased by the extract gastrointestinal transit method. The extract also strongly inhibited the growth of some selected microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS: The ethanol extract of the I. senegalensis root bark showed antidiarrheal activity, thus justifying its long folkloric use in diarrhea treatment. The extract also demonstrated antimicrobial activity against selected diarrheal causing organisms.

In vivo antiplasmodial activity of Bombax buonopozense root bark aqueous extract in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial activity and the oral acute toxicity of the Bombax buonopozense root bark aqueous extract. METHODS: The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the root bark aqueous extract of Bombax buonopozense against early and established rodent malaria infections in chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei strain in mice was investigated, and oral acute toxicity of the aqueous root bark extract of Bombax buonopozense was also evaluated in mice. RESULTS: The findings of this study revealed significant (P < 0.05) and dose dependent decrease in parasitaemia in the parasitized groups treated with varying doses of the extract (50-200 mg/kg p.o.) in both suppressive and curative tests. There was also significant decrease in parasitaemia density in the chloroquine treated group. The aqueous extract was found no toxicity in mice and the oral LD50 was determined to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: Bombax buonopozense root bark aqueous extract possesses potent antiplasmodial activity and may therefore, serve as potential sources of new antimalarial agents.