Asian Hematology Research Journal

The kidney is one of the most important organs of the body saddled with critical physiological functions one of which is the elimination of metabolic waste products from the blood.  Drugs, chemicals, pesticides and pollutants can pose threat to the kidney and often times, collapse its functions. In order to minimize pressure on the already deteriorating organ, treatment should focus more on natural options than the conventionally sourced option of employing synthetics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pawpaw seed extract in the treatment of experimentally induced kidney damage. Seed obtained from ripe pawpaw fruit was dried at room temperature and afterwards extracted. Twenty five (25) adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five (5) rats per group. Group I was the normal control administered with only distilled water. Group II was administered with 100 mg/kg gentamicin and was not treated with extract. Groups III-V were administered with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of Pawpaw Seed Extract respectively for 28 days after which animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for analysis. Biochemical, haematological and histological parameters were determined using standard procedures. Results obtained from this study revealed that increased serum creatinine and urea levels were observed in Group II. However these were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in treated groups with the effect of treatment being more pronounced in groups administered 200 and 400 mg/kg of PSE. It also revealed that extract did not alter the hematological indices of treated rats. In conclusion, PSE can reverse kidney damage and would not alter haematological indices of treated animal.