Carbon tetrachloride induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats: possible protective effects of wild Pleurotus tuber-regium

Background: The economic cost of and liver and kidney diseases in Sub Saharan Africa remain prohibitive, hence the quest for medicinal foods that can reverse hepato-renal damages. The aim of this study is to investigate the hepato-renal protective effect of wild edible P.tuber-regium on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative stress in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Method: Thirty six rats were divided into six groups of six animals each. Group I (negative control) received 10 ml/ kg olive oil intraperitoneal weekly in addition to feed and water ad libitum. Group II (positive control) received CCl4 10 ml/Kg (30% in Olive oil) weekly. Group III, IV and V received 100 mg, 200 mg and 500 mg wild edible P.tuberregium (33.3% in feed) daily in addition to 10 ml/Kg CCl4 weekly. Group VI received 500 mg P.tuber-regium (33.3% in feed) daily. After four weeks, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, bilirubin, urea and fasting blood glucose were determined. Also, the histopathologic examinations of the kidney and liver were carried out. Results: Administration of CCl4 to rats significantly (p< 0.05) decreased the levels of Bilirubin (1.21 ± 0.07), Creatinine (0. 91 ± 0.04) and Urea (45.76 ± 3.10 mg/dl) when compared to control (0.66 ± 0.07, 0.76 ± 0.05 and 24.48 ± 4.70 respectively). Liver and kidney MDA from 14.00 ± 2.60 and 14.00 ± 3.50 in CCl4 only treated groups to 8.60 ± 1.5 and 1.70 ± 0.15 μmol/ mg in the 500 mg P.tuber-regium treated groups. Photomicrographs also showed that P.tuber-regium prevented the fibrosis of the bile duct, glomeruli and tubules seen in CCl4 group. Conclusion: P.tuber-regium may be protective against the CCl4 induced oxidative damage of the hepato-renal system.