Effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Psychotria vogeliana (Benth) leaf on liver function, kidney function, and cytokines level of albino rats induced with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria., N. N Ezeani , C. O Ogbu ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Nigeria., O.O Uche ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria., P. C Agu ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.  & Department of Science Laboratory, Our Saviour Institute of Science, Agriculture and Technology (OSISATECH Polytechnic) Enugu, Nigeria., O Onaadepo ,   Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria, S Zakari ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. & Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom., H Zakari ,   Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Nigeria., C. E Offor ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria., N. N Awoke ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. & Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom., D. E Uti ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Nigeria. &  Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University, Uganda., P.M Aja ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria & Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University, Uganda.
Published: June 2024

Plant-based medicines contained bioactive molecules and functions, as reported in our previous study in Psychotria vogeliana leaf using HPLC. This study investigated the effects of Psychotria vogeliana leaf ethyl acetate fractions on liver, kidney, and cytokine levels in albino rats with rheumatoid arthritis. Six groups of eight female albino rats each were constituted from a total of 48. Group A was used as the control group, and they were given simply normal saline. With 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), rheumatoid arthritis (R.A) was induced in Group B (toxic control). Group C received a standard drug (methotrexate) after being infected with R.A. Groups D, E, and F were given ethyl acetate extract fraction of Psychotria vogeliana leaf at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 28 days after being induced with R.A using CFA. Biochemical parameters measured in R.A rats revealed increased levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, urea, creatinine, BUN, AST, ALT, and ALT compared to the control group. However, albumin and total bilirubin levels decreased. The extracts showed time and dose-dependent ameliorative effects on R.A rats, with anti-arthritic potentials comparable to standard drugs. The extract effectively treated the arthritis by restoring liver, kidney, and cytokine levels against the toxic group. The extracts showed both time and dose-dependent ameliorative effects on arthritic rats, with their anti-arthritic potentials comparable to that of the standard drug. The extract effectively treated arthritis by restoring liver, kidney, and cytokine levels against the toxic group.