Antioxidant and protective effects of methanolic Solanum nigrum leaf extract against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and renotoxicity in albino rats.

BACKGROUND

There is growing interest in natural antioxidants, particularly Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum), because of their potential to protect against oxidative stress-induced organ damage and their intriguing historical use in treating various medical conditions.

AIM: This pioneering study examined the unique antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective effects of S. nigrum methanolic leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity in albino rats.

METHODS

Thirty albino rats (100-120 g) were used. The 2.2 di-(4-tretoctylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of S. nigrum extract. This study examined the protective effects of 150 and 300 mg/kg leaf extract against CCl4-induced toxicity. Body weight, hematological markers, and kidney and liver function were assessed. Histological analysis of liver and kidney tissue was performed.

RESULTS

The radical scavenging activity of S. nigrum was a remarkable 85.02 ± 0.01 RSA%, compared to 66.83 ± 0.02 RSA% for gallic acid, with IC50 values of 58.3 and 1.22 μg/ml, respectively. Solanum nigrum treatment significantly decreased alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities relative to CCl4-induced toxicity, a finding of significance in pharmacology and toxicology.

CONCLUSION

The S. nigrum methanolic extract has an IC50 value of 58.3 μg/ml, demonstrating potent natural antioxidant properties that mitigate hepatotoxicity and renotoxicity induced by CCl4.