Effect of Ganoderma lucidum, Astaxanthin, Liv.52 HB and STC30 on Renal Function Parameters of Animal Models with CCL4 Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Kidneys are vital organ involved in the elimination of waste and toxins from the body and maintenance of homeostasis among other functions. Following the entrance of pathogen or xenobiotics into the body, the immune system respond and in most instances, this responses are out of proportion due to release of pro-inflamatory cytokines and the hyper response of the immune system may end up attacking certain organs of the body and hence, altering the physio-biochemical role of such organ. This study investigated the effect of some natural products commonly used in the management of hepatitis and it associated biochemical alterations on other key systems of the body. Albino Wistar rats weighing 60 to 120g were used for this study. The animals were divided into seven (7) groups of five (5) animals each. Group 1 served as the normal control and were not induced while animal in group 2 to 7 were all induced for Hepatocellular carcinoma using CCl4. Group 2 served as positive control and where not treated while animals in group 3 to 7 received various forms of naturopathic remedy as treatment; Ganoderma lucidium, Astaxanthin, Liv 52 Hb, STC30 and combination of all the remedies respectively. The treatment lasted for a period of three weeks (21 days). Twelve (12) hours after last treatment, the animals where sacrifice under chloroform anesthesia and blood samples collected via cardiac puncture. The blood samples were centrifuge at 4000rpm for 10 minutes to obtain the serum. The serum was separated and used for the estimation of serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine to examine the renal functions. Results of the investigation showed that; the serum urea concentration in group III (6.64±0.27), V (3.88±0.15), VI (3.66±0.12) and VII (3.80±0.22) where significantly (p≤0.05) decreased compared to group II (7.16±0.18) the positive control. Similar trend was also observed for serum creatinine. Serum electrolytes concentration; Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3- recorded slight varying degrees of changes across all treated groups at p≤0.05 compares to the positive and normal control. From our results, HCC induced animals treated with Ganoderma lucidium, STC30, Liv 52 Hb and combined treatment showed varying degree of renal function improvement by improving glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The reduction in GFR can be observed in the positive control group as presented by it many abnormal renal parameters’ values which is indicative of renal failure and poor GFR. Administration of these natural products however, caused an observed initiation of renormalization in the values of some of the renal parameters with most of the treated groups having values that are significantly different from those of the positive control group at p≤0.05 which was not treated after induction of HCC. It may thus be concluded that the treatments used had positive effects on the Glomerular filtration rate which led to improve values of some of the renal parameters in the groups treated with these natural products.