The Effect of Solanum nigrum L. on Histopathology of Liver and Kidneys of Rats
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Solanum nigrum L. is commonly called black nightshade that belongs to Solanaceae (potato) family. It is a fairly common herb or short-lived perennial shrub, found in many wooded areas, as well as disturbed habitats.
Various experimental based scientific studies were conducted in order to investigate the efficacy and safety of S. nigrum extract. It was shown that this plant has various bioactive ingredients such as alkaloids, solanins, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroidal glycoalkaloids, steroidal genin and vitamins. These constituents are responsible for diverse activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and cytoprotective effects. In addition, these bioactive constituents have free radical scavenging capacity and anti-lipid peroxidation activities by stabilization of plasma membranes as well as repair of liver and kidney tissue damage.
Moreover, the result of this review showed that S. nigrum whole plant extract and S. nigrum fruits extract have the capacity to reverse serum levels of ALP, ALT, AST and bilirubin of liver and kidney damages to near normal levels if pathological change occurs. The S. nigrum whole plant extract and S. nigrum fruits extract were found to be safe for the liver and kidney parameters up to 5ml/kg doses. But this extract would have been toxic above 5ml/kg which is considered to be elevated dose. So that safe dosage needs to be identified for children and pregnant women because children have less body resistance and pregnant women may be susceptible to abort since it may induce uterine contraction.
Therefore, further studies are required to isolate the active ingredients from the extract of S. nigrum for proper drug development to treat the above mentioned health problems and to conduct further clinical trials.
Description
Keywords
Anatomy