Effect of Ethanol Extract of Calotropis procera Root Bark on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatonephrotoxicity in Female Rats

Calotropis procera root is used in traditional medical practice for the treatment of various ailments. The possible hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of the ethanolic extract of C. procera root in female rats were investigated. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to induce hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity with significant (P 0.05) increase in the level of serum enzyme markers of hepatotoxicity and nonenzyme markers of nephrotoxicity. Administration of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of the ethanolic extract of C. procera root did not protect the liver and kidney from CCl4-induced toxicity. Pretreatment with the extract rather potentiated the toxicity induced by CCl4. This research result did not support the reported hepatoprotective activity of the extract. It is advised strongly that caution should be taken when ingesting alcoholic preparations of C. procera root.