Effects of date fruit extract on paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in wistar rats

This study was aimed to investigate the protective, ameliorative and preventive effects of aqueous Date fruit extract on paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in wistar rats. A total of 30 male albino wistar rats were used for this study. Rats were randomly divided into five groups containing 6 animals each. Treatments were given daily for fourteen days. The animals in the control group (Group I) did not receive any treatment, while those in group 2 received paracetamol (2 g/kg/day). Group 3 were pretreated with aqueous date fruit extract (400 mg/kg/day) for a week before paracetamol administration. Rats in group 4 received paracetamol (2 g/kg/day) for a week before treatment with aqueous date palm extract (400 mg/kg). Group 5 was administered paracetamol (2 g/kg/day) in concurrent with 400 mg/kg aqueous date fruit extract. Exposure of rats with a nephrotoxic dose of paracetamol disturbed the kidney function tests; blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SC) levels increased significantly (P>0.05). The protective use of aqueous date fruit extract on paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity resulted in a significant improvement in most evaluated parameters.   Key words: Date fruit, paracetamol, wistar rats, kidney.