title: Effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on renal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activities in Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of oral administration of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on renal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activities in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 25 and 50 mg/(kg·d) of aqueous extracts of H. sabdariffa were respectively given to rats in the experimental groups for 28 d, and rats in the control group received an appropriate volume of distilled water as vehicle. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activities in the kidney were assayed by spectrophotometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administrations of 25 and 50 mg/(kg·d) of aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa significantly decreased the Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity in the kidney of rats (P<0.05). However, the renal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity of the experimental rats was not affected by either dose of the extract. And the plasma Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+) levels of the experimental rats had no significant changes. Administration of either dose of the extract did not result in any significant changes in body and kidney weights, the concentrations of plasma albumin and total protein, and alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities. However, concentrations of creatinine and urea were significantly reduced by 50 mg/kg of the extract (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that oral administration of aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa may preserve the renal function despite a decreased renal Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. tunjilaw@unilorin.edu.ng
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Olatunji
authors.forename: Taofeek O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Olatunji
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase