Therapeutic Efficacy of Bi-Herbal Extracts of Aegle Marmelos and Annona Squamosa on Adenine Induced Chronic Kidney Disease in Rats

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the therapeutic impact of bi-herbal aqueous and alcoholic extracts from Aegle marmelos (AM) and Annona squamosa (AS) on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in rats. The extracts were combined in a 0.5:1 and 1:0.5 ratio for AM and AS, respectively, as determined by in-vitro nucleation assay. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups, each consisting of six rats. Control group I remained untreated and did not receive adenine or plant extracts. Group II, serving as the adenine control, received oral adenine at 200 mg/kg once a day for 28 days. Chronic kidney disease was induced in groups II to VI by administering a daily dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt. adenine via intra-gastric route for 28 days, establishing an adenine-induced CKD rat model. Following 28 days of CKD induction, groups III and IV received oral administration of aqueous bi-herbal extracts of AM and AS (in a 0.5:1 ratio) at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg b.wt., respectively. Meanwhile, groups V and VI were given alcoholic bi-herbal extracts of AM and AS (in a 1:0.5 ratio) at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg b.wt., respectively, once daily for an additional 42 days. In this study, various parameters including body weight, feed consumption, haemato-biochemical analysis, urine assessment, ultrasonographic examination, and histopathological findings were evaluated after CKD induction. Treatment with aqueous bi-herbal extracts of Aegle marmelos and Annona squamosa leaves at a dosage of 250 mg/kg b.wt, and alcoholic bi-herbal extracts at 500 mg/kg b.wt showed superior efficacy compared to the lower dosage. Remarkably, the alcoholic extracts exhibited greater efficacy compared to the aqueous extracts. Conclusively, the study suggests that administering bi-herbal aqueous extracts of Aegle marmelos and Annona squamosa at 250 mg/kg b.wt in a 0.5:1 ratio and bi-herbal alcoholic extracts at 500 mg/kg b.wt in a 1:0.5 ratio orally for 42 days post CKD induction in rats exhibited enhanced effectiveness in treating CKD. Further exploration in larger animals is warranted based on these findings.