Bryophyllum pinnatum inhibits arginase II activity and prevents oxidative damage occasioned by carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in rats.

Bryophyllum pinnatum (B. pinnatum) (Lam.) Oken is used in tropical Africa for the treatment of several diseases such as kidney and urinary disorders. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of B. pinnatum on arginase II activity and its prevention against renal oxidative damage occasioned by CCl in rats. Rats were randomly divided into six groups; group I served as the control, group II served as carbon tetrachloride (CCl) intoxicated group, group III-V animals were pre-treated with silymarin (25 mg/kg body weight), 25 mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum (AEBP) and 50 mg/kg body weight AEBP, respectively, for 14 days, followed by a single injection of CCl Group VI rats received AEBP only (50 mg/kg body weight). Results obtained revealed that CCl intoxication significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of renal markers (serum urea, creatinine and arginase II) in rats when compared to the control group. Further, oxidative stress status appeared in CCl-intoxicated rats, as evidence by significant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA), with concomitant decrease in levels of functional sulfhydryl groups (SH), antioxidant enzymes and nitric oxide in rats' kidney. These adverse changes, due to CCl intoxication in rats, were however, prevented by pre-treatment with AEBP leaves (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight). The inhibition of arginase II, as well as increased antioxidant status by AEBP in CCl-intoxicated rats suggests that B. pinnatum can protect kidney against CCl-induced oxidative damage.