Hepato and Nephro-Protective Effect of Methanolic Extract of Vigna mungo (Linn.) Hepper on Rifampicin Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity of methanolic (MEVM) extract of seeds of Vigna mungo (fabaceae) against rifampicin-induced liver and kidney toxicity in rats. The seed powder of Vigna mungo was successively extracted with methanol and preliminary phytochemical tests were done. The hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity of the MEVM were assessed in rifampicin-induced hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic rats. The MEVM showed presence of amino acids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, proteins, phytic acid, total phenolic compounds, saponins and tannins. Rifampicin produced significant changes in physical; (increased liver weight, decreased body weight), biochemical; (increased serum glutathione pyruvate transaminase, oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin level, increased biood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and uric acid level), histological; (damage to hepatocytes, nephrons) and functional; (thiopentone-induced sleeping time) induced by rifampicin in liver and kidney parameters respectively. Pretreatment with MEVM significantly prevented the physical, biochemical, and histological changes induced by rifampicin in the liver and kidney respectively. The present study indicates that MEVM possessed hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity, though MEVM was found to exhibit greater hepatoprotective activity than Silymarin.