Abstract 

The effect of Shea butter rich diet on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats was determined. Thirty (30) male and female albino rats grouped into 6 (normal, negative, positive, 10%, 20% and 30% Shea butter rich diet groups respectively) of 5 rats each were used for the study. Phytochemical analysis was carried out on the Shea butter used for this study which revealed the presence of saponin, tannin, alkaloid, terpenoid, flavonoid, and reducing sugar, while coumarin was absent. Nephrotoxicity was induced in all the various groups apart from the normal control by daily intraperitoneal administration of 80mg/kg body weight of gentamicin for 7 days. The induced nephrotoxicity was marked by elevated levels of serum urea (15.90±0.17) and creatinine (129.23±0.46), serum sodium (153.67±1.45), potassium (15.07±0.18), chloride (115.07±0.15) and bicarbonate ions (27.05±0.13) in the negative (untreated) group compared to the normal group (5.23±0.12 urea and 90.03±0.15 creatinine, 133.00±1.15 Na, 5.20±0.15 K, 100.33±0.88 Cl and 20.20±0.15 HCO3 ions respectively). Significantly lower levels of serum urea (11.37±0.20 in 10%, 9.01±0.69 in 20% and 7.23±0.19 in the 30% Shea groups) and creatinine (120.13±0.72 in the 10%, 111.53±0.33 in the 20% and 103.17±0.18 in the 30% Shea groups respectively) were observed following treatment with Shea butter rich diet. Lower levels of serum sodium (146.77±0.91 in the 10%, 141.67±0.45 in the 20% and 137.83±0.17 in the 30% group), potassium (11.03±0.15 in 10%, 9.03±0.09 in 20% and 6.80±0.15 in 30%), chloride (113.00±1.15 in 10%, 109.33±0.68 in 20% and 104.77±0.19 in 30%) and bicarbonate ions (26.83±0.12 in 10%, 24.10± 0.12 in 20% and 23.40±0.26 in 30% Shea groups) were also observed across all Shea butter diet treated groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the negative control. From the result of the study, Shea butter rich diet is effective in ameliorating gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity.