Acute effect of administration of ethanol extracts of Ficus exasperata vahl on kidney function in albino rats

Administration of ethanol extracts Ficus exasperata. Vahl at doses 50, 200, 500 mg/kg body weight resulted in body weight gain in all extract -administered groups over a 3-day period. Mean relative kidney weight increased from 7.5 x 10-3 ± 8.7 x 10-4 in the control group to 1.2 x 10-2 ± 5.3 x 10-5 in the highest dose group. Serum urea concentration also increased in a dose dependent manner (4.35 ± 0.045, 4.70 ± 0.00, 5.06 ± 0.53, 5.50 ± 0.58) in groups I, II, III and IV respectively. Serum sodium concentration also increased from 44.95 + 10.94 in the control group to 98.85 + 0.0, 123 ± 1.95 and 152.0 ± 35.70 in groups II, III, and IV respectively. These findings suggest that the administration of ethanol extracts of Ficus exasperata. Vahl at high doses could affect kidney function.   Key words: Ficus exasperata, Vahl, kidney function, ethanol extracts, serum, sodium, urea.