Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and nephroprotective activities of Ziziphus lotus Lam. leaf extract in paracetamol-induced renal toxicity in rats and molecular docking analysis

Abstract

Ziziphus lotus Lam. is a medicinal plant that is used mostly in Nigeria and parts of Africa for treating many diseases. The study was aimed at assessing the phytoconstituents, evaluating antioxidant and nephroprotective activities against paracetamol-induced renal toxicity in rats and molecular docking analysis of leaf extract. Liquid-liquid partitioning was carried out for most active fraction while column chromatography was used for the isolation of bioactive compounds and analyzed by the GC-MS. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined using standard methods, antioxidant activity by DPPH (2-2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2’azinobis (3ethyl-benzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid) scavenging assays and nephroprotective activity was evaluated at various extract doses in rats. Molecular docking studies were carried out using AutoDock Vina software. The GC-MS profiling of the extract revealed the presence of 18 compounds with five compounds showing the strongest activities. Molecular docking studies of the most bioactive compounds predicted potential antioxidant and nephroprotective effects. The results further revealed a total phenolic content of 408.12 mg GAE/g and a flavonoid content of 88.01 mg QE/g. It also showed significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging at concentrations 0 to 800 µg/mL. There were significant abnormal increases in the biochemical parameters before the treatment of rats, and these increases were reduced significantly on administration of the leaf extract. Our study showed that Z. lotus extract possessed antioxidant activity and reversed kidney toxicity, thus, justifying its uses as an ethnomedicinal remedy for kidney problems.