Comparative Protective Effects of Khaya grandifoliola CDC and Zingiber officinale against Cisplatin Induced Hepatic and Renal Toxicity through Antioxidant Mechanisms
Cisplatin is a widely used platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent whose clinical efficacy is limited by severe hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity mainly mediated through oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study evaluated the protective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Khaya grandifoliola (KG) bark and aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale (ZO) rhizome against cisplatin-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in Wistar rats. Animals were pretreated orally with plant extracts (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) for 12 days before receiving a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (10 mg/kg). Physiological, hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress, and histopathological parameters were assessed. Cisplatin administration induced significant weight loss, hematological disturbances, increased serum creatinine, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as decreased total protein levels and antioxidant defenses (GSH, CAT) accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation (MDA). Histological analyses revealed leukocytic infiltration in the liver and tubular damage in the kidneys. Pretreatment with K. grandifoliola and Z. officinale significantly attenuated these alterations by restoring antioxidant status, reducing lipid peroxidation, normalizing biochemical markers, and preserving hepatic and renal histoarchitecture. The most pronounced protective effects were observed with K. grandifoliola at 25 mg/kg. Nonetheless Z. officinale at 50 mg/kg was proven to be most preventive of weight loss. These findings demonstrate that both plant extracts exert significant hepato- and nephroprotective effects against cisplatin-induced toxicity, likely through antioxidant and cytoprotective mechanisms. The results support their potential use as complementary agents to mitigate chemotherapy-induced organ toxicity and prevent weight loss.