Bitter Cassava Juice (Linamarin) and Its Effect on Renal Function Parameters in Konzo-Induced Wistar Rats in Nigeria

The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of bitter cassava juice (linamarine) on renal function parameters in Konzo-Induced Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) adult female wistar rats were divided into five groups of each having 5 rats, Group 1 served as control, were fed with animal feed and water only, group 2 were given bitter cassava and water, group 3 were given 4.7 ml of linamarin, group 4 were given 2.7 ml of linamarin, group 5 were given 0.7ml of linamarin orally for a period of five weeks. The animals were sacrificed and samples analyzed in the laboratory. The results showed a statistical significant at p≤0.05 when compared with the control. Potassium showed significant increase across all the groups treated with bitter cassava induced-konzo and Linamarin compared to the control, revealed significant increase of sodium allthrough the groups treated with bitter cassava induced-konzo and Linamarin compared with the control, revealed an increase of bicarbonate across all the groups treated with linamarin except the group 2 treated with bitter cassava induced-konzo which has a decrease. Statistically, result also showed a significant increase Urea and Creatinine levels in groups 3 and 4 with a significant decrease in groups 2 and 5. The increase observed in urea and creatinine indicates that kidney function would deteriorate as it prolongs which is in accordance with a study carried out by Nehli et al (1994). Hence, the finding of is study has further confirm the effects of bitter cassava induced-konzo and Linamarin on renal functions of using wistar rats model and is in line with Hirsjarvi et al., 1990.