Methanolic Leaf Extract of Dracaena trifasciata and Sub-Acute Renal Tubular Cell Death in Wistar Rats

<title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Dracaena trifasciata</italic> (formerly <italic>Sansevieria trifasciata</italic> ) is widely utilized in traditional medicine across West Africa and other tropical regions for managing various ailments. However, comprehensive safety evaluations regarding its systemic toxicity, particularly renal toxicity, remain insufficient. This study evaluated the quantitative phytochemical profile, acute oral toxicity, and sub-acute toxicological impact of the methanolic leaf extract of <italic>Dracaena trifasciata</italic> (MEDTL) on renal function and histoarchitecture in Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative and spectrophotometric quantitative protocols. For the acute toxicity study (LD ₅₀ ), Lorke’s method was employed using Wistar rats up to a dose of 5 000 mg/kg body weight. In the sub-acute study following OECD Guideline 407, 20 Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 5): Control (distilled water 10 mL/kg), 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1 000 mg/kg MEDTL administered orally once daily for 28 consecutive days. On day 29, blood samples were collected for renal biomarkers (creatinine, urea, Na ⁺ , <bold>K</bold> ^{<bold>+</bold>} <bold/> , Cl ^- , HCO ₃ ^- ), and kidneys were processed for light microscopy using Hematoxylin &amp; Eosin (H&amp;E) and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Acute toxicity testing (LD ₅₀ ) demonstrated no mortality or overt signs of severe toxicity up to 5 000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute study, MEDTL induced significant dose-dependent renal impairment. Serum creatinine increased significantly (p &lt; 0.05) from 88.33 (SD 4.41) µmol/L in controls to 118.33 ( SD 3.76) µmol/L (250 mg/kg), 130.00 (SD 10.41) µmol/L (500 mg/kg), and 158.33 (SD 2.03) µmol/L (1 000 mg/kg). Serum urea was significantly elevated at 1 000 mg/kg (7.73 [SD 0.26] mg/dL vs. control 4.17 [SD 0.20] mg/dL; p &lt; 0.05). Electrolyte alterations included significant hyponatremia at 250 mg/kg (121.67 [SD 2.03] \ mmol/L) and hyperbicarbonatemia at 1 000 mg/kg (27.67 [SD 1.45] mmol/L). Renal histopathology (H&amp;E) revealed progressive cortical and medullary injury, characterized by glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial hyperplasia, tubular necrosis, epithelial sloughing, and hyaline cast formation. PAS staining demonstrated basement membrane thinning and loss of proximal tubular glycocalyx brush border integrity at higher doses. Caution is necessary during ethnopharmacological use </p>