Asian Journal of Advances in Research

Aim: This study aimed at assessing the time-dependent alterations in renal biomarkers of Mice exposed to Aspartame and ethanolic extract. of Sacoglottis gabonensis.

Study Design: The study was a completely randomized design employing relevant statistical tools for analysis and interpretation.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University. The experiment lasted for 90 days between January and April 2021.

Methodology: A total of ninety mice were assigned to six groups (A-F) of fifteen mice each. Group A received 50mg/kg/bw/day of aspartame and 250mg/kg/bw/day of Sacoglottis gabonensis ethanolic leaf extract.  Group B received 50mg/kg/bw/day of aspartame and 250mg/kg/bw/day of ethanolic bark extract of S.gabonensis.  Group C received 50mg/kg/bw/day of aspartame and 250mg/kg/bw/day of a combination of bark and leaf extract. Group D received 50mg/kg/bw/day of aspartame and 500mg/kg/bw/day of a combination of bark and leaf extract. Group E was the control and group F received 50mg/kg/bw/day of aspartame only. All the groups were exposed to the treatment by oral gavage for 30, 60 and 90days.  Blood samples were collected individually by cardiac puncture to assay for the kidney function biomarkers and statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Analyses System SAS 9.4.

Results: At 30 days, all parameters (TP, ALB, TB, CB, UR and CR) showed only mild fluctuations with no significant(p>0.001) difference in the values across the treatment groups and the control. By 60 days, more pronounced changes were observed. Total protein and albumin levels increased significantly (p<0.001) particularly in group F, while total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, urea, and creatinine also showed marked elevations in groups B and F. At 90 days, most biomarkers began to stabilize, a nonsignificant decrease in ALB and TB was recorded in groups co administered S. gabonensis compared with group F administered aspartame only.

Conclusion: A short-term exposure to aspartame or Sacoglottis gabonensis extract (30 days) did not immediately disrupt kidney function but the pronounced spikes in total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and protein indices at 60 days, especially in the aspartame-only group, point to the onset of hepatic stress and renal impairment. At 90 days, the partial decline in all biomarkers reflect possible physiological adaptation or the protective effects of Sacoglottis gabonensis in co-treated groups. However, this pattern demonstrates that prolonged aspartame exposure exerts toxic effects on kidney function, while S. gabonensis demonstrated a potential nephroprotective role, mitigating the adverse biochemical effects induced by aspartame.