Effect of ethanolic root extract of jathropha tanjorensis on kidney function of female albino wistar rats

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>1.0 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Background of the Study &nbsp; &nbsp;</strong></p><p>&nbsp; An increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialized societies has been traced to the extraction and development of many drugs and chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used herbal remedies (Tapsell <em>et al</em>., 2006). A large and increasing number of patients use medicinal herbs or seek the advice of their physician regarding their use. Without doubts, the benefits derived from using medicine obtained from plants are that they are relatively safer than synthetic alternative by offering profound therapeutic benefits and more affordable treatment (Stepp, 2004).</p><p>&nbsp; <em>Jatropha tanjorensis</em>&nbsp;belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and it shows intermediacy in phenotypic characters between <em>J. gossypifolia</em>&nbsp;and <em>J. curcas</em>&nbsp;(Prabakaran and Sujatha, 1999). It is commonly called hospital too far, Catholic vegetable, Iyana-ipaja, lapalapa (Iwalewa <em>et al</em>., 2005).</p><p>&nbsp; In Nigeria, the leaf of <em>J. tanjorensis</em>&nbsp;has been used locally, consumed as a vegetable and it is popular as a natural remedy against diabetes in this region (Olayiwola <em>et al.</em>, 2004). Recent claims have it that the plant is no longer safe for use and that it could be tox</p> <br><p></p>