Abdulwaris Abdulrasheed, Human Anatomy - Bayero University, Kano, 2025

Lead (Pb) is a pervasive environmental pollutant known to induce nephrotoxicity through oxidative stress and inflammation. This study investigated the protective effects of Terminalia catappa bark extract on lead-induced kidney damage in Wistar rats. Twelve rats were divided into four groups: control (distilled water), lead-exposed (90 mg/kg lead acetate), lead + T. catappa (500 mg/kg extract), and T. catappa only. After 21 days, kidney tissues were analyzed histologically. The lead-exposed group exhibited severe tubular necrosis, glomerular atrophy, and interstitial inflammation, while the T. catappa-treated group showed significant preservation of renal architecture, with reduced necrosis and inflammation. These findings suggest that T. catappa bark extract mitigates lead-induced nephrotoxicity, likely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study supports the potential of T. catappa as a natural therapeutic agent against heavy metal-induced kidney damage, warranting further mechanistic and clinical research.