Evaluation of serum uric acid, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen as biomarkers of renal function of rats administered Nigerian bonny light crude oil (NBLCO) and 50% bee honey

The nephrotoxic effect of Nigerian Bonny-light crude oil (NBLCO) was assessed using serum uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen as indicators of kidney function. Eighteen Wistar rats were divided into three groups, Groups I, II, and III. Group I was administered 3ml/kg of 0.9 % saline and served as control. Group II was administered 3 ml/kg of crude oil (NBLCO) whereas group III was co-administered 3 ml/kg of crude oil and 3 ml/kg of 50 % bee honey for of twenty-one (21) days. The result obtained showed that NBLCO significantly increase serum uric acid, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels compared to control (P<0.05). But, co-administration of bee honey with NBLCO in group III significantly increase serum values of the aforementioned parameters (P<0.05) compared to both the control and NBLCO groups (P<0.05). This research concludes that chronic ingestion of crude oil has the potential to depress kidney function with propensity to cause kidney damage and has also demonstrated that co-administration of 50% bee honey is unable to prevent the hazardous effects of NBLCO on the kidney.