Biochemical and histological investigation on the protective effect of poly-herbal extract in high salt diet-fed male Wistar rats

Through different mechanisms, excessive intake of dietary salt has been documented as a risk factor for the development of elevated blood pressure and organ dysfunction. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy of combined extracts of four medicinal plants against high salt diet-induced succinate dehydrogenase depletion and alteration in vital organ (kidney, liver, and cardiac) hemostasis. Thirty-five male Wistar rats with an average weight of 130 g were divided into 5 groups of 7 animals each. Group 1 and 2 rats were fed with normal rat chow (NRC) and 16% high salt diet (HSD) only respectively. Rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 were fed with 16% HSD and 800, 400, and 200 mg/kg poly-herbal extract (PHE), respectively, once daily for 4 weeks. The concentration and activities of creatinine, urea, sodium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, albumin, globulin, total protein, and alkaline phosphate (ALP) were estimated in the serum. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were estimated in the serum, liver, and aorta. The result revealed that the combined extract significantly (p