Hepatorenal Effects of Kalanchoe pinnata in High-Fat Diet–Induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats

Background and Objective: Hyperlipidaemia is a critical metabolic disorder that predisposes individuals to hepatic and renal dysfunction through lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Although Kalanchoe pinnata has been widely used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, its role in protecting hepatic and renal function under high-fat dietary stress remains underexplored. This study investigated the effect of Kalanchoe pinnataon liver and renal biomarkers in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidaemic albino rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty female albino rats (200-300 g) were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 6): normal control, negative control (HFD only), positive control (HFD+200 mg/kg simvastatin), and two treatment groups receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg K. pinnata extract, respectively. Hyperlipidaemia was induced using a high-fat diet composed of cholesterol (2%), cholic acid (1%), vanaspati ghee (20%), and coconut oil (6%). Treatments were administered orally for 21 days. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, total protein, albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, and creatinine were measured on days 7, 14, and 21. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v27 with Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the negative control group, liver enzymes were significantly elevated by day 21: ALT (7.05 U/L), AST (26.5 U/L), and ALP (55.0 U/L), while total protein (66 g/L) and albumin (37 g/L) were reduced. Treatment with 400 mg/kg K. pinnata significantly reduced ALT (11.9 U/L), AST (29.0 U/L), and ALP (53.5 U/L) (p<0.05), and restored total protein (78.5 g/L) and albumin (46 g/L). Similarly, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin were reduced from 5.9 μmol/L and 2.75 μmol/L in the HFD group to 6.2 μmol/Land 3.25 μmol/L, respectively, in the 400 mg/kg group. Renal biomarkers (urea and creatinine) showed no statistically significant differences among all groups across all time points (p>0.05), indicating no nephrotoxic effects. The 400 mg/kg dose consistently produced outcomes comparable to the simvastatin-treated group. Conclusion: Kalanchoe pinnata demonstrated potent, dose-dependent hepatoprotective effects in hyperlipidaemic rats, as evidenced by significant improvements in liver enzymes, protein synthesis markers, and bilirubin levels. The extract exhibited no signs of nephrotoxicity. These findings support the traditional use of K. pinnata and highlight its potential for further development as a complementary therapy in the management of lipid-associated hepatic dysfunction.