You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
The tree, Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae), is cultivated widely around the world and used for various purposes one of which is as a food supplement due to its health benefits. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera on the liver of Wistar rats. Twenty-four (24) adult Wistar weighing 160-210g were used for this experiment. They were randomly shared in four groups of six rats each. Group A rats served as the control and was administered 1ml of distilled water, Group B rats were given 200mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera (Low dose), Group C rats were given 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Moringa Oleifera (Intermediate dose), Group D was given 800mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera (High dose). The result for the experiment is as follows: There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the body weight change of rats treated with 200mg/Kg Moringa oleifera when compared to the control. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the liver weight of rats treated with 400mg/Kg Moringa oleifera when compared to the control. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the liver/body weight ratio of rats across the treated groups when compared to the control. The histology result of the liver were as followed: Group A (Control) was Composed of normal architecture: hepatocytes, Sinusoids, portal vein, bile duct. Group B (low dose) showed: normal hepatocytes, active vascular congestion and dilatation, Kupffer cell activation. Group C (intermediate dose) showed: normal hepatocytes, Kupffer cell activation, active vascular congestion and dilatation Group D (high dose) showed: normal hepatocytes, active vascular congestion and dilatation, Kupffer cell activation. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using GraphPad prism version 8.1 statistical package and relevant statistical values were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out and data were presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Least significant difference (LSD) post-hoc test was used. Values of P<0.5 were considered statistically significant. The statistical values obtained were converted into graphical representation in form of bar charts. In conclusion, the results from this study shows aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera had no negative effect of the liver of adult Wistar rats, but activated Kupffer cells of the liver, which in other studies is said to possess antioxidant properties.
