Background Globally, Moringa oleifera is used by different communities to treat various ailments including modulation of the immune system though with limited scientific evidence. Aim To study the immunomodulatory activity of M. oleifera methanolic leaf extract in Wistar albino rats. Methods An experimental laboratory-based study was done following standard methods and procedures. Nine experimental groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) each comprising of six animals were used. Group I received normal saline. Groups II to IX received 200 mg/kg bwt cyclophosphamide at the beginning of the study. Group III received 50 mg/kg bwt of an immunostimulatory drug levamisole. Groups IV to IX were dosed daily for 14 days with extract at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg bwt, respectively, using an intragastric tube. Complete blood count (CBC), delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH), neutrophil adhesion test, and hemagglutination antibody titer were determined using standard methods and procedures. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad prism 5.0a Software. Results There was an increment in WBC, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts at a dose of 1000 mg/kg bwt similar to the levamisole-positive control group. The neutrophil adhesion was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) for treatment groups that received 1000 mg/kg bwt (29.94%) and 500 mg/kg bwt at 17.28%. The mean percentage increment in footpad thickness was highest (26.9%) after 8 h of injection of antigen in the footpad of rats dosed 500 mg/kg bwt and this later reduced to 25.6% after 24 h. There was a dose-dependent increment in the mean hemagglutination antibody titer to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) from 10.73±0.57 HA units/μL for the 250 mg/kg bwt to 26.22±1.70 HA units/μL for the 1000 mg/kg bwt. Conclusions Methanolic leaf extract of M. oleifera caused a significant immunostimulatory effect on both the cell-mediated and humoral immune systems in the Wistar albino rats.

Background: M. oleifera is a highly valued medicinal plant used widely from time immemorial to treat various ailments. However, with continued un-standardized use of the plant leaves, studies have reported organ toxicity to the liver, kidney and the heart. As communities continue to use M. oleifera leaves for its medicinal and nutritional values, there is need to find an antidote for its hepatotoxicity. Aim: The study established the reversal effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on M. oleifera aqueous leaf extract-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Twenty-four (24) rats received a toxic dose (8.05 g/kg bwt) of M. oleifera leaf extract for 28 days to cause sub-acute hepatotoxicity. They were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group I received 1 ml normal (control group), Group II received 1000 ng/kg NAC, Group III received 1200 mg/kg NAC and Group IV received 1500 mg/kg NAC. Another group of 6 rats (Group V) received 0.75 mg/kg Paracetamol to cause hepatotoxicity. Group V (a positive control) received the prescribed clinical dose of 1200 mg/kg NAC which reverses the hepatotoxicity. All the NAC doses were given once a day intragastric for 7 days. On days: 1, 3 and 7 of receiving NAC, liver serum enzymes and bilirubin were measured. On day 7 the animals were sacrificed and liver tissue harvested for histopathology analysis. Results: A dose of 8.05 g/kg of M. oleifera leaf extract and 0.75 mg/kg Paracetamol were able to induce hepatotoxicity in Wister albino rats in 28 days. The M. oleifera

Background: Arsenic is one of the major toxic metals in the environment that is also known to be carcinogenic with several other health side effects in human beings. It can cause both acute and chronic toxicity depending on the doses available or duration of exposure in the human body. The major sources of arsenic exposure to humans include; via contaminated water, food and inhalation of arsenic dust from polluted air from car-fumes or industrial wastes and mining/ smelting grounds. Due to the fact that high levels of arsenic have been reported in rice from major rice-growing countries in Asia and rice being a major stapple food in Uganda, some of which is imported, this study aimed at determining the concentration of total arsenic in various rice brands sold in Uganda. Methods: Various rice brands weresampled from different supermarkets and grocery shops, taken to the laboratory and analyzed for arsenic using atomic absorption spectrometry. The arsenic concentration in the rice were determined following boiling or overnight soaking in plenty of water to see if these two approaches can help in significantly reducing the arsenic in the rice. The concentration of arsenic in the various brands of rice were compared using an unpaired t-test after setting a p-value of ≤0.05 as significant. Results: The York taste rice brand had the lowest arsenic levels of 1.4±0.0002 ppm and Zhong Yi rice brand had the highest levels of 2.4±0.004 ppm. The tap water used to boil, soak and wash the rice brands had much higher arsenic levels of 3.5±0.000003 ppm, which caused increased retention of the heavy metal in the rice. Conclusion: Rice brands sold in Kampala city seem to have higher than acceptable arsenic levels than what is recommended by WHO or American food and drug authority. The high levels of arsenic in tap water used in preparing the rice causes increased retention of the metal on boiling, soaking and washing. It is therefore, necessary to routinely monitor for arsenic levels in the rice on the market and domestic water sources so as to protect the general public from arsenic toxicity.

Selenium is an essential trace element that is crucial for normal functioning of human body systems and it is obtained from diet or dietary supplements. The concentration of selenium (Se) varies from soil-to-soil and therefore in various food types. We profiled the selenium concentration in the major African fresh foods and studied the effect of boiling, frying and overnight soaking on their selenium content. The foods were taken to the chemistry laboratory, processed for determining selenium concentration in the fresh foods and then subjected to the various treatments before determining their Se concentration using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Among the fresh foods studied, pumpkin seeds were found to have the highest Se concentration (109.25 ± 0.125 parts per billion (ppb)), while Irish potatoes had the lowest (16.25 ± 0.125 ppb). In most fresh foods studied, boiling and frying had the effect of reducing the Se concentration, except in yams that showed an increased concentration after frying. Overnight soaking of matooke (plantain bananas) and beans showed an effect of causing a considerable reduction in the Se concentration from 36.375 ± 0.281 ppb and 59.125 ± 0.031 ppb to 14.03 ± 0.441 ppb and 24.375 ± 0.281 ppb, respectively. Boiling and frying cause a significant reduction in Se concentration of most African fresh foods. Overnight soaking of matooke and beans caused further reduction in the selenium concentration of the fresh foods. This implies that people who pre-soak their food before cooking it are likely to lose more selenium than those who do not soak and may be more likely to suffer from Se deficiencies.

Background: Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a commonly used medicinal and nutritive plant. The aqueous leaf extract from this plant contains a high concentration of alkaloids and they are toxic to body organs especially the liver leading to hepatotoxicity after long term exposure. However, if N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) is administered together with M. oleifera extract, it may have a hepatotoxic protective effect. Objective: To establish the protective effect of N-Acetyl cysteine against M. oleifera aqueous leaf extract-induced hepatotoxicity in the Wistar albino rats. Methods: An experimental laboratory-based study conducted at department of Physiology Makerere University, College of Health Sciences. Three treatment groups of six Wistar albino rats each, were dosed intragastrically once a day for 28 days. Group I; negative control, received 8.05g/kg bwt of M. oleifera extract plus 1ml of normal saline (NS), Group II; test group, received 8.05g/kg bwt of M. oleifera extract plus 50mg/kg of NAC. Group III; positive control, received 750mg/kg bwt of Paracetamol plus 50mg/kg of NAC. On the 14th and 29th day, three animals selected randomly from each group were sacrificed; blood samples were collected, the liver was harvested for histopathological analysis.  Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and total protein levels were determined. Results: There was an increase in serum ALT, AST and ALP levels in the M. oleifera extract plus NS group which was a sign of hepatotoxicity. The M. oleifera extract plus NAC group showed normal serum ALT, AST and ALP levels with no significant changes in the bilirubin (P-value = 0.9089) and total protein levels (P-value = 0.8858). Conclusion: The results have provided evidence that NAC administration with M. oleifera extract effectively prevents the occurrence of M. oleifera leaves xtract- induced hepatotoxicity.

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Introduction: Diabetes being one of the commonest non-communicable diseases worldwide has no cure. The available hypoglycemic drugs are costly, and have associated long-term side effects.  M. oleifera leaves are used in many countries in Africa and Asia to treat diabetes. The study compared the hyperglycemic control of M. oleifera leaves aqueous extract and Glibenclamide tablet in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-four female Wistar albino rats, made diabetic using alloxan monohydrate, received either M. oleifera extract, glibenclamide or distilled water were delivered intragastric. The mean body weight and mean fasting blood sugar were measured over a period of 28 days.  Results: Rats that received distilled water had a mean fasting blood sugar of 329.3+44.9 mg/dl at the beginning, which increased to 448.0+189.9 mg/dl on day 14; all   the rats were dead by day 21. The rats that received M. oleifera had blood sugar 443.4+134.7 mg/dl at the beginning, dropped to 166.5+162.79 mg/dl by day 14, and to 88.7+41.0 mg/dl by day 28. Rats that received glibenclamide had blood sugar 517.6+139.3mg/dl at the beginning, dropped to 209.0+201.9 mg/dl on day 14, and to 89.7+42.85 mg/dl on day 28.  The blood sugar of the M. oleifera and glibenclamide groups reached normal level by day 21 and remained within the normal range up to day 28. Conclusion: Moringa oleifera leaves aqueous extract has similar pattern to glibenclamide tablet in causing hypoglycemia to alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats.