Chemopreventive and Anti-leukemic Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Moringa oleifera Leaves on Wistar Rats Bearing Benzene Induced Leukemia

Abstract

Pharmacological exploitation of natural compounds has continued to lead to development of non-synthetic and non-toxic anticancer agents that are promising at ameliorating the menace of neoplastic diseases such as leukemia. This study is an attempt to determine the chemopreventive and antileukemic activities of ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves on benzene induced leukemia bearing rats. Leukemia was induced by intravenous injection of 0.2 mL benzene solution 48 hourly for 4 weeks in appropriate rat groups. Ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera (EMO) leaves was administered at 0.2 mL of 100 mg/mL to respective treatment rat groups. A standard antileukemic drug (cyclophosphamide) was also used to treat appropriate rat groups. Clinical examination of liver and spleen with hematological parameters were employed to assess the leukemia burden following analysis of the rat blood samples on Sysmex KX-21N automated instrument. Leukemia induction reflected in severe anemia and a marked leukocytosis over the control/baseline group. Liver and spleen enlargements were also observed in group exposed to benzene carcinogen. The in vivo antioxidative potential of EMO was evaluated using Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. The liver MDA and GSH levels obtained in benzene induced leukemic rats treated with EMO compared favorably with those obtained in similar treatments with the standard drug (p< 0.05). The extract demonstrated chemopreventive and anti-leukemic activities as much as the standard anti-leukemic drug (p>0.05) by ameliorating the induced leukemic condition in the affected rat groups owing to its bioactive constituents. This study reveals that the extract might be an active, natural and non-toxic anticancer drug lead.

N-Ethyl-n-Nitrosourea Induced Leukaemia in a Mouse Model through Upregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Evading Apoptosis

“…A significant increase in WBC with a decrease in relative neutrophils was reported previously [3]. Similarly, Akanni et al [45] reported that the mean WBC and number of lymphocytes of leukaemic rats induced with benzene carcinogen were significantly higher than those of the control group. The findings of this research were supported further by the report of Law et al [32], where intraperitoneal administration of ENU induced a mixed type of leukaemia 4-7 months post injection; the leukaemia was predominantly lymphoblastic in nature.…”

Alkaloid Extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. Exerts Antitumor Activity in Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

“…For example, the water extract of M. oleifera leaves is known to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in lung cancer [ 14 ], liver cancer [ 15 ], oral cancer [ 29 ], pancreatic cancer [ 17 ], esophageal cancer [ 30 ], Ehrlich ascites carcinoma [ 31 ], and human melanoma cells [ 32 ]. The alcohol extract of M. oleifera leaves can inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in breast cancer, colon cancer [ 33 ], leukemia [ 16 ], and cervical cancer [ 18 ] cells. The methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves can inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer [ 34 ] and prostate cancer [ 35 ] cells.…”

“…M. oleifera extracts possess anti-inflammatory [ 4 ], cardioprotective [ 5 ], hypocholesterolemic [ 6 ], antidiabetic [ 7 ], antihypertensive [ 8 , 9 ], neuroprotective [ 10 ], hepatoprotective [ 11 ], antioxidant [ 12 ], and antibacterial properties [ 13 ], among others. Additionally, various parts of the M. oleifera plant, including the leaves, stem bark, fruit pods, and seeds, have growth inhibitory effects in various types of tumor cells, including lung cancer [ 14 ], liver cancer [ 15 ], leukemia [ 16 ], pancreatic cancer [ 17 ], and cervical cancer [ 18 ].…”

Moringa Genus: A Review of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

“…In addition, high doses of the extract, particularly 2,000 mg/kg, did not exert toxicity on the tested mice. Akanni et al ( 2014 ) reported that an ethanol extract of M. oleifera leaves exhibited antileukemic activity against benzene-induced leukemic Wistar rats. The extract normalized the leukemic condition, increased GSH, and reduced MDA levels in the rats.…”