Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract against Aluminium Induced Liver Damage in Male Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aluminium is a hepatotoxic element that is extensively used in the production of household cookware, storage utensils, water purification and in the preparation of some drugs. Conversely, the leaf extract of Moringa oleifera is hepatoprotective amongst other medicinal and nutritional benefits.The present study evaluated the protective effect of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera on Aluminium induced hepatotoxicity in male albino wistar rats. Eighteen (18) male albino wistar rats weighing between140 and 180 g were divided into 3 groups of 6 animals per group. Group 1 served as control and was given normal rat chow and distilled water; Group 2 was administered 100 mg of Aluminium chloride per kg body weight whereas animals in Group 3 received 300 mg/kg body weight of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera and 100 mg per kg body weight of Aluminium chloride by oral gavage. The rats were sacrificed after 28 days of treatment. Blood and liver samples were obtained and used for the analyses of some marker enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT); haematological indices; lipid profile and histopathological assessment using standard techniques. The results show that Aluminium chloride increased the activities of ALP, ALT and AST significantly (P<0.05). TC, TG and LDL also increased significantly whereas HDL showed a significant decrease (P<0.05). The RBC count, Hb, PCV, lymphocytes and platelets decreased while WBC count and neutrophils increased significantly (P<0.05). Aluminium chloride caused alterations in the normal histology of the hepatocytes consistent with observed changes in enzyme activities. Administration of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera moderated the deleterious effects of Aluminium chloride.

Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf Extract Against Aluminium Chloride Induced Hippocampal Histology and Serum Enzyme activities in adult Wistar rats

“…There was significantly (p < 0.05) higher ALP level between the Aluminium chloride group and the control, indicating that Aluminium chloride may have caused tissue toxicity leading to their leakage into the serum. The present result is in line with Moshtaghie et al (2006) and Akpanyung et al (2018), who reported that Aluminium chloride administration increased ALP. ALP is a polyfunctional enzyme that acts as a transphorylase at alkaline pH, and plays a pivotal role in the mineralization of the skeleton of animals (Zhang et al, 2011), and these may have been compromised.…”

“…ALP is a polyfunctional enzyme that acts as a transphorylase at alkaline pH, and plays a pivotal role in the mineralization of the skeleton of animals (Zhang et al, 2011), and these may have been compromised. As there was no difference with the other test groups compared to the control, it indicates that M. oleifera may have counteracted the activity of the Aluminium chloride which is in line with previous a study (Akpanyung et al, 2018).…”

“…There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the ALT level between the test groups and the control, indicating non-adverse activities of the administered substances in tissues. Nevertheless, the administered Aluminium chloride showed insignificant (p > 0.05) ALT level increase, which indicates that some of the tissues may have been compromised as previously reported (Moshtaghie et al, 2006 andAkpanyung et al, 2018), and in the present study. ALT is involved in protein and amino acid metabolism (Zhang et al, 2011), which may have been compromised.…”

“…Nevertheless, the administered Aluminium chloride showed insignificant (p > 0.05) AST level increase, which indicates that some of the tissues may have been compromised as previously reported (Moshtaghie et al, 2006). The present results are at variance with Akpanyung et al (2018), who reported that Aluminium chloride administration increased serum AST level. As AST is involved in protein and amino acid metabolism (Zhang et al, 2011), this function may have been compromised.…”

Protective effect of vitamin C against theobromine induced hepatorenal and cardio toxicity in male albino Wistar rats

“…Consequently, elevation of LDL-C has a negative impact on the cardiovascular system and could result in cardiovascular events such as arrythmia, cardiac arrest and heart attack (Dayuan and Mehta, 2005). Elevation of LDL-C observed in the present study indicates that administration of theobromine might increase the risk of cardiovascular events (Akpanyung et al, 2018b).…”