Histopathological Effects of Seed Oil of Moringa oleifera Lam. on Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei (NK65)

Abstract

The study assessed the histopathological effects of seed oil of Moringa oleifera on albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. This work included a good idea in the treatment of a causing agent of malaria with Moringa seed oil as bio-natural treatment. Thirty-five mice were divided equally and grouped into five. The mice were acclimatised for seven days and thereafter infected with 0.2 mL Plasmodium berghei (NK65) parasite. The parasites were allowed to establish in the mice for five days before commencement of treatment. Group A - negative control (untreated), group B - positive control (10mg/kg chloroquine treated), group C, D and E were respectively treated with 800, 400, 200 mg/kg seed oil of Moringa oleifera. By oral administration of 0.2 mL of treatment dose, treatment was carried out in four consecutive days and the mice were sacrificed five days thereafter. The liver and kidney extracted from the mice were processed for histological studies. Findings revealed group A had the least packed cell volume (PCV) of 22.23±1.98% and group B had the most PCV of 48.31±1.55% after treatment. The PCV in groups C, D and E were 45.34±1.11%, 41.40±1.00% and 39.19±1.82% respectively after treatment. Coagulative necrosis and inflammation characterised the liver and kidney of mice in groups C and D. Lesions were observed in all the liver of mice treated with the seed oil of M. oleifera and chloroquine. Overall, it can be inferred that the higher the PCV of mice after treatment, the higher the performance of chemotherapeutic agents against parasitaemia. Thus, at 800, 400 and 200 mg/kg dosage, the seed oil of Moringa oleifera could possibly treat malaria. However, administration of a higher dose of the oil and chloroquine should be with caution as both drugs may pose adverse effects on the kidney and liver.

Antimalarial potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae): A review of the ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical evidence

“…These studies regarded the extracts obtained from this species as biologically safe since the evaluated animals did not present relevant behavioral or physiological changes during the acute and subacute toxicity experiments. However, despite the extracts being considered safe, a recent study by Abdulahi et al [44] reported that precautions should be taken when administering M. oleifera seed oil at a dose greater than 200 mg/kg, as this product may be mildly toxic.…”

“…Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological surveys carried out in African and Asian countries have reported the use of M. oleifera for the treatment of malaria in traditional communities [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. These ethnomedicinal uses have been confirmed through in vivo and in vitro assays using different products obtained from the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera against several malaria-causing species of Plasmodium [39][40][41][42][43][44]. It is important to emphasize that the phytochemicals isolated from this species have not yet had their antimalarial activity evaluated in scientific research.…”