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ABSTRACT
Moringa oleifera has been traditionally employed in treatment of different ailments without prior knowledge of its effects on kidney and liver functions. This study aimed to evaluate the subchronic effects of the ethanolic root extract of M. oleifera on kidney and liver functions in Wistar rats. M. oleifera root obtained from Obe, Benin City, Nigeria, was pulverized and 600 g of the powder was extracted using 99 % ethanol after authentication of the plant part in the department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology. Sixteen (16) animals were randomly selected and divided into four groups (Groups I, II, III and IV) of 4 rats each. Group I was given 150 mg/kg of the extract; group II, 300 mg/kg; group III, 600 mg/kg while group IV served as the control group. Specified doses of the extract were orally administered to the Wistar rats daily for twenty-one days. The concentrations of sodium (Na+ ), potassium (K+ ), tricarbonate (HCO3 - ), chlorine (Cl- ), urea and creatinine were non-significantly different (P>0.05) from the control. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in the values of hepatocellular enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as concentrations of total bilirubin (TB) and conjugate bilirubin (CB) relative to the control. In addition, no significant difference (P>0.05) existed between all parameters used for lipid profile assessment in comparison with the control. From the study, it was seen that ethanol root extract of M. oleifera is non-toxic to biochemical parameters of Wistar rats and therefore can be considered safe for administration within the study’s regimen.
