Adaptogenic effects of the leaves aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera in rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the adaptogenic effects of the leaves aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera in rats. Thirty two male Wistar rats weighing 154 g were used. Four groups of rats (8 rats per group) were fed a standard laboratory diet with or without the M. oleifera extract (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. The control group rats received distilled water. Rats were allowed for swimming exercise, with a load (10% of body weight) attached to the tail, every alternate day for a period of 14 days and swimming time of each session was recorded immediately. After the last training session, glyceaemia, lactatemia, uraemia, triglyceridemia, hepatic and muscle glycogen, oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde) and hematological parameters were measured. Results shown that extract of M. oleifera ameliorated endurance capacity of rats by an increase in the swimming time, blood hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, hepatic and muscle glycogen reserves and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the extract decreased blood concentrations of malondialdehyde, lactate, triglycerides and urea. These results also confirm that 200 mg/kg is the optimum dose with anti-fatigue activity.