Evaluation of Toxicity Effect of Graded Doses of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Blood Indices Using 20 Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have indicated that Moringa oleifera leaves are a good source of nutrition and exhibit antioxidant activities. Moringa oleifera is being used for many medicinal and nutritional purposes, since it is widely consumed by all for nutritional and varying medicinal purposes; however there is limited scientific data available regarding excessive consumption of this plant. This study is carried out to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on some blood indices. 20 adult wistar rats were used for the study. They were divided into five groups (A, B, C, D & E) of four animals each. Group A served as the control and was orally administered distilled water; the experimental groups B, C, D, & E were orally administered different graded doses of Moringa oleifera leaf extract as follows 2000mg/kg, 3000mg/kg, 5000mg/kg and 7000mg/kg respectively for twenty one days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, blood samples for haematological analysis were collected through cardiac puncture into sterilized glass tubes containing ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant. Packed cell volume estimation was done using microhaematocrit method. Sample dilution was done using Turks fluid and cell count using improved neubauer counting chamber. Platelet count was estimated with ammonium oxalate and cell count using counting chamber. The result of this study suggests that excessive consumption of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract may have little effect on blood parameters with slight changes in white blood cells.