Keywords
toxicity
hepatic damage
kidney
How to Cite
Abstract
Summary: The study was conducted to investigate safety associated with prolonged consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves as beverage. Fourteen rats were used in this study. They were divided into 2 groups each containing 7 rats. Rats in group I received 2ml/kg of corn oil (standard vehicle drug). Animals in groups II were administered with 400mg/kg body of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MEMO) for five weeks respectively. Serum collected was analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum total protein, albumin, globulin and AST activity. The activity of ALT decreased but not significant. Similarly, 400mg/kg body of MEMO led to significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum BUN and creatinine. All experimental animals that received 400mg/kb of MEMO had significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight from week to week 4 of the experiment. Taken together, 400mg/kg body of MEMO seemed to be toxic to the liver with apparently no toxicity in the kidney. Hence, prolonged exposure is not advisable as such could portend danger to the liver.
References
Ahmed, F., Urooj, A. (2010). Hepatoprotective effects of Ficus racemosa stem bark against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in albino rats. Pharm Biol. 48:210-216.
Ali, B.H., Ben, T.H. and Basheer, A.A. (2001). Sex related differences in the susceptibility of rat to gentamicin nephrontoxicity: influence of gonad-ectomy and hormonal replacement therapy. Ind J of Pharmacol.33: 369-373.
Anwar, F., Latif, S., Ashraf, M. and Gilani, A.H. (2007). Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple medicinal uses. Phytother Res. 21:17–25
Apeland, T., Mansoor, M.A., Pentieva, K., McNulty, H., Seljeflot, I. And Strandjord, R.E (2002). The effect of B-vitamins on hyperhomocysteinemia in patients on antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsy Res. 51: 237–247.
Apeland, T., Mansoor, M.A., Pentieva, K., McNulty, H. and Strandjord, R.E. (2003). Fasting and post-methionine loading concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 in patients on antiepileptic drugs. Clin Chem. 49: 1005–1058.
Atawodi, S.E., Atawodi, J.C., Idakwo, G.A., Pfundstein, B., Haubner, R., Wurtele, G., Bartsch, H. and Owen, R.W. (2010). Evaluation of the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of the leaves, stem, and root barks of Moringa oleifera Lam. J Med Food. 13:710-716.
Biod, T. and Sirota, B. (1948). In: Watson, A. Practical Clinical Biochemistry. Prentice-Hall of India Private Ltd., New Delhi, India. pp. 142 - 145.
Cheenpracha, S., Park, E.J., Yoshida, W.Y., Barit, C., Wall, M., Pezzuto, J.M., Chang, L.C. (2010). Potential anti-inflammatory phenolic glycosides from the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera fruits. Bioorg Med Chem. 18: 6598-6602.
Chumark, P., Khunawat, P., Sanvarinda, Y., Phornchirasilp, S., Morales, N.P., Phivthong-
Ngam, L., Ratanachamnong, P., Srisawat, S. and Pongrapeeporn, K.U. (2008). The in
vitro and ex vivo antioxidant properties, hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic
activities of water extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. J Ethnopharmacol. 116: 439-
Debnath, S., Biswas, D., Ray, K. and Guha, D. (2011). Moringa oleifera induced potentiation
of serotonin release by 5-HT(3) receptors in experimental ulcer model. Phytomedicine.
:91-95.
Dufour, D.R., Lott, J.A., Nolte, F.S., Gretch, D.R.,Koff, R.S. and Seeff, L.B. (2000). Diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic injury: I. Performance characteristics of laboratory tests. Clin Chem. 46:2027– 2049.
Dufour, D.R., Lott, J.A., Nolte, F.S., Gretch, D.R.,Koff, R.S. and Seeff LB. (2000). Diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic injury: II. Recommendations for use of laboratory tests in screening, diagnosis and monitoring. Clin Chem. 46:2050– 2068.
Evans, G.O. and Whitehorn, L.C. (1995). Effects of pyridoxal 5’-phosphate on plasma alanine aminotransferase determinations in toxicological studies. Toxicol. Lett. 80: 34-37.
Farombi, E.O., Abarikwu, S.O., Adedara, I.A., Oyeyemi, M.O. (2007). Curcumin and Kolaviron ameliorate di-n-butylphthalate-induced testicular damage in rats. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 100:43-48.
Flaoyen, A., Hove, K., Wilkins, A.L. (2001). Tolerance to nephrotoxic component of Narthecium ossifragum in sheep: The effects of repeated oral doses of plant extracts. Vet Res Commun. 25: 127-136.
Ghasi,S., Nwobodo, E. and Ofili, J.O. (2000). Hypocholesterolemic effects of crude extract of leaf of Moringa oleifera Lam in high-fat diet fed Wistar rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 69: 21–25.
Garrison, R. And Chambliss, W.G. (2006). Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on weight management: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 12:50-54.
Gustafsson, J.E.C. (1976). Improved specificity of serum albumin determination and estimation of acute phase reactant” by the use of bromocresol green reaction. Clin Chem. 22: 616-622.
Hall, R.L. (2001). Principles of clinical pathology for toxicology studies. In Principles and methods of toxicology 4th Ed, ed A Wallace Hayes Taylor and Francis, Philadelphia
Lowry, O.H., Rosenbrough, N.J., Farr, A.L. and Randall, R.J. (1951). Protein measurement with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem.193: 265.
Lum, G. (1995). Low activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases. Their significance in alcoholic liver disease. Lab Med. 26: 273–276.
Young, D.S. (2000). Effect of drugs on clinical laboratory tests. Fifth ed. Washington: AACC Press.
Marsh, W.H., Fingerhut, B. and Miller, H. (1965). Automated and manual direct methods for the determination of blood urea. Clinical Chem. 11: 624-627.
Mayne, P.D. (1994). The kidneys and renal calculi. In: Clinical chemistry in diagnosis and treatment. 6th ed. London:Edward Arnold Publications, pp.2-24.
Mehta, L.K., Balaraman, R., Amin, A.H., Bafna, P.A. and Gulati, O.D. (2003). Effect of fruits of Moringa oleifera on the lipid profile of normal and hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. J Ethnopharmacol. 86: 191–195.
Najmi AK, Pillai KK, Pal SN, Akhtar M, Aqil M, Sharma M (2010). Effect of l-ornithine l-aspartate against thioacetamide-induced hepatic damage in rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 42:384-387
Nambiar, V.S. and Seshadri, S. (2001). Bioavailability trials of beta-carotene from fresh and dehydrated drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera) in a rat model. Plant Foods Hum Nutri. 56: 83–95.
Ogunsina, B.S., Radha, C., Indrani, D. (2011). Quality characteristics of bread and cookies enriched with debittered Moringa oleifera seed flour. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 62:185-194.
Oluduro, O.A., Aderiye, B.I., Connolly, J.D., Akintayo, E.T. and Famurewa, O. (2010). Characterization and antimicrobial activity of 4-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-1→4-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-benzyl thiocarboxamide; a novel bioactive compound from Moringa oleifera seed extract. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 55: 422-426.
Oyagbemi, A.A., Omobowale, T.O., Azeez, I.O., Abiola, J.O., Adedokun, R.A., Nottidge, H.O.(2013).Toxicological evaluations of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves in liver and kidney of male Wistar rats.J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol.24(4):307-12.
Palit, P., Furman, B.L. Gray, A.I. (1999). Novel weight-reducing activity of Galega officinalis in mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 51:1313-1319.
PHS (Public Health Service) (1996). Public health service policy on humane care and the use of laboratory animals. US Department of Health and Humane services, Washington DC, USA. Pp. 99-158.
Promkum,C., Kupradinun, P., Tuntipopipat, S Butryee, C. (2010). Nutritive evaluation and effect of Moringa oleifera pod on clastogenic potential in the mouse. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 11:627-632.
Reitman S, Frankel SA (1957). Colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases.Am J Clin Pathol. 28(1):56-63.
Rej, R. (1977). Review: the role of coenzymes in clinical enzymology. Ann Clin Lab Sci.7: 455–468.
Sathesh, K.S., Ravi, K.B. and Krishna, M.G. (2009). Hepatoprotective effect of Trichosanthes cucumerina Var cucumerina L. on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 123:347-350.
Saori, N., Kimio, S., Makoto, M., Tadashi, H. and Yoshihide, O. (2003). Hepatic Alanine-glyoxylate Aminotransferase Activity and Oxalate Metabolism in Vitamin B6 Deficient Rats. The J Urology. 2003; 169:683-686.
Sharma, M.K., Kumar, M. and Kumar, A. (2002). Ocimum sanctum aqueous leaf extract provides protection against mercury induced toxicity in Swiss albino mice. Indian J. Exp. Biol. 40: 1079-1082.
Sherwin, J.E. and Sobenes, J.R. (1996). Liver Function. In: Kaplan LA, Pesce AJ, editors. Clinical Chemistry: Theory, Analysis And Correlation. 3rd Ed. Mosby; St. Louis, Mo: pp. 505–527. Shin, M.O., Yoon, S. and Moon, J.O. (2010). The proanthocyanidins inhibit dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver damage in rats. Arch Pharm Res. 33:167-173.
Singh, B.N., Singh, B.R., Singh, R.L., Prakash, D., Dhakarey, R., Upadhyay, G., Singh, H.B. (2009). Oxidative DNA damage, protective activity, antioxidant and anti-quorum sensing potentials of Moringa oleifera. Food Chem Toxicol. 47:1109-1116.
Sreelatha, S. and Padma, P. R. (2009). Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic Content of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Two Stages of Maturity. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 64:303–311.
Valerio, L.G. Jr., Arvidson, K.B., Busta, E., Minnier, B.L., Kruhlak, N.L., Benz, R.D. (2010). Testing computational toxicology models with phytochemicals. Mol Nutr Food Res.54:186-194.
Viera, G.H., Mourão, J.A., Angelo, A.M., Costa, R.A. and Vieira, R.H. (2010). Antibacterial effect (in vitro) of Moringa oleifera and Annona muricata against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 52: 129-132.
Waner, T. and Nyska, A. (1991). The toxicological significance of decreased activities of blood alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. Vet. Res. Comm. 15: 73-78.
Yousef, M.I., Omar, S.A., El-Guendi, M.I. and Abdelmegid, L.A. (2010). Potential protective effects of quercetin and curcumin on paracetamol-induced histological changes, oxidative stress, impaired liver and kidney functions and haematotoxicity in rat. Food Chem Toxicol. 48:3246-32461.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.