Hepatoprotective Effect of Moringa Oleifera Leaves Extract on Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage in Rats
Moringa oleifera (MO) is reported to have various medicinal properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of MO leaf extract against acetaminophen (APAP) induced liver damage in rats. A dose of 3g/kg APAP was selected to induce liver damage. Seventy male Sprague-Daw...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2007
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7134/1/FPSK%28M%29_2008_2a.pdf |
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| Summary: | Moringa oleifera (MO) is reported to have various medicinal properties. The aim of
this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of MO leaf extract against
acetaminophen (APAP) induced liver damage in rats. A dose of 3g/kg APAP was
selected to induce liver damage. Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=70) were
divided into seven groups. Five groups of animals were given various oral
pretreatments of 200mg/kg MO, 800mg/kg MO and 200mg/kg Silymarin (Sil) in
distilled water at 3ml/day for fourteen days. Meanwhile, two groups served as
hepatotoxicity (3g/kgAPAP) and vehicle (40% sucrose) control groups were given
distilled water in the similar manner. On day 15, the animals were challenged with
3g/kg APAP in 40% sucrose except for rats in the vehicle (40% sucrose) and MO
control groups which received 40% sucrose solution. After 24 and 48 hours blood
was withdrawn and livers were harvested. Plasma was prepared and liver function
was carried out to determine levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Liver samples were taken
for histopathalogical examination, measurement of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and
glutathione reductase (GR) activities as well as determining malondialdehyde
(MDA) levels. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and Kruskall Wallis analysis of variance coupled with the Mann–Whitney
U-test. APAP treatment caused significant elevation (p<0.05) of ALT, AST after 24
and 48 hours. Histopathological observations substantiated these findings showing
significant (p<0.05) liver damage. APAP treatment caused marked reduction
(p<0.05) in hepitic GSH content, GST and GPx. activities coupled with significant
increase (p< 0.05) in lipid peroxidation index. The changes observed were
time dependent with more changes were noted after 48 hours. Significant (p<0.05)
elevation of ALP and significant (p<0.05) decline of GR activity was only noted
after 48 hours compared to other groups. 200mg/kg and 800mg/kg MO extract
equally showed a significant (p<0.05) amelioration of ALT, AST and ALP levels and
a significant reduction (p<0.05) of pathological alteration in a manner similar to Sil.
MO extracts showed no signs of toxicity up to a dose level of 800 mg/kg. MO alone
significantly increased (p<0.05) GSH content and restored GSH level (p<0.05) in the
groups given MO and challenged with APAP. MO alone showed insignificant
increase of GST, Gap and GR activities. The significant increase (p<0.05) of these
antioxidant enzymes observed in groups received MO extracts and challenged with
APAP. Lipid peroxidation was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by the extracts in
dose independent manner. A significant (p<0.05) increase of GST activities by
200mg/kg and 800mg/kg MO extracts to the level higher than vehicle group were
observed as early as 24 hours in comparison with rats given pretreatment of
Silymarin. On the other hand, 200 mg/kg MO significantly (p<0.05) showed similar
increase in GPx activity to the level higher than vehicle group in comparison with groups that given 200mg/kg Sil and 800mg/kg MO pretreatment. Prevention of
enzyme leakage, preservation of hepatocytes structural integrity, prevention of GSH
depletion, restoration of antioxidant enzymes activity that is essential in accelerating
detoxification and excretion of APAP toxic metabolites, as well inhibition of lipid
peroxidative processes reveals that the extracts of MO leaves possesses potential
hepatoprotective activity against APAP induced damage in rats. |
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