By :  Ahmed Abdulzahra Habeeb

Abstract

Moringa oleifera leaf is a pharmacologically active with documented antioxidant activity. In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) was investigated in rats against cyclophosphamide (CYP) induced liver injuries. Twenty eight Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, as follows: 1) control group – received vehicle used for MLE and CYP for 14 days; 2) MLE group – rats were administered orally at a dose 200.0 mg kg ^-1 b.wt. for 14 consecutive days; 3) CYP group – cyclophosphamide at a dose of 150 mg/kg was given through i.p. to rats as a single dose at day 7; 4) MLE + CYP group – MLE was given for 14 days  plus a single dose of CYP was given on hour after MLE administration. Catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), the level of lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), DNA and RNA concentration were analyzed in liver tissue. In addition, serum total protein, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) values were evaluated. AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, triglycerides and total cholesterol in serum were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in CYP group, compared to control group, while protein and albumin were decreased. Compared with the control group, significantly high levels of liver TBARS and the low antioxidant defenses, like free radical scavenging enzyme viz., catalase activity as well as GSH concentration in CYP-treated group. In rats supplemented with MLE as well as treated with CYP, hepatic specific marker enzymes were restored to normalcy which otherwise was lowered in the CYP-treated rats. In conclusion, MLE exhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.

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