Medicinal plant have evolved over the centuries as essential parts of African civilization and are widely recognized today as representing its rich cultural and scientific heritage. The increasing demand for Medicinal plant products has renewed interest in the pharmaceutical industry in the production of herbal health care formulations, herbal-based cosmetic products, and herbal nutritional supplements. Thus, in addition to serving medical and cultural functions, Medicinal plants in Africa have economic importance. Global and national markets have been growing for medicinal herbs, and significant economic gains are being realized through the sale of medicinal plant products. The aim of this particular investigation was to observe the effects of Moringa oleifera 80% methanol leaf extract on the histological architecture of kidney, liver and brain tissues. Fifteen (15) rats were randomLy divided into three (3) with five rats per group. Rats were exposed to 2000 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Moringa oleifera extract per os (p.o) along with the control group that was placed on commercial diet. There was no observed mortality in all experimental rats but there is deleterious effect in brain, liver and kidney in those that were exposed to higher doses especially the 2000 mg/kg. It's therefore concluded that higher dose of Moringa oleifera is toxic while moderate doses is safe to most vital organs especially brain, liver and kidney. There is need for further investigation to identify the phytochemical constituents that are responsible for the toxic effects.
Medicinal plants are among the important source of potential therapeutic agents for diabetes. Therapeutic use of Moringa oleifera leaf extract has been practiced in management of diabetes because of its potential to decrease blood glucose and lipids concentration after ingestion. This study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on streptozocin induced diabetes Wistar rats. Initially, diabetes was induced by given streptozocin (STZ) intravenously followed by the treatments with different concentration of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract. Fasting blood glucose level was measured using Accu-Chek glucometer after 24, 48, 72 and 97 hours post treatment. There is significance difference at 0.05 in blood glucose level between the control groups and the groups that were treated with the leaf extract after administration of STZ. Hence, this plant shows high potential to be used in the management of hyperglycaemia. The need for the toxicity study to evaluate it effect in body tissues and organs is recommended. There is need to study the phytochemical constituents to identify the bioactive lead compound with ameliorative effect.
To determine the acute toxicity effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on haematological parameters, twenty albino Wistar rats weighing between 108-254 g were split into four groups of fives rat each. Different doses of the extract were administered to the 3 groups and one group is used as control. Moringa oleifera 80% methanol leaf extract was administered at 2000 mg/kg to group, 1000 mg/kg to group, and 500 mg/kg while one group was used as control. The result recorded 4 deaths (60% mortality) in groups that received 2000 mg/kg and 1 death (20% mortality) in groups that received 1000 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected from the survived rats for hematological analysis. The result showed variation in Park cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), Red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). There are significant differences at p > 0.05, p > 0.01 and p > 0.001 between groups that exposed to different doses Moringa oleifera extract and the control group. The result also shows slight variation in total and differential leucocyte count, but all the values obtained from both treated and control groups are within the normal range. There are no recorded values of eosinophil, basophil and band cells in both the control and the experimental groups. From this result, it can be concluded that high dose of this extract caused alteration in normal red cells indices with significant differences, but have mild or no effect on total and differential leucocyte count. Hence, low toxicity of this plant made it safe and good medicinal agent and or supplement. Histopatological screening as well as phytochemical study to identify the compounds that affect the blood chemistry is highly recommended.
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