Background: Moringa oleifera is currently and rapidly gaining superfood status. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOLM) on haematological, biochemical and histopathology indices of rats fed with Vitamins and Minerals Deficient (VMD) diets. Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats (220-290g) were randomly assigned into 5 groups of 5 rats each. The control (normal rat chow), remaining four diets were VMD plus MOLM at 0, 3, 5 and 10%. Haematological, biochemical and histopathological statuses were evaluated after 28 days. Results: Non-significant increase in RBC was observed in rats fed with the MOLM diets compared to control. Rats on VMD diet had the lowest haemoglobin levels, whereas haemoglobin increased with MOLM. No significant differences were observed in haematocrit, MCH, MCHC, platelets, RDW and MPV in all the treatments and control group. However, VMD rats showed a decrease in haemoglobin, and an increase in WBC and platelets. Electrolytes and glucose for all the treatments and control were not significantly different, but, control and VMD10 diets rats showed significantly higher values for creatinine compared to MOLM diets; total protein and albumin increased with MOLM and were higher than in VMD and control rats. Serum activities of hepatic, cardiac and adrenal marker enzymes were observed to be significantly lower in MOLM rats compared to VMD and control. Mild congestion in VMD and VMD3 rats’ liver and diffused congestion in the kidney of VMD diet rats were observed. Conclusion: The significantly high increase in platelet count in the VMD treated rats, indicative of anemia and other physiological imbalances, highlights the effect of micronutrient (mineral and vitamins) deficiencies in the diet. There is also the possibility that the anti-nutrients factors present in Moringa oleifera prevented uptake and bioavailability of nutrients, since the MOLM did not undergo any processing that could have removed or reduced these antinutrients. Further studies are still needed on Moringa oleifera leaves to validate the bioavailability of nutrients from the plant.

This report is part of a larger study on bioavailability of nutrients in Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) grown in South Africa. Albino male rats were assigned into five groups each having a replicate of five; PD-protein deficient diet, PD3, PD5 and PD10 had protein insufficient diets augmented with MOLM at 3, 5 and 10% respectively, while control (C)- was fed normal rat chow, for 28 days. Growth performances were recorded weekly, blood biochemistry and histopathology of the animals were evaluated in the serum and selected organs respectively. Severe loss in body weight caused by PD was slightly ameliorated by MOLM supplementation; improved protein quality indicated by higher red blood cells count was noticed in animals fed the augmented diets, while decrease in lymphocytes count reflected possible leucopoiesis and immunomodulatory effect of MOLM. High platelet counts (807.5 x109/L-1011.27x109/L) could indicate secondary anaemia caused by PD, while decrease in calcium and total protein was improved by MOLM. Increase in creatinine for all treatments could imply that kidney function was compromised. Serum ALP, ALT and AST activities were down regulated significantly in animals fed MOLM diets, suggesting organ-protective properties of Moringa. Histopathological evaluation of organs supported the biochemical findings and confirmed the negative effect of dietary protein deficiency. Although MOLM is nutrient-rich, unprocessed MOLM impacted negatively on physiology of the rats and could not completely replace protein in the diet.