Effects of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam. aqueous leaf extracts on follicle stimulating hormone and serum cholesterol in Wistar rats

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extracts on follicle stimulating hormone and serum cholesterol in Wistar rats. Thirty six (36) mature Wistar rats (20 male and 16 female rats) were used. The male rats were grouped into four groups with five animals each, while the female animals were grouped into four made up of four animals per group, on the basis of their body weights. Graded doses (1, 5 and 10 g) aqueous extract were prepared from the Mo leaves as the test samples. In the first phase: The test extract was administered orally after acclimatization to individual groups: A-male and E-female rats, 1%; groups B-male and F-female rats, 5%; and groups C-male and F-female rats, 10%. These test groups also had rat chow and water ad libitum. The second phase of the experiment involved mating the male and female animals that had the same dose of M. oleifera extract. The results show that the mean body weights of the male rats increased significantly after treatment (p<0.05). The study also reveals that the administration of M. oleifera extract at different doses for the male and female rats differed significantly (p<0.05) with that of the control in raising the level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). A-1% increased by 38.52% while B-5% decreased (-21.20%); E-1% decreased (-12.96%) and F-5% (-25.64%). After mating, the % increase in FSH concentration was observed to be significantly (p<0.05) difference. Administration of Mo extract at different levels for the male and female rats differed significantly (p<0.05) in this study as compared with the control in lowering the total serum cholesterol of the rats. A-1% increased total cholesterol by 1.10%, while B-5% revealed a decrease of (-10.99%).

Key words: Moringa oleifera, follicle stimulating hormone, serum cholesterol, Wistar rats.