Haematological effects of leaf extract of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam in normal and myelo-suppressed wistar rats

Abstract

Haematological effects of leaves extract of Moringa oleifera Lam were investigated in normal and myelo-suppressed Wistar rats. Acute toxicity and phytochemistry of Moringa oleifera were determined. Wistar-rats (n=35), aged 2 to 3 months, weighing 120 - 170 grams were divided into 5 groups of 7 rats per group, labeled A to E. Groups A and B were induced intraperitoneally with 3mg/kg body weight (b.wt) of cyclophosphamide for 7 days to achieve myelo-suppression. Groups A, B, C and D were orally administered with graded-doses of the extract (A=150, B=300, C=150 and D=300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. Group E served as control. Blood samples (3.0 ml) were collected on days 8 and 15 from each rat through the retro orbital plexus of the median canthus into tri-potassium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid containers and analyzed using haematological auto analyzer (Sysmex KX-21N) following manufacturers guideline. The acute toxicity test of Moringa oleifera leaves revealed an oral LD50 of 3000 mg/kg body weight. Its phytochemical analyses revealed flavonoids ++, alkaloids ++, saponins +, tannins +, proteins ++, carbohydrate +, reducing ssugars +, steroids ++ and terpenoids +. On days 8 and 15 respectively, haemoglobin, haematocrit and total white blood cells of groups C, D and RBC of group D increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with the control. Groups A and B revealed dose- and time-dependent non-significant increases (p >0.05) in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cells and total white blood cells on day 15 when compared with day 8.

Keywords:  Moringa oleifera, toxicity, phytochemical, myelo-suppression