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Metal constituents and effect of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf extract on some haematological parameters in rats


A A Ambi
E M Abdurahman
N D Ibrahim
U U Pateh
M I Sule

Abstract



The air–dried powdered leaf of Moringa oleiferawas analysed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) transmission emission technique. It was found to contain Ca (1.29X 104±500ppm), K (7.2X103±600ppm), S (3.8X1014±500ppm), Fe (4.53 X 102±21ppm) and Cl (1.44X102±15 ppm). A total of 24 albino rats (Wistar strain) Rattus norvegecus, were grouped into four A, B, C, D and fed orally with modified diet containing 25% w/ w, 50% w/w and 75% w/w powdered leaves of Moringa oleifera, mixed with standard livestock feed (Feed Master® grower mash) for 93 days. The control group D, was fed with standard diet alone. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that the mean parked cell volume (%) were 54.2 and 47.6 for 50%and 75% group respectively and the control was 51.5; the mean Haemoglobin (gm/ dl) were 17.9 and 15.8 for 50% and 75% groups respectively, the control group was 17.1; the mean total protein (mg/ 100ml) were 8.2 and 7.3 for the 50% and 75% groups respectively with 9.0 for the control group; the mean neutrophils (%) were 19.8 and 24.6 for 50% and 75% respectively and the control was 16.7. Even though these results revealed no significant difference between the treated and the controlled group animals (P<0. 05), it is still not enough justification to conclude that the plant is safe for long term consumption both as food and as medicine.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Albino rats, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) transmission emission

Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 36-40

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eISSN: 0189-8442