Abstract

Abstract: Background and Objective: Interest in Moringa oleifera continues to increases rapidly because of the widely acclaimed effectiveness of this plant against diverse disease conditions in folk medicine. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera (AEMO and MEMO) against hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rats. Materials and Methods: Different groups of cisplatin (7.5 mg kg–1, i.p.) intoxicated rats were treated separately with physiological saline (10 mL kg–1), AEMO (50 mg kg–1), AEMO (100 mg kg–1), MEMO (50 mg kg–1) or MEMO (100 mg kg–1). Separate groups of normal rats also received physiological saline (10 mL kg–1), AEMO (100 mg kg–1) or MEMO (100 mg kg–1). Treatments were administered orally for five consecutive days. Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 24 h after last treatment (i.e. on the 6th day). Blood sample was collected by cardiac puncture and plasma separated for assessment of hepatic function. Liver was excised, homogenized and also used for other biochemical analysis. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) for inter-group comparisons. Results: Cisplatin significantly elevated markers of liver function [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG)] and increased liver weight. This hepatic injury was associated with elevation in malondialdehyde together with diminished activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase) and glutathione (GSH) concentration. TC, TG, catalase activity and liver weight improved significantly in the cisplatin intoxicated rats following treatment with AEMO. Although, MEMO (100 mg kg–1) increased AST activity and TC of normal rats, the extract (50 and 100 mg kg–1) significantly improved the lipid profile of cisplatin-treated rats. Similarly, glutathione-s-transferase, catalase, TC and liver weight of cisplatin intoxicated rats significantly improved after treatment with MEMO (50 and 100 mg kg–1). Conclusion:Overall, data show that AEMO and MEMO ameliorated some aspects of cisplatin-mediated hepatotoxicity suggesting potential therapeutic benefit against liver injury when employed in appropriate doses.