Hepatoprotective effect of moringa oleifera leaves and seeds powder on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats

الملخص EN

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementing CCL₄-exposed male Sprague Dawley albino rats with 10 and 5% leaves and seeds powder of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae, M.

oleifera) respectively on liver functions.

The experiment was carried out on 40 male Albino rats divided into 5 equal groups; 1^st group fed on basal diet and kept as a (control-).

Rats in the other four groups (n=32) were intoxicated by subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ (2ml/kg) twice a week for two consecutive weeks to induce hepatic chronic damage, then those rats were subdivided into: a group that control positive (control+) [2^nd group], a group that fed on basal diet + Moringa oleifera leaves powder 10% [3^rd group]; a group that fed on basal diet + Moringa oleifera seeds powder 5% [4^th group]; a group that fed on basal diet + silymarin whereas silymarin-treated was orally administrated with silymarin 50 mg/kg [5^th group].

The results showed that the total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, AST, ALT, and urea levels decreased significantly with treated rats with Moringa oleifera powder, and the best result was belonged to the group of rats that fed on Moringa oleifera leaves 10% .

It can be concluded that, supplementation with high percentage of Moringa oleifera exerts a positive impact on the liver functions, lipid profile and other biochemical parameters.