Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Aqueou Extract on Histology of Liver and Its Biochemical Parameters in Heigher Fat Diets Induced Obesity in Wistar Rats

Introduction: Obesity has emerged as a major health problem and risk factor for various disorders worldwide. Obesity has been defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation triggered by disproportion in energy intake than expenditure. Obesity is a non-communicable medical disorder that has largely been accepted as a reflection of healthy living and affluence among Nigerians. It is usually defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the histopathological and biochemical effect of Moringa olerifera aqueous leaf extract on obesity induced albino rat.

Methodology: A total number of 25 healthy albino rats were used. The group 1 served as negative control group consisting of 5 rats including, they were given water ad libitum and were fed with standard rat chow for 12 weeks. The group 2 consist of 5 rats, received water ad libitum and were administered orally with high-fat diet in the dose of 1ml daily of mixture of melted pig fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil in 3:2 ratio respectively for 12weeks and also fed with a standard rat chow and served as obese positive control group. The group 3 also consist of 5 rats, served as standard control group in which they were fed orally with high fat diet in a dose of 1ml of mixture of melted pig fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil in 3:2 ratio for 6 weeks and were orally administered standard drug orlistat 12mg/kg body weight daily for another 6 weeks. While group 4 and group 5 have 5 rats each received water and were administered orally with melted pig fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil 1ml daily for 6 weeks and standard rat chow after 6 weeks of feeding, moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract in a dose of 200mg/kgbwt and 400mg/kgbwt respectively, daily for another 6 weeks the dose of extract chosen were based on the result of acute toxicity (LD50) study conducted.

Results: The LD50 of M. oleifera is more than 5000mg/kgbwt as all doses below this incurred zero percentage of death among all groups of rats, shows no toxicity or mortality recorded after 24 hours all the animals in both Phase I and Phase II. The biochemical Parameters of Liver shows that there was no statistical significant difference in results of the parameters of all the groups when compared among the groups. Liver section shows hepatic fatty deposition when compared with control group. While A Group1 and B Group 4 Treated 200mg/kg shows no hepatic fatty deposition in hepatocytes and central vein. So also in A Group 1 and B Group 5 Treated 400mg/kg shows normal hepatocytes and central vein.

Conclusion: This study shows that Moringa oleifera leaf extract possesses anti-hepatic fatty deposition properties like that of selected standard drugs. At higher acceptable dose of Moringa oleifera demonstrated better anti-obesity properties with the selected standard drugs. Hence, leaf extract of Moringa. oleifera is beneficial in the management of dietary obesity.