Effect of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaves on Some Serum Enzymes of Wistar Rats with Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage

Introduction: The study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

Methods: 25 Wistar rats were used. They were administered orally with CCl4 in a ratio of 1:1 at a dose of 1500mg/kg and allowed for five days before treated with Moringa oleifera leaf extract at concentrations of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, and 150mg/kg daily for one week. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total protein (TP) in the blood cells were determined. The study lasted for 18 days. The liver enzyme, ALT, and TP were increased after injection with CCl4.

Results: Treatment with Moringa oleifera leave at various dose reveals a significant reduction (p<0.05). AST was increased after treatment with CCl4. Treatment with Moringa oleifera leaf reveals a dose-dependent significant reduction (p≤ 0.05). No significant reduction occurred for ALP in comparison to only CCl4 -treated group, but in comparison with the normal control.

Conclusions: The result of this study showed that aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract may have hepatoprotective action against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.