Studies on serum enzymological changes in rabbits exposed to Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves

Phytochemicals and natural plant based products had primarily served from time immemorial as the most important and indispensable source of food, drugs and therapeutic agents. The aqueous extract from the leaves of Moringa oleifera was evaluated for its long term dietary exposure on serum enzymes and histological parameters in rabbits. In this study, twelve age-matched healthy adult Chinchilla rabbits (2.0 + 0.5 kg BW) were divided into three equal groups (two treatment and one control groups). The treatment groups were given 430 and 860 mg/kg dose of M. oleifera leaves extract by oral intubation, while the control group received 5.0 ml/kg of sterile distilled water and examined for 90 days. Following the determination of acid phosphatase(ACP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) with photoelectric colorimeter; the results obtained showed varied significant changes in ALT and AST enzymes level (p<0.05) of test rabbits, and these changes were concentration-and-time dependent of the plant suspension dose administered. There was no significant changes noticed in all the organs examined in the course of this study. The study concluded that the plant may have the capacity to enhance the proper functioning of the liver and may not cause any alteration in the proper functioning of other mammalian organs.