Acute and Sub-Chronic Toxicities and Antimicrobial Profiling of Hydro-Ethanol Extracts of Moringa oleifera (L) Seed in Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v2i7.11

Abstract

Seeds and nuts have been employed since prehistoric era for their therapeutics and health benefits. Moringa oleifera (L.) is one of such seeds with poly-therapeutic activities and is consumed extensively in Nigeria for various health reasons. This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial potency, acute and sub-chronic toxicities of Moringa oleifera seed extracts in rodents. The antibacterial activity of the hydro-alcohol extract of Moringa oleifera seeds were evaluated using standard methods. The acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by feeding the mice with the graded oral doses of the extract between 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg body weight
while the graded oral doses of the extracts were administered to Wistar rats in sub-chronic toxicity evaluations. The extract revealed remarkable antimicrobial activities. In the acute toxicity, the animals fed with 15.0 and 20.0 g/kg body weight did not survive beyond 24 hours. The LD50 was 14.0 g/kg bodyweight. There was significant increase (p < 0.05) in the body weight, the serum electrolytes and the MCH values while a significant decrease in the MCV value was observed. The serum liver enzymes showed significant decrease while increase in the serum protein metabolites was observed. The high doses of the extract had some deleterious effects on the liver,
kidney and testes. Although the extracts showed a good safety margin with high LD50 value (14.0 g/kg), cautions should be exercised in the consumption since higher doses or prolonged consumption may exert deleterious effects on some organs.