Xenobiotics-Induced Liver Damage Is Biochemically Abrogated by Treatment with Lipophilic Extracts of Moringa oleifera in Vivo

Abstract

Context Drug-induced hepatotoxicity represents a significant proportion of liver disease cases. Currently, there is no effective treatment. To date efforts to identify treatment regimen that can reverse progressive damage have not been successful. We have previously shown that extract from Moringa (M) oleifera possesses clinically relevant antidiabetic and electrolyte modulators. Objective The aim of the current studies is to create experimental model of xenobiotic induced liver damage and investigate if treatment with lipophilic extract of M. oleifera could biochemically reverse progressive liver damage. Materials and Method For two groups of healthy rats, 7 in each group received 200 mg of extract or vehicle twice daily for 14 days. Acute toxicity, hepatotoxicity and hematologic/endothelial toxicity were monitored. Then 30 rats weighing 130 - 200 g received repeated dose of acetaminophen (xenobiotics) (640 mg/kg) for 5 days. Hepatotoxicity was confirmed biochemically by an established protocol. Treatment with M. oleifera extract resulted in mean weight of 132.2 ± 5.05 compared to the control with 134.1 ± 5.08 (P > 0.8115) among the healthy rats. Their LDH levels were 170.7 ± 13.02 and 133.8 ± 7.17 (P > 0.0698) for controls group, while the mean serum (ALT) level was 12.4 ± 1.2 or 25.6 ± 5.644 (P < 0.01) for controls group. However, treatment of rats with hepatitis using lipophilic extract of M. oleifera resulted in 100% biochemical recovery from hepatitis compared to the control group (P < 0.0006). Conclusion This study strongly indicates that treatment with lipophilic extract of M. oleifera could effectively and biochemically abrogate xenobiotics induced liver damage in animal model.