The effects of moringa oliferia extract on liver enzymes of mercury induced hepatotoxicity in adult wistar rats

Abstract

This work was carried out to determine the effect of aqueous extract of moringa olieferia on liver enzymes of mercury induced hepatotoxicity in adult wistar rats. Twenty four adult wistar rats weighing between 190-270g were allocated into four groups of six animals each. Group A served as the control and received 0.5ml of distilled water, group B received 0.5ml of moringa extract, group C received 0.35ml of mercury while group D received 0.35ml of mercury and 0.5ml of moringa extract. The oral administration lasted for twenty eight days between the hours of 12-3pm. Twenty four hours after the last administration; the animals were weighed and recorded. The levels of mean aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanin aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphotase (ALP) in group C was significantly higher (p 0.001) than the control and groups B and D. The result from this study shows that no adverse biochemical changes are associated with the use of moringa extract even when administered with mercury. The result also shows the hepatoprotectivity of moringa olieferia on mercury induced hepatocytes.