Amelioratory Effect of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Moringa oleifera on Some Liver and Kidney Function and Oxidative Stress Markers in Lead-intoxicated Rats

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera (MO) against lead acetate induced changes in some liver and kidney function parameters and oxidative stress markers in rats. Thirty six acclimatized Wistar rats were divided into six groups of six rats each (groups A-F). Different groups were exposed to 100 mg/kg lead acetate, different doses of MO, and combination of lead acetate and different doses of MO per oral (PO) for 6 weeks. Both their pre-treatment and post-treatment serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), bilirubin, albumin, total protein, urea, creatinine and uric acid as well as their post-treatment liver and kidney (homogenates) malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT) were estimated using standard methods. Lead acetate administration significantly increased the post-treatment levels of ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and uric acid when compared with their pre-treatment and control levels (p<0.05). Lead acetate also significantly increased both liver and kidney MDA, but significantly decreased both liver and kidney SOD, GST and CAT (p<0.05). However, MO supplementation was associated with significant decreases in the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, liver and kidney MDA and significant increases in the levels of both liver and kidney GST, SOD and CAT (p<0.05). This study showed lead induced changes in some liver and kidney function parameters as well as some oxidative markers of these organs and also revealed possible amelioratory effects to these changes after MO supplementation.