Hematinic Properties and Effects of MoringaOleifera Aqueous Leaf Extract on Phenylhydrazine-Induced Bone Marrow Toxicity in Adult Wistar Rats

This study was aimed at determining the effects of moringa oleiferia aqueous leaf on phenylhydrazine-induced anemia and bone marrow toxicity in adult wistar rats. Twenty adult wistar rats weighing between 190 – 230g were used for this study. The animals were obtained and nurtured at the animal house of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin. The animals were randomly divided into four groups of five animals each. Group A animals served as the control and were given normal marsh feed. Anemia was induced to animals in groups B, C and D by oral administration of phenylhydrazine for eight (8) days. Animals in group B were left untreated throughout the duration of the experiment while those in groups C and D were treated with 350 mg/kg body weight and 700 mg/kg body weight of the Moringa oleifera leaf extract respectively once daily for 28 days. After the completion of the treatment, the animals were anesthetized and sacrificed to collect blood for hematological analysis. Bone marrow aspirates were collected from the pelvis of the animals for histological analyses using hematoxylin and eosin stains. The results showed that phenylhydrazine induced anemia by reducing red blood cell volume, hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume. It also induced bone marrow toxicity by decreasing the cellularity and myelo-erythroid percentage. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf reversed these effects in a dose-dependent manner. In concentration. In conclusion, this study showed that aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf has dose-dependent reversal capacity against phenylhydrazine bone marrow toxicity.

Key Words: Anemia, Phenylhydrazine, Moringa Oleifera, Bone marrow