Hepatoprotective effect ofMoringa oleiferaleaves aquatic extract against lead acetate-induced liver injury in male Wistar rats

Current research was performed to explore the hepatoprotective potential ofMoringa oleiferaleaves extract on lead acetate-induced hepatic injury. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided equally into 4 groups. The first group was control, while the second, third, and fourth groups were given 200 mg/kg aqueousMoringaextract only, 100 mg/kg lead only, and 100 mg/kg lead plus 200 mg/kg aqueousMoringaleaves extract, respectively, via oral gavage for 4 weeks. Weight gain and feed efficiency ratio were recorded. Serum lipid profiles, liver enzyme activities, and proteins beside hepatic superoxide dismutase activity, reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation were assessed. Liver histopathological examination and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) immunohistochemistry were performed. Administration of lead lowered (P < 0.05) weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, and perturbed lipid profile than control. Lead increased liver enzyme activities and TNF-alpha, while reduced serum proteins and hepatic antioxidant markers compared to control. Lead aggravated hepatic DNA fragmentation beside the presence of histopathological lesions. Co-administration of aqueousMoringaextract with lead significantly alleviated lead-induced adverse effects. The administration of aqueousMoringaextract with its antioxidant significantly restored the lead perturbations through reduction of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage via amelioration of NF-kB and TNF-alpha which kept hepatocyte integrity and reduced serum hepatic enzyme activities.