Protective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera on Nephrotoxicity and Liver Injury Induced by Sodium Chloride in Wistar Albino Rats

Protective effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera on nephrotoxicity and liver injury induced by sodium chloride in Wistar albino rats was studied. M. oleifera collected from Imo State University School farm was prepared into an extract, and given orally to groups (III, IV and V) of test rats against experimental control rats (group II) that were only induced, alongside with normal control rats (group I) that were neither induced with sodium chloride nor received aqueous extract as treatment. Result of weight changes in rats revealed significant increase (p<0.05) in % weight change of test rats (groups III, IV and V) against the experimental control rats (group II). % weight change in test rats increased insignificantly (p>0.05) when compared to normal control. Urea and creatinine levels significantly reduced (p<0.05) in test rats against experimental control but increased significantly (p>0.05) when compared to those of the normal control. The liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) significantly reduced (p<0.05) when compared to those of experimental control. The ameliorating effect as observed in test rats against the experimental control rats in this study, could be as a result of M.oleifera extract. The extract may have offered a protective effect against the severity of the induced sodium chloride in the test rats. This study has revealed the protective effect of aqueous extract of M.oleifera on nephrotoxicity and liver injury induced by sodium chloride in Wistar albino rats.