Effects of Moringa oleifera lam. Leaf Powder on Bifidobacteria and Escherichia coli in the Gut of Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the effects of dried Moringa oleifera leaves on Bifidobacteria and Escherichia coli in the gut of albino rats. Location: The rats were habituated under laboratory conditions at the animal house of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, for two weeks in other to adapt to the environmental conditions during the experiment. Duration of Study: The rats were exposed to the M. oleifera feed for four weeks. Design of Study: There were five groups in all. The 5 to 6 weeks old rats were fed with M. oleifera powder supplement except for the control groups. Methods: No supplement of M. oleifera feed was administered to group A while group B received streptomycin antibiotics. Groups C, D and E received dried leaf supplement of M. oleifera (DMO) 1.25 g/kg body weight (2.5%), 2.5 g/kg body weight (5%) and 5.0 g/kg body weight (10%) respectively. Results: E.coli counts increased from 2.3*104 to 2.6*104 colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g) in group E, from 2.2*104 to 3.0*10 cfu/g in group B; but reduced from 4.1*104 to 3.7*104 cfu/g in group D and from 5.4*104 to 3.9*104 cfu/g in group C between day 20 and day 28. As from day 8, the isolates from the non-control groups were resistant to the M. oleifera extract except E. coli isolates in both 5% and 10% M. oleifera groups on day 8 with 6 mm zone of inhibition each. The rate of Bifidobacteria viable counts increase in group E was expressed as P = 0.05 at the beginning of the experiment, unlike E.coli counts where there was a decrease. Conclusion: The M. oleifera leaf alters the microbiota in the gut, a situation which sends impulses to the brain. Thus, the M. oleifera leaf powder is a potential prebiotic for probiotics like Bifidobacteria, and as well as induce changes in the gut-brain axis.