Effects of Aqueous Extract of Moringa Leaf on Red Blood Cell Parameters Using Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is an Angiospermic plant commonly known as the ‘drumstick’ or ‘horseradish’ tree. It belongs to genus Moringa having 13 different species. Among them, Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species native to tropical and sub-tropical region of the world. This study aimed at investigating the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf-extract on some red cell parameters of both male and female Wistar rats. Twenty (20) albino rats were divided into four (4) groups; a control group (group A) and three experimental groups (groups B, group C and group D) containing five (5) animals per group. Group A was given normal diet, groups B, C and D were provided with moringa leaf extract diets in different doses, which were high dose (200mg/kg), middle dose (100mg/kg) and low dose (50mg/kg) respectively. At the end of the experimental period 21 days, red cell parameters (packed cell volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin count etc) were determined using a 3-part haematology Analyzer. The result showed  specifically mean RBC count in the control group averaged (6.45±0.25) compared to ( 3.99±1.99) in the high dose (p-value= 0.025), and hemoglobin levels in the control group averaged (12.68±0.57) compared to( 11.64±2.66) in the high dose  (p-value= 0.688), mean RBC count and hemoglobin level were significantly higher in the control and low dose groups, while both parameters decreased with increasing dosages, suggesting a potential for Moringa to induce anemia at higher concentrations. The elevated RDW values in the high dose group point to increased variability in red blood cell sizes, potentially indicating anisocytosis and associated hematological disorders.