Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Non-invasive Assessment of the Efficacy of New Therapeutics for Intestinal Pathologies Using Serial Endoscopic Imaging of Live Mice
Published on: March 10, 2015
13-Week repeated-dose toxicity study of optimized aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves in mice
Nathália Regina Galvão Silva1, Wêndeo Kennedy Costa1, Magda Rhayanny Assunção Ferreira2
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Ethnopharmacological Relevance:
Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae family), commonly known as horseradish or tree of life, is traditionally used for various diseases, such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, neurological disorders, among others.
Aim Of The Study:
To evaluate the toxicological profile of the oral use of an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves for 13 weeks in mice.
Materials And Methods:
Initially, a factorial design (23) was carried out to optimize aqueous extraction using as variables; the extraction method and proportion of drug. The 13-week repeated-dose toxicity trial used female and male mice, with oral administration of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. The animals were evaluated for body weight, water and feed intake, biochemical and hematological parameters, urinalysis, ophthalmology and histopathology of the liver, spleen and kidneys.
Results:
The extraction efficiency was evidenced by the extraction by maceration at 5%, obtaining the optimized extract of Moringa oleifera (OEMo). The oral administration of OEMo did not promote significant difference (p > 0.05) in the weight gain, food and water consumption of the control animals and those treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg. However, treatment with 1000 mg/kg promoted a reduction (p < 0.05) in food intake and body weight from the 7th week onwards in male and female mice. No alterations were detected in the hematological and histological parameters in the concentrations tested for both sexes. The highest concentration treatment (1000 mg/kg) promoted an increase in transaminases in males and females. All concentrations promoted a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the serum lipid profile of mice.
Conclusion:
This study developed an optimized extract of Moringa oleifera leaves, which should be used with caution in preparations above 500 mg/kg for the long term because it leads to significant changes in liver enzymes. On the other hand, the extract proved to be a promising plant preparation for hyperlipidemia in mice.
More Related Videos
04:28Utilizing an Orally Dissolving Strip for Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies: A Simple and Humane Alternative to Oral Gavage for Animals
Published on: March 23, 2016
02:44Use of Micropipette-Guided Drug Administration as an Alternative Method to Oral Gavage in Rodent Models
Published on: July 26, 2024
