The Effect of De-Fatted Moringa Oleifera Seed Powder on Growth Rate and some Biochemical Parameters of Albino Rats

Abstract

The nutritional and therapeutic properties of Moringa oleifera cannot be overemphasized, since all the parts of the plant (leaves, seeds, root, bark, pods etc.) have been reported to possess antibiotic, anti-hypertensive, anti-tumor and anti-oxidative activities. This study, seeks to determine the effect of defatted Moringa oleifera seed powder on growth rate and some biochemical parameters of albino rats. Fifteen albino rats, divided into three groups (A, B and C), were fed with commercial rat pellets, casilan and defatted Moringa oleifera seed powder respectively for 21 days with their weights measured at 2 days interval. The rats were sacrificed and sera collected after the feeding trial. Aspartate and Alanine transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin levels were estimated using Reflotron Plus Chemistry Analyzer. The result of the growth rate showed a growth increase from 80.10 ± 3.56 to 100.98± 5.47 for the rats fed with commercial rat pellets and a decrease in growth from 66.70± 7.55 to 56.31± 8.50 and 52.28± 7.10 to 40.95± 5.89 for the rats fed with casilan feed and defatted Moringa oleifera seed powder respectively. Using statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA), it was discovered that there was no significant change in the tested biochemical parameters of the populations at 95% level of significance (p<0.005). Therefore, the defatted Moringa oleifera seed powder did not support growth and did not pose any toxicity effect to the liver.

Keywords

• Moringa oleifera
• transaminases
• bilirubin
• alkaline phosphatases
• casilan