Abstract

The toxic effects of oral administration of the methanol extract of Moringa oleifera seed at 0,400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg was investigated in Wistar rats after 21 days treatment. Treatment with the extract did not significantly (P > 0.05) alter the levels of hemoglobin, red blood cell, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. In rats, also, the levels of total protein, albumin and globulin in the treated animals were not significantly different from the control. The extract however induced significant decrease (P<0.05) in the concentrations of platelets, monocytes, and total white blood cells and significant increase in the levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), at 1600 mg/kg. M. oleifera seed extract also induced portal cellular infiltration, periportal congestion and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes in the liver as well as cortical congestion and intestitial haemorrhages in the kidney.

Key words: Moringa oleifera seed, rats, biochemical, hematological.