ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract as an adjunct treatment on lead acetate induced hepato-nephrotoxicity in rabbits. Methods: Thirty-six male New Zealand White rabbits were assigned into two main groups. The first group (14 rabbits) served as normal control. The secondgroup (22 rabbits) was administered orally with lead acetate at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. At the 4th and the 8th week of treatment, 6 animals (3 animals at each period) of the second group were sacrificed while the remaining animals (16 rabbits) were assigned randomly into 2 subgroups (8 rabbits each): treated and non-treated. The first subgroup was orally given 1 mL phosphate-buffered saline for further 4 weeks while the second subgroup was administered orally with Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day for the same period. Blood samples were collected to determine hematological and serum biochemical indices. Tissue specimens were collected from the liver and kidney for evaluation of the oxidant/antioxidant markers and for histopathological examinations. Results: Lead acetate exposure decreased the mean body weight gain, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and lymphocytes count. Moreover, it markedly increased counts of monocytes and platelets, serum enzyme activity, levels of creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Malondialdehyde level was markedly increased while the reduced glutathione content was significantly decreased in liver tissue of lead intoxicated-rabbits. Histopathological alterations were also noticed in the liver and kidney of lead intoxicated rabbits. Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract significantly improved hematological and serum biochemical parameters and histopathological structure of the liver and kidney. Conclusions: Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract ameliorates hemato-biochemical and histopathological alterations caused by lead acetate and improveshepatic and renal functions.
ABSTRACT
The present work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici in alleviating the toxicity of aflatoxin B[1] [AFB[1]] in male New-Zealand white rabbits. Twenty four male New Zealand white rabbits, 800-1000 g body weight were used in the present work. Rabbits were randomly divided into four equal groups: Group [1] served as a control group. Group [2] was fed on crushed pellet diet mixed with the probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici at a dose of l00g/ton feed for six successive weeks. Group [3] was fed on crushed pellet diet artificially contaminated with 60 ug of AFB[1]/kg of diet for six successive weeks while Group [4] was fed on crushed pellet diet mixed with the probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici [the same dose mentioned in G2] and artificially contaminated with 60 ug of AFB[1]/kg of diet for six successive weeks. Evaluations were made for chromosomal aberrations, hemato-biochemical parameters, immunological changes as well as histopathological alterations. Our results showed that AFB[1] possesses a mutagenic effect. It significantly increases the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. AFB[1]induced significant decrease in the total leukocytic count associated with lympopenia. Serum biochemical analysis revealed significant elevation in ALT, AST, GGT activities and BUN concentration with a marked decline in total proteins, albumin and globulins concentration. Significant decrease was recorded in the phagocytic percent and phagocytic index of neutrophils of aflatoxicated rabbits. Supplementation of the probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici to the aflatoxicated diet inhibited the mutagenic effect of AFB[1] as it significantly decreased the frequency of chromosonial aberrations. Furthermore, Pediococcus acidilactic improved the hemato-biochemical alterations and nullified the phagocytic percent and phagocytic index of neutrophils of aflatoxicateci rabbits