European Journal of Medicinal Plants

Aims: This present study aims to determine the effect of acute administration of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf on immunoglobulins in wistar rats.

Methods: Acute toxicity study of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract was done using 24 mice divided into six (6) groups of four (4) were used. The graded doses of the extract (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 i.p) corresponding to group 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 served as test groups; group 1 received distilled water as control. Forty (40) male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8 rats each. Group 1 served as control and received distilled water, while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 served as test groups and received 20 mg/kg bw, 40 mg/kg bw, 60 mg/kg bw and 80 mg/kg bw of the extract respectively. The administration was for 14 days. At the end of administration, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and IgA, IgG and IgM levels were estimated by the immunoturbudrimetric method. Data were subjected to statistical analysis. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The acute toxicity study showed LD₅₀ of 1 g/kg. Result obtained show a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the serum concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG); and a significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum levels of immunoglobulins A and M (IgA and IgM) at a dose of 40 mg/kg of the extract. However, a significant (p<0.05) increase was observed for immunoglobulin A at 60 mg/kg when compared to the control. There were no significant changes in the immunoglobulins at the other concentrations.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates possible beneficial therapeutic effect on the amelioration of immunological diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis etc in human clinical trials, especially at low concentration for immunoglobulins A and M. This finding supports the anecdotal use of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera as an immune boosting agent.