Effects of MOF6 Fraction from Ethanolic Extract of the Leaves of Moringa oleifera against Sodium Arsenite-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Moringa oleifera (MO) is a plant of significant medicinal importance. The dried leaves of MO were pulverized, extracted with ethanol and fractionated using column chromatography to provide seven fractions (MOF1-7) with MOF6 having the best preliminary antioxidant potential. Therefore, this study evaluated the hepatoprotective potentials of MOF6 in sodium arsenite (SA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups of five rats each. Control Group I received normal saline. Groups II and III received 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) of SA for 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. Groups IV and V received 20 mg/kg bw of SA for 3 weeks followed by treatment with 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bw of fraction MOF6, respectively, for 6 weeks. Groups VI and VII received only 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bw of fraction MOF6, respectively, for 6 weeks. Antioxidant (lipid peroxidation) and biochemical analyses of liver enzymes of all rats were carried out after the completion of experimental procedures. Results showed statistically significant lower mean values (p ≤ 0.05) of malondialdehyde (MDA), acid phosphatase (ACP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in rats of Groups IV and V compared with Group III. However, there were statistically significant higher mean values (p ≤ 0.05) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in Groups IV and V compared with Groups I and III. In conclusion, these results implied that fraction MOF6 has antioxidant and hepatoprotective potentials. However, results of ALP analyses implied that MOF6 possibly augmented SA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.