Assessment of Developmental Toxicity of Moringa Oleifera (Seed extract) in Pregnant Wistar Rats

Abstract

In North central Nigeria, pregnant women use Moringa seeds as food supplement due to its milk production property. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine if oral administration of ethanolic seed extract of Moringa oleifera to on presumably pregnant Wistar rats was developmentally toxic. Female rats, eight weeks old, were separated into four groups (n=10): the control group received distilled water ad libitum while the treatment groups received 50, 200 and 800mg/kg extract from gestation days (GD) 1-19 respectively. Maternal body weight, food and water consumption were observed daily. Laparohysterectomies were performed on day 19, a day before expected parturition of half of the dams, Implantations, uterine weight, foetal resorptions foetal death, viability and body weights were recorded. In addition placental weights, crown-rump, tail lengths and some sex hormone levels were determined. The remaining pregnant rats were allowed to litter and offspring parameters were assessed. No maternal endpoints were affected by the test article at doses of 50 and 200mg/kg. However, there was a much lower viability index at 800 mg/kg compared to all other groups and the Lactation indices in the controls and 200 and 800 mg/kg groups respectively. Also a marked decrease in FSH in all the treated groups and an increase in estrogen level at 800mg/kg were observed. This suggests that the extract may not be safe during organogenic period of pregnancy at 800mg/kg.