Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Moringa oleifera on Aluminum-induced Anemia in White Albino Rats

The study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera on AlCl3-induced anemia in albino rats. Twenty-four rats (average body weight 284 g) were divided into four groups each of six: group (A) was provided with 0.5 mg/kg body weight of AlCl3, group (AM) with AlCl3 and 10 minutes later with M. oleifera extract (300 mg/kg body weight), group (M) with M. oleifera extract (300 mg/kg) alone and the control group (C) with normal saline solution only. The treatments were given orally by gavage and continued daily for 21 days. Then blood sample was collected from each rat and measured for blood parameters and electrolytes. The results showed that AlCl3 had led to a significant decrease (P 0.05) in red blood cells count (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), hematocrit (PCV) and iron level, and a significant increase in the mean cell volume (MCV) and no significant change in the white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT) and lymphocytes (LMY). The results also showed ethanolic extract of M. oleifera coadministered with AlCl3 caused significant increase (P 0.01) in RBC, Hb, PCV and MCHC when compared with the group provided with AlCl3 alone. Moreover, administration of M oleifera extracts alone lead to significant increase in RBCs, Hb, and MCHC (P 0.01) as compared with the control group. However, the results revealed that ethanolic extract of M.oleifera, whether provided with AlCl3 or alone, mitigated AlCl3 - induced anemia in Albino rats