Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Plant against Hepato- nephrotoxicity Induced by Lead Acetate in Rabbits

Abstract

Lead is the well-elaborated heavy toxic metal and its biological effect is based on the concentration and time of the exposure. Exposure to environmentally harmful doses of lead is one of the main health risk factors concerning human and animal populations. Lead-intoxication induces hematopoietic and hematological alterations, cardiac impairment, and dysfunction of liver and kidney. Lead toxicity induces reactive oxygen species and can cause genotoxicity resulting from induction of cellular oxidative stress, inhibition of DNA metabolism, and metabolic and reproductive disturbances. M. oleifera as a medicinal plant contains important minerals (potassium, calcium, and iron) and is a good source of protein, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C), and amino acids. M. oleifera leaves also contain large amounts of various phenolics (flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidin, and cinnamates), glucosinolates, flavonol glycosides (glucosides, rutinosides, and malonyl glucosides), quercetin, kaempferol, and many other phytochemical substances. Different parts of the plant such as leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruits, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants and possess anticancer effects. Other main medicinal characteristics of this plant include hypoglycemic, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects.