Abstract

ALTERATION IN BILE COMPOSITION AND FLOW RATE FOLLOWING MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM LEAF EXTRACT ADMINISTRATION IN SALT LOADED RATS

C. O. Nku, A. N. Archibong, *O. E. Ofem and E. J. Ani

ABSTRACT

Moringa oleifera Lam is an ethnopharmacological plant with huge medicinal potentials. This study aimed to investigate the effect of leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam on bile composition and flow rate in salt loaded rats. 24 albino Wister rats were assigned into four groups of six rats each and were given either normal rat feed and drinking water, high salt diet (8% NaCl diet) + 1% NaCl drinking water and/or M. oleifera Lam extract (600mg/kg b.w., orally, once daily). The feeding regimens lasted six weeks. After an overnight fast, bile was collected and analyzed. Both the salt fed and extract treated groups produced significant increases in bile flow rate (p

Keywords: Bile, Moringa oleifera, cholesterol and Bilirubin.