Moringa oleifera Impairs the Morphology and Functions of the Kidney in Adult Wistar Rats Moringa Oleifera Altera la Morfología y Funciones del Riñón en Ratas Wistar Adultas

** ** ; * * * AKINLOLU, A. A.; GHAZALI, O. K.; AMEEN, O. M.; OYEBANJI, S. C.; OMOTOSO, G. O. & ENAIBE, B. U. Moringa oleifera impairs the morphology and functions of the kidney in adult Wistar rats. Int. J. Morphol., 32(2):469-474, 2014. SUMMARY: We tested the hypothesis that Moringa oleifera impairs the morphology and functions of the kidney in rats. Twentyfour adult male Wistar rats were employed in the study. Rats of Control Group I received physiological saline while rats of Gro ups II ‐ IV received 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg bodyweight of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera respectively for twenty one days. No behavioral anomalies were observed in rats of Groups I ‐ IV. Rats of Control Group I gained statistically significant increased bodyweight while rats of Groups II ‐ IV experienced non-significant decreased bodyweight during experimental procedure. (P≤0.05). No statistical significant differences (P≤0.05) were observed in the analyses of the relative weights of kidneys of rats of Groups I ‐ IV. Histological examinations show ed normal cyto-architecture of the kidneys of rats of Group I while the Capsular spaces of the kidneys of rats of Groups II ‐ IV appeared wider than those of Group I. Statistical analyses showed significant higher levels (P ≤0.05) of Alanine and Aspartate Transaminases, and serum urea in rats of Groups II ‐ IV in a non- dose-dependent manner when compared to rats of Group I. Our findings are consistent with the stated hypothesis.