ACUTE AND SUB ACUTE TOXICITY OF MORINGA OLEIFERA STEM BARK EXTRACT IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Different parts of Moringa oleifera have been shown to exhibit wide pharmacological activities. Testing the toxicity and safety of plant extracts is a key step before further efficacy tests could be performed. In the current study we determined the safety of methanolic extract of M. oleifera bark by performing acute and sub acute (28 days) oral toxicity studies in Swiss albino mice. In the acute study oral administration of bark extract up to 2000 mg/kg body weight (b.wt) did not show any toxicity or mortality in mice during the 14 days. In the sub acute study the bark extract was administered orally at 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg b.wt for 28 days. Toxicity was assessed through biochemical, haematological, relative organ weights and histopathology tests apart from weekly measurements of body weight and food consumption. In all these tests no significant difference was observed between treated (extract administered) and control group mice. Histopathological examination of organs from the mice treated with extract at 2000 mg/kg b.wt for 28 days did not show any toxic effects compared to control group. Current study determined the non toxic nature of oral administration of M. oleifera bark extract.