Chemopreventive Efficacy of Moringa oleifera Pods Against 7, 12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene Induced Hepatic Carcinogenesis in Mice

Oxidative stress is a common mechanism contributing to initiation and progression of hepatic damage in avariety of liver disorders. Hence there is a great demand for the development of agents with potent antioxidanteffect. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera as a hepatoprotectiveand an antioxidant against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induced hepatocellular damage. Single oraladministration of DMBA (15 mg/kg) to mice resulted in significantly (p<0.001) depleted levels of xenobioticenzymes like, cytochrome P450 and b5. DMBA induced oxidative stress was confirmed by decreased levelsof reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver tissue. The status of hepaticaspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which is indicativeof hepatocellular damage were also found to be decreased in DMBA administered mice. Pretreatment with theMoringa oleifera (200 and 400 mg/kg) orally for 14 days significantly reversed the DMBA induced alterations inthe liver tissue and offered almost complete protection. The results from the present study indicate that Moringaoleifera exhibits good hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential against DMBA induced hepatocellular damagein mice that might be due to decreased free radical generation.