Neutralizing Potency of Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves Against Causus maculatus (Night Adder) Venom-induced Toxicity in Rats

Background: Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant with numerous pharmacological actions against many diseases, including snakebite. To date, there is no report on the anti-venom effects of M. oleifera leaf against Causus maculatus envenomation. Thus, the impact of M. oleifera leaves were investigated against the toxic effects of C. maculatus venom. Methods: In this study, the ethanol leaf extract of M. oleifera was partitioned using n-hexane and ethyl acetate thereafter, the efficacies of solvent fractions on C. maculatus-envenomed rats and some biological activities of the venom were investigated. The lethal dose (LD50) of the venom was determined in rats. Subsequently, the antivenom effects of solvent fractions of M. oleifera extract against envenoming and some biological activities of C. maculatus venom were evaluated. Results: The venom’s acute toxicity (LD50) was estimated to be 2.9 mg/kg-1. In a dose-dependent manner, M. oleifera inhibited heamolytic and heamorrhagic activities of Causus maculatus venom. Also, acute anemia and thrombocytopenia induced by the venom were reversed after treatment with ethanol and n-hexane solvent fractions of M. oleifera extract. Furthermore, M. oleifera ameliorated various histopathological defects observed in tissues of vital organs of envenomed treated rats. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that M. oleifera leaves could serve as an anti-snake agent against toxicities induced by C. maculatus venom