Introduction: Obesity is a global major health concern. Fatty diet is a significant factor leading to obesity and likewise results in steatosis and steatohepatitis. Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves are commonly used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes for curing of several diseases. They had also revealed hepatoprotective activities.
Aim of the Work: To study the impact of high fat diet (HFD) on the livers of rats and to assess the potential protective role of MO leaves extract, comparing it with that of simvastatin.
Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study. Animals were separated into four groups (ten rats per group): Group 1: Control group: received standard diet for eight weeks; Group 2: HFD group: received HFD for eight weeks; Group 3: Simvastatin treated group: received Simvastatin with the HFD; Group 4: MO leaves extract treated group: received MO leaves extract in addition to HFD. By the end of the 8th week rats were weighed then sacrificed. Liver was removed, weighed and examined histopahologically using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) as well as Masson's trichrome stain. Immunohistochemical staining using the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex technique for Anti-Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and Anti-Beclin1 antibody were also done.
Results: Body weight and liver weight of rats on HFD (Group 2) were increased and the liver architecture of this group was noticeably affected. Serum liver enzymes as well as serum lipids were markedly elevated. In Group 3, simvastatin attenuated all these studied parameters. The protective role MO leaves extract demonstrated in Group 4 was obvious and even exceeded that of simvastatin.
Conclusion: The protective effect of MO leaves extract was evident in liver steatosis. We recommend increased awareness of people about the beneficial effect of MO especially in overweight and obese people.