Pharmacological Evaluation of the Effect of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Seed on Body Mass Index Using Pregnant Wistar Rats


Trends in Natural Products Research

Pharmacological Evaluation of the Effect of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Seed on Body Mass Index Using Pregnant Wistar Rats


Francis Ojochogwu Omale¹²

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria. 2Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

 

Key words:

 Moringa oleifera; Body Mass Index; Wistar Rats; Phytochemical Screening; Pregnancy; Toxicity Study

 

*Corresponding Author: oomale@atbu.edu.ng
DOI:https://doi.org/10.61594/tnpr.v7i4.2026.182

 

Page No: 355-361
Volume: 7, Issue 4, 2026
Trends in Natural Products Research
Copy Right: NAPREG

 

 

 

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant extensively utilized in traditional medicine due to its nutritional, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties. Despite increasing pharmacological interest in Moringa oleifera, limited experimental evidence exists regarding the effect of its seed preparation on body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy and post-pregnancy conditions. This study evaluated the pharmacological effect of Moringa oleifera seed powder on body mass index (BMI) in pregnant albino Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity evaluation of Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP) were conducted using standard methods. Acute toxicity was determined using Lorke’s method. Thirty-six pregnant albino Wistar rats were divided into six groups comprising one control group and five treatment groups and were treated with various doses of the MSP. Body weight and length measurements were taken at baseline and on Day 7, 14, 20, and 28. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, and terpenoids. Acute oral toxicity testing showed no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg, Mean BMI values varied slightly across treatment groups throughout the experimental period. There was no statistically significant difference in BMI among groups (F = 1.403, p = 0.235). Moringa oleifera seed powder demonstrated relative safety and produced mild increase in BMI in pregnant Wistar rats. The findings suggest that MSP may possess metabolic modulatory properties without causing severe alterations in body composition.