In present study nephroprotective and antioxidant effects of Moringa oleifera were investigated in paracetamol induced nephrotoxic albino rabbits. Thirty-six healthy adult albino rabbits randomly divided into six equal groups were provided with normal routine feed and drinking water. Except untreated control group-1, the rest of the groups administered orally with 500 mg/kg paracetamol as nephrotoxic drug for 0-15 days. Group-II served as untreated control on paracetamol only and group-III as treated control on synthetic nephroprotective drug, silymarin 150 mg/kg orally. M. oleifera seed powder was given orally to treated groups-IV, V and VI at dose rate of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 15 days. At the termination of experiment, rabbits were slaughtered and kidney tissues were excised for histopathological examination. Data were compared statistically by Duncan’s DMR test at 5% level of significance. The results suggested that paracetamol induced renal damage significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). However, catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased along with histopathological necrotic damage of renal tissues in nephrotoxic rabbits. M. oleifera seed powder, at the dose rate of 600 mg/kg, exhibited nephroprotective and antioxidant effects through biochemical and histological protections against paracetamol induced renal damage in albino rabbits. This indicates that M. oleifera seed powder at the dose rate of 600 mg/kg is as efficacious as silymarin in exerting nephroprotective and antioxidant effects.

Key words: Antioxidant, Moringa oleifera, Nephroprotective, Nephrotoxicity, Paracetamol