Protective Effects of Moringa oleifera Fruit Extract Against Experimental Fluorosis in Rats

A study was conducted to assess the protective effect of Moringa oleifera fruit extract against sodium fluoride induced biochemical parameters and collagen degradation in tibia bone of rats. Twenty four Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups. The first group served as control and received only tap water. The second group received 90 ppm fluoride in form of sodium fluoride through drinking water. The third group received extract of M. oleifera alone and fourth group received M. oleifera extract along with fluorinated drinking water daily by gavage. Fluoride exposed rats showed higher (P<0.05) concentration of fluoride in serum, urine and faeces throughout the experiment along with alterations in biochemical parameters with decreased level of hydroxyproline in tibia bone. Co-administration of M. oleifera fruit extract during exposure to fluoride restored Ca, P and alkaline phosphatase (6.54±0.08 mg/dl; 6.23±0.10 mg/dl and 35.81±2.18 units/L) comparable to control group (6.98±0.06 mg/dl, 5.59±0.07 mg/dl, and 23.65±0.64 units/L, respectively). The level of hydroxyproline in urine and tibia bone (200.62±6.96 μg/ml and 26.99±0.44 mg/g) of the treatment group was comparable with the healthy animals (181.47±4.57 μg/ml and 25.92±0.35 mg/g). It was concluded that daily oral administration of M. oleifera fruit extract had potential to reduce the body fluoride burden along with a positive influence on the collagen protein.