Hepatoprotective Effect of Microalgal Spirulina Extract Fortified with Finger Millet and Moringa Leaves on Arsenic Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

The present study was conducted to assess the hepatoprotective effects of microalgal Spirulina extract fortified with finger millet and Moringa leaves (MSFM) in male Wistar rat model of sodium arsenite induced hepatotoxicity. The study consisted of six groups (Group I to VI), comprising of six rats in each group. Group I (normal control) rats received normal saline orally daily for 60 days. All the rats in Group II (disease control) to VI rats received sodium arsenite @ 10mg/kg body weight orally daily for 60 days. In addition to sodium arsenite, Group III (reference control) rats received Telmisartan @ 10 mg/kg body weight orally for 60 days; while Group IV, V and VI rats received MSFM @ 100mg/kg, @ 200mg/kg and @ 400mg/kg body weight orally daily for 60 days, respectively. Sodium arsenite exposure in Group II rats resulted in significant alterations in body weight, hematological, biochemical, antioxidant, lipid peroxidation and pathomorphological parameters of liver compared to the normal control rat. Telmisartan administration partially alleviated these changes. MSFM supplementation demonstrated a dose-dependent protective effect, evident through marked improvements in hematological and serological parameters, antioxidant status, reduction of lipid peroxidation and histopathological restoration when compared to Group II rats. Among the treatment groups, MSFM at 400mg/kg bodyweight offered the highest degree of protection, surpassing Telmisartan, while 200mg/kg provided moderate protection. These findings highlight the potential of Spirulina, Moringa and finger millet based MSFM formulation as a natural therapeutic strategy for mitigating sodium arsenite induced hepatotoxicity.