Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. induced mitodepression and chromosomal aberration in Allium cepa , and reproductive genotoxicity in male mice

Moringa oleifera is a multipurpose plant with nutritional and medicinal value. Despite its widely acclaimed therapeutic benefits in traditional medicine, there are reports on its toxicity in living cells. Information is however, limited on toxic effect of the plant on the genetic component and male reproductive cells. We evaluated genotoxicity of aqueous extract of the leaves of M. oleifera using the Allium cepa chromosome aberration (CA) and mouse sperm morphology assays. Roots of onion bulbs were exposed to 0.5–20% of the extract for analysis of root growth inhibition, mitotic index (MI) and CA. Swiss male mice orally exposed to the aqueous extract (50–800 mg/kg) for 35 consecutive days were analysed for body and testes weight, testicular histology and sperm morphology. There was a significant ( p < 0.05) root growth inhibition, decrease in MI and induction of CA compared to the negative control bulbs. The extract did not cause adverse effect on body and testes weight, but maturation arrest, atrophy and germ cell sloughing and degeneration were observed in testicular sections of exposed mice. A significant increase in sperm morphology was observed in exposed mice relative to the control group. Aqueous extract of M. oleifera was cytotoxic, mitodepressive and genotoxic in A. cepa . It induced DNA damage in the sperm head and interfered with spermatogenesis. This suggests potentials of M. oleifera to modulate somatic cell cycle and impact male fertility.