Introduction: The liver is an important organ which is essential for bodily functional processes in all vertebrates. Hepatotoxicity is a known characteristic of over 1000 medications. Moringa oleifera contains very high concentrations of antioxidants, hence this study aims to explore the antioxidant property of this plant.

Materials and Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups (1-6) of five rats each, they were acclimatized for one week. These groups received different treatments; Group 1 (normal control) rats were given 1 ml/kg N/Saline and fed on standard laboratory rat chow throughout the experimental period. Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were treated with 75 mg/kg Anacin dissolved in N/Saline administered Orally for four weeks after which ELEMO dissolved in N/Saline was administered at 200, 400 and 800 mg/ kg to groups 3, 4, and 5 respectively for three weeks, while group 6 was treated with high dose ELEMO (800 mg/kg) for three weeks, followed by freshly prepared Anacin administration solution for 4 weeks under fasting condition. Animals in group 2 were sacrificed via cervical dislocation immediately after the hepatotoxicity induction, at the end of the experimental periods, animals in groups 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were also sacrificed. A midline incision was made along the anterior abdominal wall, blood was taken by cardiac puncture, the liver specimens were perfused with isotonic saline, excised, blotted dry and weighed. Liver tissues were fixed in 10% formol saline and processed for routine paraffin embedding method. Sectioned tissues were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin for demonstration of general liver histoarchitecture, Masson’s trichrome stain for demonstration of collagen fibers.

Results: The results of this study showed markedly elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and reduced levels of serum proteins (TP, Albumin, and Globulin), which are all indicators of liver dysfunctions. The histological findings revealed hepatic swelling and vacuolization with centrilobular hepatic necrosis in group 2 and partly in groups 3 and 4, whereas groups 5 and 6 showed significant improvement after intervention with high doses of ELEMO after and before hepatotoxicity respectively. There were normal collagen fibres distribution observed around the portal vein in group 1, 5 and 6, meanwhile, the collagen distribution in group 2 was denser when compared with the normal control around the portal vein, similar observation was seen in groups 3 and 4.

Conclusion: This study concluded that, Anacin induced hepatotoxicity in the liver of adult Wistar rats, was able to be reversed by the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ELEMO which may be a reliable therapeutic option for treating liver toxicity in human, in the nearest future.