EFFECTS OF DEFATTED MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED ON SKELETAL MUSCLE OF PROTEIN ENERGY MALNOURISHED RATS

Background: Malnutrition in form of protein energy malnourishment, is a range of pathological conditions arising from coincident lack of protein and/or energy in varying proportions which can results in muscle wasting and degeneration. Aim: The study is aimed to investigate the effects of defatted Moringa oleifera seed on skeletal muscle of Protein Energy Malnourished rats and to assess its effect on enzyme markers: AST, ALT, Total protein, Albumin, Ca²⁺ ATPase and Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase. Methods: 16 white albino rats of waster strain (Rattus novergicus) were initially divided into ‘A’ and ‘B’ groups; Group A rats served as positive control and was administered normal growers’ feed while Group ‘B’ rats were administered with low protein based diet to induce muscle wasting for 21 days. After the period of malnourishment, group B was further divided into 3 groups: C, D, E. Group C was sacrificed which served as negative control while group D and E were fed with recovery diet containing 20% M. oleifera based diet and 20% fish meal based diet respectively for another 21 days. Results: Upon the introduction of recovery diet, the results show that there was an increase in the activities of ALT, AST, Na⁺/K⁺ and Ca²⁺ ATPases as well as the total protein and albumin when compared with the control. Conclusion: M. oleifera leaf-based diet proves to be a sustainable replacement for food protein in the diet.