Effects of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Serum 8-OHdG Levels in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis and complications of diabetes mellitus through excessive production of reactive oxygen species, which can lead to oxidative DNA damage. Serum 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is widely used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Moringa oleifera leaves contain various antioxidant compounds that may help modulate oxidative stress under diabetic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on serum 8-OHdG levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: This exploratory, randomized, post-test-only experiment included 25 male Wistar rats allocated to five groups (n = 5/group): non-diabetic control, alloxan-exposed diabetic control, and alloxan-exposed groups receiving Moringa oleifera leaf extract at 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg body weight orally once daily for 14 days. Alloxan monohydrate was administered intraperitoneally at 150 mg/kg body weight. A fasting glucose level ≥200 mg/dL at 72 hours defined eligibility for the diabetic groups. Serum 8-OHdG was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and group means were compared using one-way ANOVA with p < 0.05 as the significance threshold. Results: Serum 8-OHdG did not differ significantly among groups (F(4,20) = 1.55; p = 0.227). The 500 mg/kg group had the numerically lowest mean (0.367 ± 0.036 ng/mL), but this observation did not establish a treatment effect or an optimal dose. The diabetic control mean (0.416 ± 0.073 ng/mL) was not higher than the non-diabetic control mean (0.468 ± 0.108 ng/mL). Conclusion: This exploratory study did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on serum 8-OHdG under the tested conditions. The observed numerical variation should be interpreted cautiously and does not establish antioxidant efficacy or an optimal dose. Larger, adequately powered studies with standardized extract characterization, longitudinal glycemic assessment, and additional oxidative stress markers are warranted.