Effects of Varying Doses of Neem Seed Oil on Body Weight, Haematology, Serum Biochemistry, and Histology of Liver and Kidney in Wistar Rats.

Abstract

Neem seed oil, rich in bioactive compounds like azadirachtin, exhibits pharmacological and toxicological effects, with dose-dependent impacts on vital detoxification organs, raising safety concerns for medicinal use. This study evaluated the effects of varying doses of neem seed oil on haematological parameters, liver histology, kidney function, and body weight in Wistar rats. A completely randomized experimental design was employed using 24 female Wistar rats housed under controlled conditions. Neem seeds were collected locally, and oil was extracted via a manual hydraulic press. After a two-week acclimatization, rats were randomized into four groups receiving saline (control) or neem seed oil at low, medium, and high doses via oral gavage for 21 days. Weekly body weights, blood samples, and organ weights were assessed. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were performed. Data were analyzed using a two-sample t-test with significance at p < 0.05. Low-dose neem oil did not significantly alter hematological parameters, while medium-dose neem oil significantly increased lymphocyte count (LYH) from 2.14 to 5.06 × 10⁹/L (p = 0.046), and high-dose neem oil significantly elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) from 6.63 to 7.17 fL (p = 0.048). In terms of liver biochemistry, low-dose neem oil significantly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels from 197.1 to 247.9 U/L (p = 0.045), and medium-dose neem oil significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels from 125.6 to 281.1 U/L (p = 0.036). High-dose neem oil had no significant effects on liver biochemical parameters. Neem seed oil showed dose-dependent effects in Wistar rats, with medium doses boosting lymphocyte counts and high doses increasing pro-inflammatory markers. Low and medium doses caused mild liver stress, while high doses showed minimal impact, suggesting adaptive mechanisms. Kidney function was unaffected, but high doses induced tissue changes, emphasizing dose caution. Recommendations include human studies to confirm findings, further toxicity profiling, exploring weight-reduction mechanisms, and developing innovative approaches for neem oil pharmacological research.