Ileum Histoarchitecture Following Aspartame Consumption: Assessment of Actions of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract

This study aims to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on ileum histoarchitecture following aspartame consumption. Twenty-seven adult male Albino Wistar rats were used for the study. They were divided into nine groups comprising of: group A (control), administered distilled water; group B, given 0.4 ml (low dose) aspartame; group C, given 1.5 ml (high dose) aspartame; group D1, given 0.6 ml (low dose) aspartame for the first three weeks followed by 1.5 ml (low dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed on the fourth week; group D2 given 0.5 ml (low dose) aspartame for the first three weeks followed by 1.30 ml (low dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed on the fourth week; group E1, given 1.5 ml (high dose) aspartame for the first three weeks and on the fourth week 2.5 ml (high dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed; group E2, given 1.5(high dose) aspartame for the first three weeks and on the fourth week 3.0 ml (high dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed; group F1 given 1.4ml (high dose) aspartame followed by 2.8ml (high dose) ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seed for four weeks; group F2, given 1.3 ml (high dose) aspartame followed by 2.5 ml (high dose) n-hexane extract of M. oleifera seed for four weeks. Weight measurement of rats was taken once a week throughout the twenty eight days duration of the study. Following anaesthetization, their ileum were harvested and fixed in 10 % buffered formalin. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining technique was adopted for routine histological procedure. Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (M ± SEM) and subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). At 95 % confidence interval, P is significant (P< 0.05). There was a significant increase (P= 0.05) in body weight of both the control and the experimental groups as the experiment progressed. Histological findings revealed that aspartame both in low and high doses has disruptive effects on the histoarchitecture of ileum and high dose ethanolic extract of M. oleiferia seed has the capacity to ameliorate the effects. Hence, caution is needed in aspartame consumption.