Research Article Micro- and Macroelemental Composition and Safety Evaluation of the Nutraceutical Moringa oleifera Leaves I. J. Asiedu-Gyekye, 1 S. Frimpong-Manso, 2 C. Awortwe, 3 D. A. Antwi, 4 and A. K. Nyarko 1 1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box LG 43, Legon, Ghana 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box LG 43, Legon, Ghana 3 Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 19063, Cape Town, South Africa 4 Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, P.O. Box 4236, Korle-Bu, Ghana Correspondence should be addressed to I. J. Asiedu-Gyekye; asiedugyekye@yahoo.co.uk Received 6 February 2014; Revised 25 June 2014; Accepted 25 June 2014; Published 22 July 2014 Academic Editor: Margaret James Copyright © 2014 I. J. Asiedu-Gyekye et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Moringa oleifera is a multipurpose plant used in Ghana and most parts of Africa. Its high mineral, protein, and vitamins content has enabled its use as a nutraceutical and panacea for various diseases. his study aimed at measuring the micro- and macroelements content of dried Moringa oleifera leaves using energy dispersive X-ray luorescence spectroscopic (EDXRF) and assessing its toxicological efect in rats. Acute toxicity (5000 mg/kg) and a subacute toxicity studies of the leaf (40 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg) extract were conducted in rats. Blood samples were assessed for biochemical and haematological parameters. Results showed signiicant levels of thirty-ive (35) elements (14 macroelements and 21 microelements) in M. oleifera extract. here were no observed overt adverse reactions in the acute and subacute studies. Although there were observed elevations in liver enzymes ALT and ALP ( < 0.001) and lower creatinine levels in the extract treated groups, no adverse histopathological indings were found. Moringa oleifera dried leaf extract may, therefore, be reasonably safe for consumption. However, the consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves should not exceed a maximum of 70 grams per day to prevent cumulative toxicity of these essential elements over long periods. 1. Introduction Moringa oleifera Lam. found in most parts of Ghana belongs to the monogenetic family Moringaceae (order Brassicales). It is a plant that has multipurpose, nonmedicinal, and medicinal uses. Its nonmedical uses include use of the seeds in wastewater treatment due to their coagulant properties [1, 2]. Its medicinal uses stem from the fact that the entire plant has high protein, vitamins, mineral, and carbohydrate content. It is, thus, of high nutritional value for both humans and livestock. Moringa leaves are rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, and calcium as well as vitamins, essential amino acids, and a number of glycosides [3, 4]. he seeds have high content (42%) of edible oil that also has medicinal uses. Moringa is used for the management of various ailments, as a galactogogue in mothers of preterm infants [5, 6]. It is also used to manage heart diseases and eye problems as well as inlammations and dyspepsia [7, 8]. Pharmacological studies have shown that the extracts of the plant have antioxidant [9–11], anticarcinogenic [12], anti- inlammatory, antispasmodic and antidiuretic [13] proper- ties. Others include antiulcer, antibacterial and antifungal properties [14]. Recent studies indicate that it also has antinociceptive [7] as well as wound healing ability [8]. Studies on the root bark have shown it to have analgesic, alexeteric, and antihelminthic properties. It has also been reported to alter blood lipid proiles [15]. Toxicity studies have shown that aqueous extract of moringa leaf extract has no signiicant adverse efects in rats, rabbits [15–18] or poultry [18]. However, there are signiicant diferences in the safety and composition of various moringa species from diferent locations [19]. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Journal of Toxicology Volume 2014, Article ID 786979, 13 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/786979