Time-Effectiveness Antifibrotic Effects of <I>Moringa oleifera</I>: Histological Regression without Correlation to microRNA Expression in Rat Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a progressive pathological condition occurring from chronic hepatic injury, where excessive extracellular matrix compromises liver function. Although Moringa oleifera, rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and glucosinolates, has shown antifibrotic potential, there is still limited information on the optimal dosing duration and correlation with microRNA (miRNA) mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the time-effectiveness of antifibrotic effects of Moringa oleifera. The experiment was carried out using male Wistar rats (n=24) that were randomized into eight groups, including controls, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced fibrosis models, and treatment cohorts receiving Moringa oleifera leaf extract (600 mg/kg) for 3, 6, or 10 weeks, plus matched controls. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by 11 weeks of CCl4 at a dose of 600 mg/kg daily. Assessments included serum biochemistry (ALT, AST, and platelets), histopathology (Masson’s Trichrome, H&E, METAVIR), miR-122 and miR-29 b expression by qRT-PCR, and LC-MS profiling. The results showed that Moringa oleifera treatment had significant histological improvement, with optimal response after 6 weeks when all rats reached F1, indicating a substantial reduction in fibrosis (P<0.05). Biochemical changes were not significant (p>0.05), and miRNA expression showed no correlation with fibrosis regression, suggesting alternate therapeutic mechanisms. This study confirmed the time-effectiveness of Moringa oleifera based on histopathological results for antifibrotic efficacy, which was independent of miR-122 and miR-29b expression.