Abstract
Moringa oleifera has been used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. However, few studies have been conducted to relate its antidiabetic properties to proteins. In this study, a leaf protein isolate was obtained from M. oleifera leaves, named Mo-LPI, and the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects on alloxan-induced diabetic mice were assessed. Mo-LPI was obtained by aqueous extraction, ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis. The electrophoresis profile and proteolytic hydrolysis confirmed its protein nature. Mo-LPI showed hemagglutinating activity, cross-reaction with anti-insulin antibodies and precipitation after zinc addition. Single-dose intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Mo-LPI (500 mg/kg·bw) reduced the blood glucose level (reductions of 34.3%, 60.9% and 66.4% after 1, 3 and 5 h, respectively). The effect of Mo-LPI was also evidenced in the repeated dose test with a 56.2% reduction in the blood glucose level on the 7th day after i.p. administration. Mo-LPI did not stimulate insulin secretion in diabetic mice. Mo-LPI was also effective in reducing the oxidative stress in diabetic mice by a decrease in malondialdehyde level and increase in catalase activity. Mo-LPI (2500 mg/kg·bw) did not cause acute toxicity to mice. Mo-LPI is a promising alternative or complementary agent to treat diabetes.
Highlights
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide
SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that Mo-LPI is composed of several protein bands, most ofof which over 29
Mo-LPI was susceptible to pepsin digestion andand virtually allall protein bands
Summary
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The persistent hyperglycemia associated with this disease promotes the appearance of lesions in organs such as kidneys, eyes, nerves and blood vessels. Glycemic control is very important for avoiding or delaying the development of these complications [1]. It is known that several plant compounds exert hypoglycemic effects, representing potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of diabetes [2]. Small molecules with high structural diversity produced during plant secondary metabolism that promote glycemic normalization, stimulate insulin release, reduce resistance to the tissue action of this hormone and elicit insulin-mimetic effects have been isolated, including terpenes, alkaloids and flavonoids [3]. A good deal of credit has been given to these secondary metabolites
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