Assessment of the Anti-Hyperglycaemic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of the Methanol Extract of Moringa Oleifera in Diabetes-Induced Nephrotoxic Male Wistar Rats.

Elizabeth Omodanisi,Yapo Aboua,Oluwafemi Oguntibeju

doi:10.3390/molecules22040439

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease of multiple aetiologies in insulin secretion. A deficiency in insulin results in hyperglycemia with metabolic disturbances of biomolecules. Moringa oleifera (MO) is endemic in the tropics with a variety of ethnomedicinal importance. The leaf of this plant has been reported to possess antioxidant and medicinal properties that may be helpful in the treatment and management of diabetes and its associated complications. Diabetes was induced intraperitoneally in rats by a single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) and treated with methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (250 mg/kg b.wt) for six weeks. Forty-eight (48) adult male Wistar strain rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control (NC), Moringa oleifera treated control rats (NC + MO), diabetic rats (DM) and Moringa oleifera treated diabetic rats (DM + MO). Estimation of antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols, flavonoids and flavonols content of Moringa oleifera extract was performed and serum biochemical markers were evaluated. Antioxidants such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione (GSH) and inflammatory biomarkers were determined in the kidney. Results showed high antioxidant capacities of MO extract and improved serum biochemical markers, whilst lipid peroxidation (MDA) levels were reduced in non-diabetic and diabetic rats after MO treatment when compared to normal control. Subsequent administration of MO led to an increased concentration of serum albumin, globulin and total protein with a decrease in the level of MDA, and improvements in CAT, SOD, GSH, GPx, (tumour necrosis factor-alpha)TNF-α and (interleukin-6)IL-6. MO contains potent phytochemical constituents that offer protective action against diabetic-induced renal damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation and could therefore play a role in reducing diabetic complications, particularly in developing countries such as in Africa where the majority cannot afford orthodox medicine.

Highlights

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in both developed and developing countries has challenged scientists to further conduct research in sourcing for potent therapeutic agents from natural sources for more efficient usage in the treatment and management of diabetes [1]
Diabetes is a degenerative disease of the blood glucose system, characterized by pancreatic beta cells’ deficiency to produce insulin or sufficient insulin, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia, which is associated with long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications [2]
The rapid discovery of various medicinal plants and natural products with anti-diabetic potentials has provided a remarkable intervention in the history of many diseases including diabetes [39]

Summary

Introduction

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in both developed and developing countries has challenged scientists to further conduct research in sourcing for potent therapeutic agents from natural sources for more efficient usage in the treatment and management of diabetes [1]. Diabetes is a degenerative disease of the blood glucose system, characterized by pancreatic beta cells’ deficiency to produce insulin or sufficient insulin, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia, which is associated with long-term microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular) complications [2]. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress is implicated in the onset and progression of diabetes and, if left untreated, can lead to severe complications [3]. Accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which is associated with increased damage to β-cells and biomolecules [6]. ROS are produced by aerobic metabolism, electron transport activity (which releases unpaired electrons), by-products of normal enzymatic reactions, as well as during inflammatory response, stress, and human activities including pollution, alcohol consumption and drugs [9]

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