Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Upregulates Nrf2/HO-1 Expression and Ameliorates Redox Status in C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Guglielmo Duranti,Stefania Sabatini,Roberta Ceci,Domenico Crognale,Mariateresa Maldini,Ivan Dimauro,Katy Horner

doi:10.3390/molecules26165041

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant with numerous health benefits. In skeletal muscle cells, Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) acts by increasing the oxidative metabolism through the SIRT1-PPARα pathway. SIRT1, besides being a critical energy sensor, is involved in the activation related to redox homeostasis of transcription factors such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the capacity of MOLE to influence the redox status in C2C12 myotubes through the modulation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione levels, Nrf2 and its target gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST). Moreover, the impact of MOLE supplementation on lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage (i.e., TBARS and protein carbonyls) was evaluated. Our results highlight for the first time that MOLE increased not only Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, but also improved glutathione redox homeostasis and the enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and GST. Therefore, it is intriguing to speculate that MOLE supplementation could represent a valuable nutrition for the health of skeletal muscles.

Highlights

Moringa oleifera Lam., a member of the tropical family of Moringaceae, is commonly referred to as a “miracle tree” for its numerous nutritive, medicinal and industrial potentials
The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the capacity of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) to influence the redox status in C2C12 myotubes through the modulation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione levels, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and its target gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST)
Our results highlight for the first time that MOLE increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, and improved glutathione redox homeostasis and the enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and GST

Summary

Introduction

Moringa oleifera Lam., a member of the tropical family of Moringaceae, is commonly referred to as a “miracle tree” for its numerous nutritive, medicinal and industrial potentials. The bioactive compounds found in Moringa oleifera leaves, which are the parts of the plant more frequently utilized, include tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and glycosides. Many of these molecules have been shown to be beneficial as antioxidants, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic agents [1,2], as well as to be effective in treating several chronic pre-pathological conditions such as hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance and inflammation, of which the onset is based on the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) [3,4,5,6]. This topic is interesting because skeletal muscle is a tissue where ROS are continuously produced by several sources (i.e., mitochondria, NADPH oxidases, phospholipase-A2, xanthine oxidase), especially during contractile activity

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