Exogenous miRNAs from Moringa oleifera Lam. recover a dysregulated lipid metabolism

Abstract

A balanced diet is critical for human health, and edible plants play an important role in providing essential micronutrients as well as specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that can regulate human gene expression. Here we present the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) miRNAs (mol-miRs) on lipid metabolism. Through in silico studies we identified the potential genes involved in lipid metabolism targeted by mol-miRs. To this end, we tested the efficacy of an aqueous extract of MO seeds (MOES), as suggested in traditional African ethnomedicine, or its purified miRNAs. The biological properties of MO preparations were investigated using a human derived hepatoma cell line (HepG2) as a model. MOES treatment decreased intracellular lipid accumulation and induced apoptosis in HepG2. In the same cell line, transfection with mol-miRs showed similar effects to MOES. Moreover, the effect of the mol-miR pool was investigated in a pre-obese mouse model, in which treatment with mol-miRs was able to prevent dysregulation of lipid metabolism.

Plant miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p Decrease Lipid Accumulation through Modulation of Metabolic Genes in a Human Hepatocyte Model That Mimics Steatosis

“…Compelling evidence has already demonstrated the outstanding cross-kingdom effects of plant miRNAs on the glucose and lipid metabolism of mammalian cells, including the regulation of glucose uptake, fat synthesis, and cholesterol levels [26,[59][60][61]. Our results are supported by previously published studies where, for instance, small RNAs from Olea europaea and Moringa oleifera decreased intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 hepatocytes [62,63]. We have unveiled for the first time the effect of plant miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p on the alleviation of triglyceride accumulation induced by FFAs in HepG2 cells, through the regulation of the predicted targets QKI and MAPKAPK2; these targets are widely associated with lipid metabolism, and their inhibition is associated with the counteraction of metabolic diseases [34,35,38].…”

Effect of Moringa oleifera, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Their Combination on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes, Immunity, and Microbiota in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…Further analysis of the KEGG pathways for microbial metabolism predicted by PICRUSt1 showed that three pathways (lipoic acid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and TCA cycle) were more abundant in the M. oleifera groups. These results indicated that M. oleifera influenced intestinal bacteria metabolism functions, and these functions are related to lipid metabolism, which may be relevant to the regulation of lipid metabolism by M. oleifera [89]. Understanding the metabolic functions and nutrient absorption of intestinal microbiota after feeding with M. oleifera may potentially reveal the pathways by which M. oleifera affects the involvement of microbiota in lipid metabolism.…”

A Review of Mechanism of Action of Moringa oleifera as an Inhibitor of Adipogenesis in Obesity

“…The content of astragalin (3-O-glucoside kaempferol) (18), rutin, quercetin (19)(20)(21)(22), polysaccharide (23), and miRNA (24) in MO is known to be able to inhibit PPARγ based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Inhibition of PPARγ was also found when administering petroleum ether extract MO (20), CH2Cl2 extract MO (25), and a combination of MO and Fuzhuan Brick Tea which contains various phytochemical compounds such as α-linolenic acid, strictin, isovitexin, astragalin, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate and gallic acid (26,27).…”

“…The administration of astragalin (18), rutin, quercetin (19)(20)(21)(22), petroleum ether extract MO (19), CH2Cl2 extract MO (25), and ethanol extract MO (22,32,33) inhibits adipogenesis by suppressing PPARγ and C/EBPα through βcatenin pathway. Apart from that, the administration of miRNA of MO extract also downregulates the expression of genes that play a role in lipid metabolism in mice livers, one of which is Wnt, causing inhibition of the adipogenesis process through this pathway (24). (33).…”