Moringa oleiferaleaf extract ameliorates alloxan-induced diabetes in rats by regeneration of β cells and reduction of pyruvate carboxylase expression

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam. contains many active ingredients with nutritional and medicinal values. It is commonly used in folk medicine as an antidiabetic agent. The present study was designed to investigate how an aqueous extract from the leaves of M. oleifera reveals hypoglycemia in diabetic rats. M. oleifera leaf extract counteracted the alloxan-induced diabetic effects in rats as it normalized the elevated serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and malondialdehyde, and normalized mRNA expression of the gluconeogenic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase in hepatic tissues. It also increased live body weight gain and normalized the reduced mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase in the liver of diabetic rats. Moreover, it restored the normal histological structure of the liver and pancreas damaged by alloxan in diabetic rats. This study revealed that the aqueous extract of M. oleifera leaves possesses potent hypoglycemic effects through the normalization of elevated hepatic pyruvate carboxylase enzyme and regeneration of damaged hepatocytes and pancreatic β cells via its antioxidant properties.

Effects of Moringa oleifera on Glycaemia and Insulin Levels: A Review of Animal and Human Studies

“…Female alloxan-induced (100 mg/kg, i.p.) diabetic Wistar rats treated with MO aqueous leaf extract, had a significant glycaemia reduction, returning to normal levels, together with improvement of lipid metabolism [10]. Furthermore, treatment with MO provided evidence of hepatocyte and pancreatic beta-cell regeneration.…”

“…These inhibitory effects of flavonoids, including quercetin and kaempferol, have been biochemically explained due to an increase in the number of hydroxyl groups on the B ring, and to the presence of a 2,3-double bond [35]. In addition, these compounds have been studied regarding protective and regenerative properties on pancreatic beta-cells, augmenting insulin production and release [10]. Quercetin induces insulin secretion through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway together with protection of pancreatic beta-cells against oxidative damage [36].…”

“…Different components of MO tree are currently under investigation in order to study possible beneficial effects on the treatment of metabolic conditions, mainly DM. It has been reported in animal models, that MO has antihyperglycemic activity [9] and can improve induced diabetic effects in rats [10]. As well, some studies in vivo and in vitro have observed some positive effects on the nervous system [11].…”

Moringa oleiferaand glycemic control: A review of current evidence and possible mechanisms

“…Moringa leaf extract decreased blood glucose level by threefold in the diabetic rats after 5 days of treatment compared with control diabetic rats, without any cytotoxicity (Omabe, Nwudele, Omabe, & Okorocha, 2014). Oral consumption of aqueous extract of moringa leaves (250 mg/kg) to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 18 days also showed a decrease in their blood glucose levels compared with control diabetic rats (Abd El Latif, El Bialy Bel, Mahboub, & Abd Eldaim, 2014). Similar results were shown by another study in which oral consumption of aqueous extract of moringa leaves at different doses (250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight) once a day for 56 days decreased fasting blood glucose levels for all the doses compared with control (distilled water) in male Wistar rats (Oyewo, Adeleke, Fakunle, & Iniaghe, 2013 and postprandial blood glucose level was decreased by 21.4%, 37.8%, and 51.2%, respectively in severely diabetic rats.…”

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and renal lesion in mice with combination of high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetes

“…There are several congenital diabetic models such as ob/ ob diabetic mice 14 , and other ways to establish acquired diabetes in rodent animals by alloxan 15 and hydrocortisone 16 . However, with further research into DM, diabetes nephropathy (DN), one of the common complications of diabetes, received increasing attention.…”