P- 25 ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA IN A MURINE MODEL OF NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS

Introduction and Objectives

One of the main mechanisms in the development and progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis involves oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Several studies have reported therapeutic effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts in different animal and cellular models due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous extract on biomarkers of oxidative stress in a murine model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Material and methods

Characterization of the aqueous extract was performed by DPPH and ABTS spectrophotometric assays. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into two groups. 1) Conventional diet (ND) (n = 5) (18% lipid) and 2) High-fat diet (HF) (n = 10) (60% lipid and 42 g/L sugar in water of use) for 16 weeks. On the ninth week, five animals in the HF group were divided into a subgroup, 3) Moringa Oleifera (HF + MO), 290 mg/kg/day p.o. for eight weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined in liver homogenates and the transcriptome was measured by microarrays. miRNAs involved in liver disease were also determined. Statistical analysis was performed by differences between groups determined by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

Moringa aqueous extract showed antioxidant capacity; DPPH values were 10081.4 ± 0.3 and 22960.4 ± 0.3 for ABTS. Hepatic MDA levels increased in the HF group compared to the ND group (p<0.05) and decreased in the moringa-treated group (p<0.05). The transcriptome analysis demonstrated the downregulation of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress. The miR-122-5p, miR-21a-5p, miR-34a-5p and miR-103-3p decreased in the MO-treated group.

Conclusions

Moringa oleifera treatment might be considered a therapeutic alternative for the NASH spectrum of liver disorders.