<i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf powder ameriorate neuronal degeneration in the entorhinal cortex of adolescent male alcoholic rats

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is an important medicinal plant that has shown great promise in CNS conditions. However, the potential protective effect of M. oleifera in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of adolescent rats with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is still unknown. The effect of M. oleifera was therefore assessed in an adolescent model of AUD.Two groups of rats were orogastrically fed thrice daily with 5 g/kg ethanol (25% w/v), and 5 g/kg ethanol (25% w/v) plus M. oleifera (10 mg/kg body weight) respectively in diluted nutritionally complete diet (50%v/v). A control group was fed a nutritionally complete diet (50%v/v) made isocaloric with glucose. Cytoarchitectural study of the entorhinal cortex was examined with H&E. The extent of damage was assessed biochemically by determination of tissue levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. After 4 days of binge alcohol treatment, histologic and biochemical indices of degeneration in EC were significantly reduced by M. oleifera supplementation compared with the non-supplemented rats. In conclusion, M. oleifera attenuates alcohol-induced entorhinal degeneration in the rats by alleviating oxidative stress and reducing the expression of degenerative changes in the EC.

Key words: Alcoholism, Medicinal plant, Nutraceuticals, Neuroprotection