Moringa Leaf Extract Ameliorates Cerebral Cortex Tissue Damage in STZ-Induced Diabetes Condition

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a plant that has huge nutritional and phytomedicinal values particularly due to its rich nutrients, antioxidants and medicinal phytochemicals. This investigation examined the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on the histology of the prefrontal cortex of STZ induced diabetic adult Wistar rat; and the accompanying effects on diabetes-related disorders associated with lipid peroxidation (MDA) and the blood sugar of STZ induced diabetic Wistar rat. Thirty Wistar rats [n=30] were divided into three groups of ten animals each. Group 1 animals served as the control group (non-diabetic) and were simply fed ad libitum; Group 2 animals were administered 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes and 200 mg/kg of moringa leaf extract to observe the effects of the latter; Group 3 were administered 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin to serve as the untreated diabetic group. Experiment lasted six weeks and the blood sugar level and animal health were duly monitored. The animals were euthanized at the end of six weeks and the brain tissues were excised and processed using the haematoxylin and eosin technique. Diabetic animals were hyperglycemic and had cortical neuronal morphological distortions and histoarchitectural disruptions indicating brain tissue damage. Moringa leaf extract was potent in controlling the blood glucose level in STZ-induced diabetes murine models; it also ameliorated the damaging effects or consequences of the diabetic conditions on the neurons morphology and relative volume and distribution in the cortical tissue.