Protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract against oxidative stress, inflammation, depression, and apoptosis in a mouse model of hepatic encephalopathy

Abstract The present study aimed to assess the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and anti-depression impacts of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf ethanolic extract (MOLE) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of CCl4-induced mouse model of hepatic encephalopathy. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect marker compounds; rutin and β-sitosterol. Animals were divided into four groups; vehicle group, CCl4 treated group, MOLE treated group, and (CCl4+ MOLE) group treated with MOLE for 14 days before CCl4-induced neurotoxicity. MOLE decreased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, corticosterone, and ammonia levels in serum and improved the antioxidant status of CCl4 treated mice in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. It reduced the expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)4, TLR2, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) genes and the protein levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. MOLE also attenuated apoptosis, as revealed by the reduced expression of caspase3, and prevented histological deterioration. Furthermore, MOLE attenuated CCl4-induced anxiety and depression-like behavioral changes. Collectively, MOLE modulates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, TLR4/2-MyD88/NF-κB signaling, and apoptosis in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the hepatic encephalopathy experimental model.