Neuroprotective effect of moringa oleifera seed extract against haloperidol-induced catalepsy in wistar rats: A possible treatment against Parkinson’s disease?

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a leading neurological and neurodegenerative disorder troubling 1–3 % of the elderly population. Reactive oxygen species production is the main aspect for the neurodegeneration of substantia nigra. The recent study purposes to evaluate the effect of seed extract of moringa oleifera on haloperidol induced catalepsy in a rat model. For this purpose, ethanolic seed extracts of moringa oleifera was prepared, i.e. (EthMO). Male wistar albino rats were divided into six groups. Disease group received 1 mg/kg haloperidol for 21 consecutive days, and control mice received the normal saline. Treated rats received 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg 200 mg/kg of EthMO separately, orally and daily for 28 days. Levodopa group received 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, as a positive group. The motor function was assed using open field and hole board test. The anti-oxidant potentials of moringa seed extracts were estimated by lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione activities in rat brain homogenates. The rat brain region of substantia niagra was taken out for gene expression. Moringa oleifera seed extract-treated rat exhibited a greater number of entries in open field test along with greater number the rat introduced their head in hole board test as compared to the haloperidol induced catalepsy group. Improved antioxidant level of the PD rat brains of MO extract-administered groups were observed compared to the control. Gene expression results showed reduction in the expression level of TNF- α, IL-1β moringa extract treated rats. On the contrary the gene expression of α-Synuclein was also diminished in the extract group as compared to the haloperidol treated group. It can be concluded that moringa seed extracts protected the animals from locomotor deficits induced by haloperidol, possibly through reduction in the neuroinflammation, and look to have potential claims in neurodegenerative diseases.